UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K



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

FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, ~~2017~~2018



¨	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 033-44202

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)



Arizona		06-1241288
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

One Corporate Drive

Shelton, Connecticut 06484

(203) 926-1888

(Address and Telephone Number of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT: NONE

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT: NONE

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ¨ No x

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes ¨ No x

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 if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. x

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

Large accelerated filer ¨ Accelerated filer ¨ Non-accelerated filer x Smaller reporting company ¨ Emerging growth company ¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

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 March ~~8, 2018,~~7, 2019, 25,000 shares of the registrant’s Common Stock (par value $100) consisting of 100 voting shares and 24,900 non-voting shares, were outstanding. As of such date, Prudential Annuities, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Prudential Financial, Inc., a New Jersey corporation, owned all of the registrant’s Common Stock.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

The information required to be furnished pursuant to Part III of this Form 10-K is set forth in, and is hereby incorporated by reference herein from, Prudential Financial, Inc.’s Definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May ~~8, 2018,~~14, 2019, to be filed by Prudential Financial, Inc. with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A not later than 120 days after the year ended December 31, ~~2017.~~2018.

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation meets the conditions set

forth in General Instruction (I) (1) (a) and (b) on Form 10-K and

is therefore filing this Form 10-K with the reduced disclosure.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS




			Page
PART I	Item 1.	Business	4
	Item 1A.	Risk Factors	1514
	Item 1B1B.	Unresolved Staff Comments	23
	Item 2.	Properties	2324
	Item 3.	Legal Proceedings	24
	Item 4.	Mine Safety Disclosures	24
PART II	Item 5.	Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities	25
	Item 6.	Selected Financial Data	25
	Item 7.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	25
	Item 7A.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	3940
	Item 8.	Financial Statements and Supplementary Data	4244
	Item 9.	Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure	42117
	Item 9A.	Controls and Procedures	42117
	Item 9B.	Other Information	42117
PART III	Item 10.	Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance	43118
	Item 14.	Principal Accountant Fees and Services	43118
PART IV	Item 15.	Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules	44119
	Item 16.	Form 10-K Summary	44120
SIGNATURES			45121

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Certain of the statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, 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 Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation 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) losses on investments or financial contracts due to deterioration in credit quality or value, or counterparty default; (2) losses on insurance products due to mortality experience or policyholder behavior experience that differs significantly from our expectations when we price our products; (3) changes in interest rates and equity prices that may (a) adversely impact the profitability of our products, the value of separate accounts supporting these products or the value of assets we manage, (b) result in losses on derivatives we use to hedge risk or increase collateral posting requirements and (c) limit opportunities to invest at appropriate returns; (4) guarantees within certain of our products ~~in particular our variable annuities,~~ which are market sensitive and may decrease our earnings or increase the volatility of our results of operations or financial position; (5) liquidity needs resulting from (a) derivative collateral market exposure, (b) asset/liability mismatches, (c) the lack of available funding in the financial markets or (d) unexpected cash demands due to severe mortality calamity or lapse events; (6) financial or customer losses, or regulatory and legal actions, due to inadequate or failed processes or systems, external events and human error or misconduct ~~and external events,~~ such as (a) disruption of our systems and data, (b) an information security breach, (c) a failure to protect the privacy of sensitive data or (d) reliance on ~~third-parties, including to distribute our products;~~third-parties; (7) changes in the regulatory landscape, including related to (a) ~~regulation under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act,~~financial sector regulatory reform, (b) changes in tax laws (c) ~~the U.S. Department of Labor’s~~ fiduciary rules and other ~~fiduciary rule developments,~~standards of care, (d) state insurance laws and developments regarding group-wide supervision, capital and reserves, and (e) privacy and cybersecurity regulation; (8) technological changes which may adversely impact companies in our investment portfolio or cause insurance experience to deviate from our assumptions; (9) ratings downgrades; (10) market conditions that may adversely affect the sales or persistency of our products; (11) competition; and (12) reputational damage. Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation does not intend, and is under no obligation, to update any particular forward-looking statement included in this document. See “Risk Factors” included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for discussion of certain risks relating to our business and investment in our securities.

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PART 1

Item 1. Business

Overview

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation (the “Company”, “PALAC”, “we”, or “our”), with its principal offices in Shelton, Connecticut, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential Annuities, Inc. (“PAI”), which in turn is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential Financial, Inc. (“Prudential Financial”), a New Jersey corporation.

The Company has developed long-term savings and retirement products, which are distributed through its affiliated ~~broker/dealer~~broker-dealer company, Prudential Annuities Distributors, Inc. (“PAD”). The Company issues variable and fixed deferred and immediate annuities for individuals and groups in the United States of America ~~District of Columbia~~ and Puerto Rico. In addition, the Company has a relatively small in force block of variable life insurance policies. The Company stopped actively selling ~~all of the above mentioned~~annuity products between March 2010 and December ~~2017 and began selling~~2017. The Company resumed offering annuity products to new investors (except in New York) when it launched a new fixed ~~indexed~~index annuity ~~in January 2018. The Company will launch~~ and a new deferred income annuity ~~during~~in 2018.

PAI, the direct parent of the Company, may make additional capital contributions to the Company, as needed, to enable the Company to comply with its reserve requirements and fund expenses in connection with its business. PAI is under no obligation to make such contributions and its assets do not back the benefits payable under the Company’s annuity contracts and life insurance. The Company received no capital contributions during 2018 and 2017, and $8.4 billion in capital contributions in ~~2016, and no capital contributions in 2015.~~2016.

On August 31, 2013, the Company redomesticated from Connecticut to Arizona. As a result of the redomestication, the Company is now an ~~Arizona based~~Arizona-based insurance company and its principal insurance regulatory authority is the Arizona Department of Insurance ("AZDOI"). The redomestication also resulted in the Company being domiciled in the same jurisdiction as the then-primary reinsurer of the Company's living benefit guarantees, Pruco Reinsurance, Ltd. ("Pruco Re") which enabled the Company to claim statutory reserve credit for business ceded to Pruco Re without the need for Pruco Re to collateralize its obligations under the reinsurance agreement. As of April 1, 2016, the Company no longer reinsures its living benefit guarantees to Pruco Re.

As disclosed in Note 1 to the Financial Statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company surrendered its New York license effective as of December 31, 2015, and reinsured the majority of its New York business to an affiliate, The Prudential Insurance Company of America (“Prudential Insurance”). The license surrender relieves the Company of the requirement to hold New York statutory reserves on its business in excess of the statutory reserves required by its domiciliary regulator, the AZDOI. For the small portion of New York business retained by the Company, a custodial account has been established to hold collateral assets in an amount equal to a percentage of the reserves associated with such business, as calculated in accordance with PALAC's New York Regulation 109 Plan approved by the New York Department of Financial Services ("NY DFS").

Variable Annuities Recapture

Through March 31, 2016, the Company reinsured the majority of its variable annuity living benefit guarantees to its affiliated companies, Pruco Re and Prudential Insurance, in order to facilitate the capital markets hedging program for these living benefit guarantees. Effective April 1, 2016, the Company recaptured the risks related to its variable annuity living benefit guarantees that were previously reinsured to Pruco Re and Prudential Insurance. In addition, the Company reinsured the variable annuity base contracts, along with the living benefit guarantees, from Pruco Life Insurance Company ("Pruco Life"), excluding the Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey ("PLNJ") business which was reinsured to Prudential Insurance, under a coinsurance and modified coinsurance agreement. The reinsurance agreement covers new and in force business and excludes business reinsured externally by Pruco Life. The product risks related to the reinsured business are being managed in the Company. In addition, the living benefit hedging program related to the reinsured living benefit guarantees is being managed within the Company. These series of transactions are collectively referred to as the "Variable Annuities Recapture". As a result of the Variable Annuities Recapture, Pruco Re no longer had any material active reinsurance with affiliates. On September 30, 2016, Pruco Re was merged with and into the Company.

The Variable Annuities Recapture allows the Company to manage the capital and liquidity risks of these products more efficiently by aggregating both the risks and the assets supporting these risks. In connection with this transaction, the Company evaluated the overall risk management strategy including potential future enhancements to the living benefit hedging program. During the third quarter of 2016, the Company implemented modifications to the risk management strategy in order to more efficiently manage the capital and liquidity associated with these products while continuing to mitigate fluctuations in net income due to capital market movements. These modifications include utilizing a combination of traditional fixed income instruments and derivatives to manage the associated risks.

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~~Products~~

The Company has sold a wide array of annuities, including deferred and immediate 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. In addition, the Company has a relatively small in force block of variable life insurance policies. The Company stopped actively selling such products between March 2010 and December 2017. Starting in January 2018 the company began selling a new fixed indexed annuity. The Company plans to launch a new deferred income annuity during 2018.

Beginning in March 2010, the Company ceased offering its variable and fixed annuity products (and where offered, the companion market value adjustment option) to new investors upon the launch of a new product line by each of Pruco Life and PLNJ (which are affiliates of the Company). These initiatives were implemented to create operational and administrative efficiencies by offering a single product line of annuity products from a more limited group of legal entities. During 2012, the Company suspended additional customer deposits for variable annuities with certain living benefit guarantees. However, subject to applicable contract provisions and administrative rules, the Company continues to accept additional customer deposits on certain in force contracts.

~~During 2018, we launched PruSecure~~^SM, a single premium fixed index annuity, which allows the policyholder to allocate all or a portion of their account balance into an index account, such as the S&P 500. The index account provides interest or an interest component linked to, but not an investment in, the selected index, and its performance over the elected term (i.e., 1, 3 or 5 years), subject to certain participation rates and contractual minimums and maximums. We also anticipate the launch of Guaranteed Income for Tomorrow (“GIFT^SM~~”), a deferred income annuity, which initially will be distributed through direct response solicitation through Prudential Insurance's Group Insurance business.~~

The Company’s in force variable annuities provide its contractholders with tax-deferred asset accumulation together with a base death benefit and a suite of optional guaranteed living benefits (including versions with enhanced guaranteed minimum death benefits), and annuitization options. Certain optional living benefit guarantees include, 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 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. Our results are impacted by the fee rates we assess on our products. Some of our in force products have fee tiers that decline throughout the life of the contract while our newer products generally have lower fee rates.

Our variable annuities generally provide our contractholders with the opportunity to allocate purchase payments to sub-accounts that invest in underlying proprietary and/or non-proprietary mutual funds, frequently under asset allocation programs. Certain products also allow fixed-rate accounts that are invested in the general account and are credited with interest at rates we determine, subject to certain minimums. We also offered 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 invested amount is not held to maturity.

In addition, most contracts also guarantee the contractholder’s beneficiary a return of 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 Company's in force business includes both variable and fixed annuities that may include optional living benefit guarantees (e.g., guaranteed minimum income benefits (“GMIB”), guaranteed minimum accumulation benefits (“GMAB”), guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefits (“GMWB”), and guaranteed minimum income and withdrawal benefits (“GMIWB”)), and/or guaranteed minimum death benefits (“GMDB”). We also offered fixed annuities that provide a guarantee of principal and interest credited at rates we determine, subject to certain contractual minimums.

The reserves for GMDB and GMIB are calculated based on best estimates applying our actuarial and capital markets return assumptions in accordance with an insurance fulfillment accounting framework whereby a liability is established over time representing the portion of fees collected that is expected to be used to satisfy the obligation to pay benefits in future periods.

In contrast, certain of our living benefit guarantees (e.g., GMAB, GMWB and GMIWB) are accounted for in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) as embedded derivatives and reported using a fair value accounting framework. These benefit features are carried at fair value based on estimates of assumptions a market participant would use in valuing these embedded derivatives and the change in fair value during each reporting period is recorded within “Realized investment gains (losses), net”.

~~Table of Contents~~



Products The Company has sold a wide array of annuities, including deferred and immediate 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. In addition, the Company has a relatively small in force block of variable life insurance policies. The Company stopped actively selling such products between March 2010 and December 2017. The Company has resumed offering annuity products to new investors (except in New York). It launched a new fixed indexed annuity in January 2018 and a new deferred income annuity in March 2018. Fixed Annuities: • In January 2018, the Company launched PruSecure^SM,a single premium fixed indexed annuity, which allows the contractholder to allocate all or a portion of their account balance into an index-based strategy, such as the S&P 500. The index-based strategy provides interest or an interest component linked to, but not an investment in, the selected index, and its performance over the elected term (i.e., 1, 3 or 5 years), subject to certain contractual minimums and maximums. • In March 2018, the Company also launched Guaranteed Income For Tomorrow (GIFT)^R, a deferred income annuity. Each contribution purchases increments of guaranteed lifetime income that starts on a future date chosen at issue by the owner and continues for life.	Marketing and Distribution ~~Our annuity products are distributed through a diverse group of third-party broker-dealers and their representatives, banks and wirehouses, independent financial planners and, for our GIFT~~^SM product, direct response solicitation through Prudential Insurance's Group Insurance business. Additionally, our variable annuity products are distributed through financial professionals, including those associated with Prudential Advisors, an affiliated broker-dealer. Our distribution efforts, which are supported by a network of internal and external ~~wholesalers.~~wholesalers, are executed through a diverse group of distributors including: • Third-party broker-dealers ~~For information regarding the U.S. Department of Labor ("DOL") fiduciary rule~~ • Banks and ~~its impact on~~wirehouses • Independent financial planners • Financial professionals, including those associated with Prudential Advisors, Prudential's proprietary nationwide sales organization • Direct response solicitation through Prudential Insurance's Group Insurance business and online (specifically for our ~~business, see “Regulation-ERISA and DOL Fiduciary Rules” below.~~GIFT product)

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Underwriting and Pricing ~~We earn~~Our revenues primarily come in the form of: • Fee income from asset management fees, as well as service fees, representing administrative service and distribution fees from many of our proprietary and non-proprietary mutual funds. The asset management fees aredetermined as a percentage of the average assets of our proprietary mutual funds in our variable annuity products ~~net~~(net of sub-advisory expenses related to non-proprietary ~~sub-advisors. Additionally, we earn~~sub-advisors). • Policy charges and fee income representing mortality and expense and other fees for various insurance-related options and features based on the average daily net asset value of the annuity separate accounts, account value, premium, or guaranteed value, as applicable. ~~We also receive administrative service~~ • Investment income (which contributes to the net spread over interest credited on certain of our products and ~~distribution fees from many of the proprietary and non-proprietary mutual funds.~~related expenses). Our profitability is substantially impacted by our ability to appropriately price our products. We price our ~~variable annuities~~products based ~~on an~~on: • An evaluation of the risks assumed and consideration of applicable risk management strategies, including hedging and reinsurance costs. ~~Our pricing is also influenced by competition~~ • Assumptions regarding investment returns and ~~assumptions regarding~~ contractholder behavior, including persistency (the probability that a ~~policy or~~ contract will remain in force), benefit utilization and the timing and efficiency of withdrawals for contracts with living benefit features, as well as other assumptions. Significant deviations in actual experience from our pricing assumptions could have an adverse or positive effect on the profitability of our products. To encourage persistency, most of our variable and fixed annuities have surrender or withdrawal charges for a specified number of years. In addition, the living benefit features of our variable annuity products encourage persistency because the potential value of the living benefit is fully realized only if the contract persists.	Competition We ~~price~~compete with other providers of retirement savings and accumulation products, including large, well-established insurance and financial services companies. We believe our ~~fixed annuities~~competitive advantage lies primarily in our innovative product features and ~~the fixed-rate accounts of~~ our ~~variable annuities based on assumed investment returns, expenses, competition and persistency,~~risk management strategies as well as ~~other assumptions. We seek to maintain a spread between~~brand recognition, financial strength, the ~~return on our general account invested assets and the interest we credit on our fixed annuities and the fixed-rate accounts~~breadth of our ~~variable annuities.~~ ~~Reserves~~ ~~We establish reserves for~~distribution platform and our annuity products in accordance with U.S. GAAP. We use current best estimate assumptions when establishing reserves for our guaranteed minimum death and income benefits, including assumptions such as interest rates, equity returns, persistency, withdrawal, mortality and annuitization rates. Certain of the guaranteed living benefit features on our variable annuity contracts are accounted for as embedded derivatives and are carried at fair value. The fair values of these benefit features 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 embedded derivative feature, and are based on assumptions a market participant would use in valuing these embedded derivatives. For life contingent payout annuity contracts, we establish reserves using best estimate assumptions with provisions for adverse deviations as of inception or best estimate assumptions as of the most recent loss recognition event. For variable and fixed annuity contracts, we establish liabilities for contractholders’ account balances that represent cumulative deposits plus credited interest, less withdrawals, mortality and expense charges. Policyholders’ account balances also include provisions for non-life contingent payout annuity benefits. For information on developments regarding statutory reserves for variable annuities, see “Regulation-Insurance Operations-State Insurance Regulation-Financial Regulation-Variable Annuities" below. ~~Reinsurance~~ The Company uses reinsurance as part of its risk management and capital management strategies for certain of its optional living benefit features. For additional information regarding the living benefit hedging program and the reinsurance of certain optional living benefit features to Prudential Insurance, see Note 13 to the Financial Statements.customer service capabilities.

Seasonality of Key Financial Items

Our business experiences seasonality with respect to its ongoing operations. The following chart summarizes the key areas of seasonality.



	First Quarter	Second Quarter	Third Quarter	Fourth Quarter
~~Table~~All Ongoing Operations		Impact of ~~Contents~~ ~~Regulation~~ ~~Overview~~ ~~Our business is subject~~annual assumption update (1)		Expenses tend to comprehensive regulation and supervision. The purpose of these regulations is primarily to protect our customers and the overall financial system. Many of the laws and regulations to which we are subject are regularly re-examined. Existing or future laws and regulations may become more restrictive or otherwise adversely affect our operations or profitability, increase compliance costs, or increase potential regulatory exposure. In recent years we have experienced, and expect to continue to experience, extensive changes in the laws and regulations, and regulatory frameworks, applicable to our businesses, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank”) discussed below. In addition,be highest

(1) Impact of annual reviews and update of actuarial assumptions and other refinements.

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Reinsurance

We regularly enter into reinsurance agreements as either the ceding entity or the assuming entity. As a ceding entity, exposure to the risks reinsured is reduced by transferring certain rights and obligations of the underlying insurance product to a counterparty. As an assuming entity, exposure to the risks reinsured is increased by assuming certain rights and obligations of the underlying insurance products from a counterparty. We enter into reinsurance agreements as the ceding entity for a variety of reasons but primarily to reduce exposure to loss, reduce risk volatility, provide additional capacity for future growth and for capital management purposes for certain of our optional living benefit features. Under ceded reinsurance, we remain liable to the underlying policyholder if a third-party reinsurer is unable to meet its obligations. We evaluate the financial condition of reinsurers and monitor the concentration of counterparty risk to mitigate this exposure. We enter into reinsurance agreements as the assuming entity as part of our normal product offerings. For additional information regarding the living benefit hedging program and the reinsurance of certain optional living benefit features to Prudential Insurance, see Note 10 to the Financial Statements.

Regulation

Overview

Our business is subject to comprehensive regulation and supervision. The purpose of these regulations is primarily to protect our customers and the overall financial system. Many of the laws and regulations to which we are subject are regularly re-examined. Existing or future laws and regulations may become more restrictive or otherwise adversely affect our operations or profitability, increase compliance costs, or increase potential regulatory exposure. In recent years we have experienced, and expect to continue to experience, extensive changes in the laws and regulations, and regulatory frameworks, applicable to our businesses. In particular, in October 2018 the Financial Stability Oversight Council (the “Council”) rescinded Prudential Financial’s designation as a non-bank financial company (a “Designated Financial Company”) subject to supervision by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“FRB”) under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (“Dodd-Frank”) as discussed below. We cannot predict how current or future initiatives will further impact ~~these~~ existing laws, regulations, and regulatory frameworks.

State insurance laws regulate all aspects of our business. Insurance departments in the District of Columbia, Guam and all states monitor our insurance operations. The Company is domiciled in Arizona and its principal insurance regulatory authority is the AZDOI. Generally, our insurance products must be approved by the insurance regulators in the state in which they are sold. Our insurance products are substantially affected by federal and state tax laws. In the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company surrendered its New York license. The Company recaptured the New York living benefits previously ceded to Pruco Re, and reinsured the majority of its New York business, both the living benefit and base contract, to an affiliate, Prudential Insurance.

The primary regulatory frameworks applicable to Prudential Financial and the Company are described further below under the following section headings:

Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act

~~ERISA and DOL Fiduciary Rules~~

~~State Insurance Holding Company Regulation~~

~~Insurance Operations~~

◦

~~State Insurance Regulation~~


◦	Rescission of Designation


◦	~~Federal and State Securities Regulation Affecting Insurance Operations~~

~~Derivatives Regulation~~

~~Privacy and Cybersecurity Regulation~~

~~Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Bribery Laws~~

~~Unclaimed Property Laws~~

~~Taxation~~

~~International and Global Regulatory Initiatives~~

Several of Prudential Financial’s domestic and foreign regulators, including the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (“FRB”), the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance ("NJDOBI") and the AZDOI, participate in an annual supervisory college. The purpose of the supervisory college is to promote ongoing supervisory coordination, facilitate the sharing of information among regulators and to enhance each regulator’s understanding of Prudential Financial’s risk profile. The most recent supervisory college was held in October 2017.

~~Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act~~

Dodd-Frank subjects Prudential Financial to substantial federal regulation, primarily as a non-bank financial company (a “Designated Financial Company”) designated for supervision by the FRB as discussed below. We cannot predict the timing or requirements of the regulations not yet adopted under Dodd-Frank or how such regulations will impact our business, credit or financial strength ratings, results of operations, cash flows, financial condition or competitive position. Furthermore, we cannot predict whether such regulations will make it advisable or require us to hold or raise additional capital or liquid assets, potentially affecting capital deployment activities, including paying dividends.

Initiatives Regarding Dodd-Frank and Financial Regulation

ERISA

Fiduciary Rules and other Standards of Care

In November 2017, the U.S. Department of the Treasury released a report titled “Financial Stability Oversight Council Designations,” with recommendations on the Financial Stability Oversight Council’s (the "Council") standards and processes for the designation and continued designation of Designated Financial Companies. The Treasury was directed by President Trump in an April 2017 memorandum to review the process and issue the report. The report recommends, among other things, prioritizing an activities-based approach over the use of individual company designations, enhancing coordination and engagement with primary insurance regulators at the state level, and improving the analysis used to support determinations.

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In October 2017, the U.S. Department of the Treasury released a report titled “A Financial System That Creates Economic Opportunities - Asset Management and Insurance.” The Treasury was directed by President Trump in a February 2017 executive order to review the regulation of the financial system and issue the report. The report identifies laws, regulations and other requirements that promote or inhibit certain core principles of financial regulation that are outlined in the order. Among other things, the report recommends that primary federal and state regulators should focus on potential systemic risks arising from products and activities, and on implementing regulations that strengthen the asset management and insurance industries as a whole, rather than focus on an entity-based regulatory regime. The report also affirms the role of the U.S. state-based system of insurance regulation. In addition, the report supports current efforts at the DOL to reexamine, and delay full implementation of, the fiduciary rules, and encourages the DOL and the SEC to work with state insurance regulators to evaluate the impacts of the fiduciary rules across markets.

In June 2017, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Financial CHOICE Act, which, if enacted, would amend certain provisions of Dodd-Frank, including the authority of the Council to designate non-bank financial companies for enhanced supervision by the FRB. In addition, from time to time other legislation aimed at limiting Dodd-Frank has been proposed.

We cannot predict whether the Treasury reports, the Financial CHOICE Act or other initiatives aimed at revising Dodd-Frank and regulation of the financial system will ultimately form the basis for changes to laws or regulations impacting the Company, or lead to the removal of Prudential Financial’s Designated Financial Company status.

~~Regulation as a Designated Financial Company~~

Dodd-Frank established the Council which is authorized to subject non-bank financial companies such as Prudential Financial to stricter prudential standards and to supervision by the FRB if the Council determines that either (i) material financial distress at Prudential Financial, or (ii) the nature, scope, size, scale, concentration, interconnectedness, or mix of Prudential Financial’s activities could pose a threat to domestic financial stability. Prudential Financial has been a Designated Financial Company since September 2013 under the first criterion. Under Dodd-Frank the Council is required to reevaluate this designation at least annually. The Council last voted to maintain Prudential Financial’s designation in December 2015, and Prudential Financial's designation is currently being reevaluated.

Thus far, the FRB has focused its general supervisory authority over us in several areas, including oversight of our capital planning and risk management processes, model governance and validation, liquidity management, compliance, information and technology security, and resolution and recovery planning.

~~As a Designated Financial Company, Prudential Financial is, or may become, subject to the following standards (many of which are the subject of ongoing rule-making as described below), among others:~~

~~Capital, leverage and liquidity requirements~~. Dodd-Frank requires the FRB to establish requirements and limitations relating to capital, leverage and liquidity. The FRB issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking in June 2016 regarding approaches to minimum regulatory capital requirements, but otherwise has taken no public action.

~~Corporate governance, risk management and liquidity risk requirements~~. The FRB issued a proposed rule in June 2016 that would apply consistent liquidity risk, corporate governance, and risk-management standards to Designated Financial Companies, but has not issued a final rule.

~~Stress testing.~~ Dodd-Frank requires Prudential Financial to be subject to stress tests to be promulgated by the FRB. Under FRB rules, Designated Financial Companies must comply with these requirements in the calendar year after the year in which a company first becomes subject to the FRB’s minimum regulatory capital requirements discussed above, although the FRB has the discretion to accelerate or extend the effective date.

~~Early remediation.~~ ~~The FRB is required under Dodd-Frank to prescribe regulations for the establishment of an “early remediation” regime for the financial distress of Designated Financial Companies.~~

~~Resolution planning.~~ Prudential Financial is required to submit to the FRB and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”), and periodically update in the event of material events, a plan for rapid and orderly resolution in the event of severe financial distress. Prudential Financial submitted its last resolution plan in December 2015. In July 2017, the FRB and the FDIC announced that the next resolution plan filing deadline will be delayed from December 31, 2017 to December 31, 2018. If the FRB and the FDIC were to jointly determine that Prudential Financial's 2015 resolution plan, or any future resolution plan, is not credible or would not facilitate an orderly resolution of Prudential Financial under applicable law, and Prudential Financial is unable to remedy the identified deficiencies in a timely manner, the regulators may jointly impose more stringent capital, leverage or liquidity requirements or restrictions on growth, activities or operations, or require Prudential Financial to divest assets. The FRB and FDIC have thus far issued no comments on Prudential Financial's 2015 resolution plan.

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~~Recovery planning.~~ Prudential Financial is also required to submit to the FRB a recovery plan that describes the steps that Prudential Financial could take to reduce risk and conserve or restore liquidity and capital in the event of severe financial stress scenarios. Prudential Financial submitted its first recovery plan in 2016. Prudential Financial is scheduled to submit its next recovery plan in June 2019.

~~Credit exposure limits.~~ Dodd-Frank requires the FRB to promulgate regulations that would prohibit Designated Financial Companies from having a credit exposure to any unaffiliated company in excess of 25% of the Designated Financial Company’s capital stock and surplus. The FRB has not proposed any such rule.

~~Acquisitions.~~ ~~As a Designated Financial Company, Prudential Financial must seek pre-approval from the FRB for the acquisition of specified interests in certain companies engaged in financial activities.~~

~~Recommendations to other regulators.~~ The Council may recommend that state insurance regulators or other regulators apply new or heightened standards and safeguards for activities or practices Prudential Financial and other insurers or other financial services companies engage in.

~~Activities based capital requirements~~. As a Designated Financial Company, Prudential Financial could be subject to additional capital requirements for, and other restrictions on, proprietary trading and sponsorship of, and investment in, hedge, private equity and other covered funds.

~~ERISA and DOL Fiduciary Rules~~

The Employee Retirement Income Security Act ("ERISA") is a comprehensive federal statute that applies to U.S. employee benefit plans sponsored by private employers and labor unions. Plans subject to ERISA include pension and profit sharing plans and welfare plans, including health, life and disability plans. ERISA provisions include reporting and disclosure rules, standards of conduct that apply to plan fiduciaries and prohibitions on transactions known as “prohibited transactions,” such as conflict-of-interest transactions and certain transactions between a benefit plan and a party in interest. ERISA also provides for civil and criminal penalties and enforcement. Prudential Financial’s insurance, investment management and retirement businesses provide services to employee benefit plans subject to ERISA, including services where Prudential Financial may act as an ERISA fiduciary. In addition to ERISA regulation of businesses providing products and services to ERISA plans, Prudential Financial becomes subject to ERISA’s prohibited transaction rules for transactions with those plans, which may affect Prudential Financial’s ability to enter transactions, or the terms on which transactions may be entered, with those plans, even in businesses unrelated to those giving rise to party in interest status.

~~DOL Fiduciary Rules and Other Fiduciary Rules Developments~~

In April 2016, the Department of Labor ("DOL") issued a final regulation accompanied by new class exemptions and amendments to long-standing exemptions from the prohibited transaction provisions under ERISA (collectively, the “Rules”). The Rules redefine who is considered a “fiduciary” for purposes of transactions with qualified plans, plan participants and Individual Retirement Accounts ("IRAs"), and generally provide that investment advice to a plan participant or IRA owner will be treated as a fiduciary activity. The Rules became applicable, in part, on June 9, 2017 and the remainder of the Rules will become applicable on July 1, 2019. In November 2017, the DOL announced an 18-month extension of the previous January 1, 2018 applicability date for the remainder of the Rules in order to give the DOL the time necessary to consider public comments received in response to a DOL request for information (as further described below), including whether changes and alternatives to the Rules would be appropriate.

In February 2017 President Trump directed the DOL to examine the Rules to determine whether they may adversely affect access to retirement information and advice and, if so, to issue a proposed rule rescinding or revising the Rules. In connection with the ongoing examination of the Rules as directed by President Trump, the DOL issued a request for information seeking public comment on the Rules. In addition, the Secretary of Labor has stated that he will seek to engage with the SEC on the Rules. In June 2017, the Chairman of the SEC issued a public statement soliciting comments on the standard of conduct for investment advisers and broker-dealers when they provide advice to retail investors. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) has also formed an Annuity Suitability Working Group, which is considering the development of enhanced standards for the sale of annuities. In addition, in December 2017, the NY DFS proposed amendments to its suitability regulations which, if enacted, would impose a best-interest standard to the sale of all annuity and life insurance products in New York, and other state regulators and legislatures have adopted or are considering adopting best interest standards. We cannot predict what impact these developments will have on the Rules and their application to our products or on the standard of conduct applicable to our business.

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We believe the Rules impact our individual annuities business. Overall, the Rules have resulted in increased compliance costs and may create increased exposure to legal claims under certain circumstances, including class actions. In response to the Rules becoming effective, certain distributors restricted the sale of certain types of annuities. During the delay of certain requirements until July 2019, all qualified sales of variable and fixed annuities are generally subject to the same “impartial conduct standards” under the Rules. If the Rules become effective in their current form, following the July 2019 effective date, sales of variable annuities by our retail distributors, including Prudential Advisors, would only be permitted pursuant to the best interest contract exemption, while sales of certain fixed annuities would be permitted pursuant to the best interest contract exemption or a separate exemption. In addition, in some instances we are altering our product design, offerings or pricing to meet the needs of certain distributors to support their compliance with the Rules. We are also monitoring and limiting certain wholesaling and other sales support and customer service activities to continue not to be classified as a fiduciary under the Rules.

The Rules have had an impact on our business as described above, and any revised Rules or additional standards developed by the DOL, SEC or the NAIC and state regulators may further affect our business, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

State Insurance Holding Company Regulation

Insurance Operations


◦	State Insurance Regulation


◦	Federal and State Securities Regulation Affecting Insurance Operations

Derivatives Regulation

Privacy and Cybersecurity Regulation

Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Bribery Laws

Unclaimed Property Laws

Taxation

International and Global Regulatory Initiatives

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Several of Prudential Financial’s domestic and foreign regulators participate in an annual supervisory college facilitated by the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance ("NJDOBI"). The purpose of the supervisory college is to promote ongoing supervisory coordination, facilitate the sharing of information among regulators and enhance each regulator’s understanding of Prudential Financial’s risk profile. The most recent supervisory college was held in October 2018.

Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act

Rescission of Designation

As a result of the Council’s rescission of Prudential Financial’s Designated Financial Company status, Prudential Financial is no longer subject to supervision and examination by the FRB or to the prudential standards applicable to Designated Financial Companies under Dodd-Frank. Accordingly, Prudential Financial will no longer incur FRB supervisory fees or certain consulting and other costs associated with FRB supervision.

The Council maintains the authority to designate entities, including Prudential Financial, for FRB supervision if it determines that either (i) material financial distress at the entity, or (ii) the nature, scope, size, scale, concentration, interconnectedness, or mix of the entity’s activities, could pose a threat to domestic financial stability. Prudential Financial continues to believe it does not meet the standards for designation.

Initiatives Regarding Dodd-Frank and Financial Regulation

In November 2017, the U.S. Department of the Treasury released a report titled “Financial Stability Oversight Council Designations,” with recommendations on the Council's standards and processes for the designation and continued designation of Designated Financial Companies. In addition, in October 2017, the U.S. Department of the Treasury released a report titled “A Financial System That Creates Economic Opportunities - Asset Management and Insurance” which recommended, among other things, that primary federal and state regulators should focus on potential systemic risks arising from products and activities, and on implementing regulations that strengthen the asset management and insurance industries as a whole, rather than focus on an entity-based regulatory regime. The report also affirmed the role of the U.S. state-based system of insurance regulation. From time to time Congress has also introduced legislation which if enacted, would amend certain provisions of Dodd-Frank, including by requiring the Council to prioritize the use of an activities-based approach to mitigate identified systemic risks.

We cannot predict whether the Treasury reports, new legislation or other initiatives aimed at revising Dodd-Frank and regulation of the financial system will ultimately form the basis for changes to laws or regulations impacting the Company.

ERISA

Fiduciary Rules and Other Standards of Care

The Company and our distributors are subject to rules regarding the standard of care applicable to sales of our products and the provision of advice to our customers. In recent years, many of these rules have been revised or reexamined, as described below. We cannot predict whether any proposed or new amendments to the existing regulatory framework will ultimately become applicable to our businesses. Any new standards issued by the U.S. Department of Labor ("DOL"), the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) or state regulators may affect our businesses, results of operations, cash flows and financial condition.

DOL Fiduciary Rules

In June 2018, a Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals decision became effective that vacated rules issued by the DOL that redefined who would be considered a “fiduciary” for purposes of transactions with qualified plans, plan participants and Individual Retirement Accounts ("IRAs"), and generally provided that investment advice to a plan participant or IRA owner would be treated as a fiduciary activity. The rules adversely impacted sales in our individual annuities business and resulted in increased compliance costs prior to the rules being vacated. We cannot predict whether the DOL will issue any new fiduciary rules or what impact they would have on the Company.

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SEC Best Interest Regulation

In April 2018, the SEC proposed a package of rulemakings and interpretative guidance that would, among other things, require broker-dealers to act in the best interest of retail customers when recommending securities transactions or investment strategies to them. The proposals would also clarify the SEC’s views of the fiduciary duty that investment advisers owe to their clients. If enacted in their current form, we believe the primary impact of the proposals would be to our individual annuities business and our Prudential Advisors distribution system.

State Standard of Care Regulation

The NAIC has formed an Annuity Suitability Working Group, which is developing proposed revisions to the model suitability rule applicable to the sale of annuities. Amendments to the model rule could ultimately form the basis of amendments to state insurance law suitability rules applicable to our business. In addition, certain state regulators and legislatures have adopted or are considering adopting best interest standards. For example, in July 2018, the NY DFS issued an amendment to its suitability regulations which, will impose a best-interest standard on the sale of annuity and life insurance products in New York. The amendments are scheduled to become effective for annuity products on August 1, 2019 and for life insurance products on February 1, 2020. In addition, in October 2018 the New Jersey Bureau of Securities issued a proposal that would impose a fiduciary standard on all New Jersey investment professionals.

State Insurance Holding Company Regulation

We are subject to the Arizona insurance holding company law which requires us to register with the insurance department and to furnish annually financial and other information about the operations of the Company. Generally, all transactions with affiliates that affect the Company must be fair and reasonable and, if material, require prior notice and approval or non-disapproval by the AZDOI.

Change of Control

Most states have insurance laws that require regulatory approval of a direct or indirect change of control of an insurer or an insurer's holding company. Laws such as these that apply to us prevent any person from acquiring control of Prudential Financial or of its insurance subsidiaries unless that person has filed a statement with specified information with the insurance regulators and has obtained their prior approval. Under most states' statutes, acquiring 10% or more of the voting stock of an insurance company or its parent company is presumptively considered a change of control, although such presumption may be rebutted. Accordingly, any person who acquires 10% or more of the voting securities of Prudential Financial without the prior approval of the insurance regulators of the states in which its U.S. insurance companies are domiciled will be in violation of these states' laws and may be subject to injunctive action requiring the disposition or seizure of those securities by the relevant insurance regulator or prohibiting the voting of those securities and to other actions determined by the relevant insurance regulator. In addition, many state insurance laws require prior notification to state insurance departments of a change in control of a non-domiciliary insurance company doing business in that state.

Group-Wide Supervision

~~The~~ NJDOBI ~~has acted~~acts as the group-wide supervisor of Prudential Financial ~~since 2015~~ pursuant to New Jersey legislation that authorizes group-wide supervision of ~~internationally active insurance groups.~~Internationally Active Insurance Groups ("IAIGs"). The law, among other provisions, authorizes NJDOBI to examine Prudential Financial and its subsidiaries, including by ascertaining the financial condition of the insurance companies for purposes of assessing enterprise risk. In accordance with this authority, NJDOBI receives information about Prudential Financial’s operations beyond those of its New Jersey domiciled insurance subsidiaries.

The NAIC has promulgated model laws for adoption in the United States that would provide for “group-wide” supervision of certain insurance holding companies in addition to the current regulation of insurance subsidiaries. While the timing of their adoption and content will vary by jurisdiction, we have identified the following areas of focus in these model laws: (1) uniform standards for insurer corporate governance; (2) group-wide supervision of insurance holding companies; (3) adjustments to risk-based capital calculations to account for group-wide risks; and (4) additional regulatory and disclosure requirements for insurance holding companies.

Some laws which facilitate group-wide supervision have already been enacted in the jurisdictions in which Prudential Financial operates, such as Own Risk and Solvency Assessment ("ORSA") reporting, which requires larger insurers to assess the adequacy of its and its group's risk management and current and future solvency position, and Corporate Governance Annual Disclosure reporting, which requires reporting on governance, policies and practices.

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Additional areas of focus regarding group-wide supervision of insurance holding companies include the following:

Group Capital Calculation. The NAIC has formed a working group to develop a U.S. group capital calculation using a risk-based capital ("RBC") aggregation methodology. In constructing the calculation the working group is considering group capital developments undertaken by the FRB and the International Association of Insurance Supervisors ("IAIS"). The working group plans to develop a proposed calculation and begin field testing in 2019.

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Macroprudential Framework. The NAIC has ~~also~~ established a new initiative to develop a macroprudential framework intended to: (1) improve state insurance regulators’ ability to monitor and respond to the impact of external financial and economic risks on insurers; (2) better monitor and respond to risk emanating from or amplified by insurers that might be transmitted externally; and (3) increase public awareness of NAIC/state monitoring capabilities regarding macroprudential trends. As part of this initiative, the areas identified by the NAIC for potential enhancement include liquidity reporting and stress testing, resolution and recovery, capital stress testing, and counterparty exposure and concentration. ~~We cannot predict what, if any, additional requirements and compliance costs any new group-wide standards will impose on Prudential Financial.~~

Examination.State insurance departments conduct periodic examinations of the books and records, financial reporting, policy filings and market conduct of insurance companies domiciled in their states, generally once every three to five years. Examinations are generally carried out in cooperation with the insurance departments of other states under guidelines promulgated by the NAIC. ~~During 2016, as part~~As group-wide supervisor, NJDOBI, along with our other insurance regulators, has expanded the periodic examinations to cover Prudential and all of ~~the normal five year examination,~~its subsidiaries. In June 2018, AZDOI and NJDOBI, along with the insurance regulators of Connecticut, and Indiana, ~~commenced a coordinated risk focused financial~~completed their first global consolidated group-wide examination of Prudential Financial and its subsidiaries for the ~~five year~~five-year period ended December 31, 2016 ~~covering~~and had no reportable findings.

We cannot predict what, if any, additional requirements and compliance costs any new group-wide standards will impose on Prudential ~~Financial and all of its subsidiaries in connection with NJDOBI’s role as group-wide supervisor. We expect the exam to be completed in 2018.~~Financial.

Insurance Operations

State Insurance Regulation

State insurance authorities have broad administrative powers with respect to all aspects of the insurance business including: (1) licensing to transact business; (2) licensing agents; (3) admittance of assets to statutory surplus; (4) regulating premium rates for certain insurance products; (5) approving policy forms; (6) regulating unfair trade and claims practices; (7) establishing reserve requirements and solvency standards; (8) fixing maximum interest rates on life insurance policy loans and minimum accumulation or surrender values; (9) regulating the type, amounts and valuations of investments permitted; (10) regulating reinsurance transactions, including the role of captive reinsurers; ~~(11) establishing disclosure requirements;~~ and ~~(12)~~(11) other matters.

State insurance laws and regulations require the Company to file financial statements with state insurance departments everywhere it does business in accordance with accounting practices and procedures prescribed or permitted by these departments. The Company’s operations and accounts are subject to examination by those departments at any time.

Financial Regulation

Dividend Payment Limitations. The Arizona insurance law regulates the amount of dividends that may be paid by the Company. See Note 813 to the Financial Statements for a discussion of dividend restrictions.

Risk-Based Capital. We are subject to RBC requirements that are designed to enhance regulation of insurers’ solvency. The RBC calculation, which regulators use to assess the sufficiency of an insurer’s statutory capital, measures the risk characteristics of a company’s assets, liabilities and certain off-balance sheet items. In general, RBC is calculated by applying factors to various asset, premium, claim, expense and reserve items. Within a given risk category, these factors are higher for those items with greater underlying risk and lower for items with lower underlying risk. Insurers that have less statutory capital than required are considered to have inadequate capital and are subject to varying degrees of regulatory action depending upon the level of capital inadequacy.

Areas of the RBC framework that have been subject to reexamination or revision include the following:

Tax Act Changes. In June 2018, the NAIC’s Capital Adequacy Task Force approved revisions to the RBC framework in respect of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “Tax Act of 2017”). The revisions apply to our RBC ratio as of December 31, 2018. For a discussion of the impact of the Tax Act of 2017 and these changes on our RBC ratio, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Liquidity and Capital Resources-Capital-Insurance Regulatory Capital.”

Bond Factors. The NAIC’s Investment Risk-Based Capital Working Group is developing updates to the RBC factors for invested assets including expanding, for RBC purposes, the current NAIC designations from six to twenty. ~~Additional adjustments~~

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Longevity/Mortality Risk. The NAIC’s Longevity Risk Subgroup of the Life Insurance and Annuities Committee and Financial Condition Committee is developing recommendations to recognize longevity risk in statutory reserves and/or risk-based capital related to annuities. The Company assumes this longevity risk primarily in its individual annuities business. The NAIC is also developing updates to the existing mortality risk factors in RBC.

Operational Risk. In 2018 the NAIC adopted operational risk charges that will be effective for year-end 2018 RBC formulas and is continuing to consider whether to add an explicit growth risk charge to the RBC ~~calculation~~formula. The operational risk charges are ~~also under consideration by~~not expected to materially impact our 2018 RBC ratio given that we expect to hold statutory capital consistent with or in excess of the ~~NAIC, including~~thresholds established through these new ~~charges for longevity risk and operational risk.~~ charges.

Due to the ongoing nature of the NAIC’s activities regarding RBC, we cannot determine the ultimate timing of ~~these~~the proposed changes or their impact on RBC or on our financial position.

Insurance Reserves and Regulatory Capital. State insurance laws require us to analyze the adequacy of our reserves annually. Our appointed actuary must submit an opinion that our reserves, when considered in light of the assets we hold with respect to those reserves, make adequate provision for our contractual obligations and related expenses.

~~Variable Annuities.~~ ~~In November 2015,~~The reserving framework for certain of our products has undergone reexamination and revision in recent years, including in the ~~NAIC adopted the~~ following areas:

Variable Annuities Framework for Change which outlines the NAIC’s commitment to change in concept the statutory framework to address concerns that have led to the development and utilization of captive reinsurance transactions for variable annuity business in order to create more consistency across regulators and remove the impetus for insurers to cede risk to captives. The framework contemplates extensive changes to the guidance and rules governing variable annuities, including with regard to reserving, capital, accounting, derivative use limitations and disclosure.

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. In ~~December 2017,~~2018, the NAIC ~~exposed~~adopted a framework for ~~public comment~~ proposed ~~recommendations and~~ revisions to the current Actuarial Guideline No. 43 (“AG 43”) and RBC “C-3 Phase II” ~~framework~~system applicable to variable annuities reserve and capital requirements. Proposed changes include: (i) aligning economically-focused hedge assets with liability valuations, (ii) reforming standard scenarios for AG 43 and C3 Phase II; (iii) revising asset admissibility for derivatives and deferred tax assets, and (iv) standardizing capital market assumptions and aligning total asset requirements and reserves. ~~Given~~The NAIC will seek to implement the ~~uncertainty of~~revised framework in 2019 with a January 1, 2020 targeted effective date and an optional three-year phase-in. The Company does not expect material impacts to target capital levels from the ultimate outcome of these initiatives, at this time we are unable to predict the timing of any new rules or their expected effects on our business. If applicable insurance laws are changed in a way that impairs our ability to write variable annuities and efficiently manage their associated risks, we may need to increase prices or modify our products, which could also adversely affect our competitiveness, capital and financial position and results of operations.revised framework.

During 2016, we recaptured the ~~Company executed~~risks related to our variable annuities living benefit riders and certain retirement products that were previously reinsured to our captive reinsurance company in a series of transactions we collectively refer to as the “Variable Annuities Recapture”. While ~~the Company~~we completed the Variable Annuities Recapture in advance of definitive guidance from the NAIC's Variable ~~Annuities Framework for Change, the Company believes~~Annuity Issues Working Group, we believe the Variable Annuities Recapture is reasonably aligned with the key concept changes planned under the framework. For additional information on the Variable Annuities Recapture, see ~~“Business-Variable Annuities Recapture”.~~Item 1. “Business" above.

~~Market Conduct~~International and Global Regulatory Initiatives

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Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act

Rescission of Designation

Initiatives Regarding Dodd-Frank and Financial Regulation

ERISA

Fiduciary Rules and Other Standards of Care

DOL Fiduciary Rules

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SEC Best Interest Regulation

State Standard of Care Regulation

State Insurance Holding Company Regulation

Change of Control

Group-Wide Supervision

NJDOBI acts as the group-wide supervisor of Prudential Financial pursuant to New Jersey legislation that authorizes group-wide supervision of Internationally Active Insurance Groups ("IAIGs"). The law, among other provisions, authorizes NJDOBI to examine Prudential Financial and its subsidiaries, including by ascertaining the financial condition of the insurance companies for purposes of assessing enterprise risk. In accordance with this authority, NJDOBI receives information about Prudential Financial’s operations beyond those of its New Jersey domiciled insurance subsidiaries.

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Additional areas of focus regarding group-wide supervision of insurance holding companies include the following:

Macroprudential Framework. The NAIC has established a new initiative to develop a macroprudential framework intended to: (1) improve state insurance regulators’ ability to monitor and respond to the impact of external financial and economic risks on insurers; (2) better monitor and respond to risk emanating from or amplified by insurers that might be transmitted externally; and (3) increase public awareness of NAIC/state monitoring capabilities regarding macroprudential trends. As part of this initiative, the areas identified by the NAIC for potential enhancement include liquidity reporting and stress testing, resolution and recovery, capital stress testing, and counterparty exposure and concentration.

Examination. State insurance departments conduct periodic examinations of the books and records, financial reporting, policy filings and market conduct of insurance companies domiciled in their states, generally once every three to five years. Examinations are generally carried out in cooperation with the insurance departments of other states under guidelines promulgated by the NAIC. As group-wide supervisor, NJDOBI, along with our other insurance regulators, has expanded the periodic examinations to cover Prudential and all of its subsidiaries. In June 2018, AZDOI and NJDOBI, along with the insurance regulators of Connecticut, and Indiana, completed their first global consolidated group-wide examination of Prudential Financial and its subsidiaries for the five-year period ended December 31, 2016 and had no reportable findings.

We cannot predict what, if any, additional requirements and compliance costs any new group-wide standards will impose on Prudential Financial.

Insurance Operations

State Insurance Regulation

State insurance laws and regulations ~~include numerous provisions governing~~require the ~~marketplace activities of insurers, including provisions governing the form and content of disclosure~~Company to ~~consumers, illustrations, advertising, sales~~file financial statements with state insurance departments everywhere it does business in accordance with accounting practices and ~~complaint handling. State regulatory authorities generally enforce~~procedures prescribed or permitted by these ~~provisions through periodic market conduct examinations.~~

~~Insurance Guaranty Association Assessments~~

~~Each state has insurance guaranty association laws under which insurers doing business in the state are members~~departments. The Company’s operations and may be assessed by state insurance guaranty associations for certain obligations of insolvent insurance companies to contractholders and claimants. Typically, states assess each member insurer in an amount related to the member insurer's proportionate share of the line of business written by all member insurers in the state. While we cannot predict the amount and timing of future assessments on the Company under these laws, Prudential Financial has established estimated reserves for future assessments relating to insurance companies that are currently subject to insolvency proceedings.

~~Federal and State Securities Regulation Affecting Insurance Operations~~

Our variable life insurance and variable annuity products generally are “securities” within the meaning of federal securities laws and may be required to be registered under the federal securities laws and subject to regulation by the SEC and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). Federal securities regulation affects investment advice, sales and related activities with respect to these products.

In certain states, our variable life insurance and variable annuity products are considered “securities” within the meaning of state securities laws. As securities, these products may be subject to filing and certain other requirements. Also, sales activities with respect to these products generallyaccounts are subject to ~~state securities regulation. Such regulation may affect investment advice, sales and related activities for these products.~~examination by those departments at any time.

~~Federal Insurance Office~~

Dodd-Frank established a Federal Insurance Office (“FIO”) within the Department of the Treasury headed by a director appointed by the Secretary of the Treasury. While the FIO does not have general supervisory or regulatory authority over the business of insurance, the FIO director performs various functions with respect to insurance, including serving as a non-voting member of the Council, monitoring the insurance sector and representing the U.S. on prudential aspects of international insurance matters, including at the IAIS.

~~Derivatives~~Financial Regulation

Prudential Financial and its subsidiaries use derivatives for various purposes, including hedging interest rate, foreign currency and equity market exposures. Dodd-Frank established a framework for regulationDividend Payment Limitations. The Arizona insurance law regulates the amount of the over-the-counter derivatives markets. This framework sets out requirements regarding the clearing and reporting of derivatives transactions, as well as collateral posting requirements for uncleared swaps. Affiliated swaps entered into between Prudential Financial subsidiaries are generally exempt from most of these requirements.

We continue to monitor the potential hedging cost impacts of new initial margin requirements that we will be required to comply with in 2020, and increased capital requirements for derivatives transactionsdividends that may be imposed on banks that are our counterparties. Additionally, the increased need to post cash collateral in connection with mandatorily cleared swaps may also require the liquidation of higher yielding assets for low yielding cash, resulting in a negative impact on investment income.

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~~Privacy and Cybersecurity Regulation~~

We are subject to laws, regulations and directives that require financial institutions and other businesses to protect the security and confidentiality of personal information, including health-related and customer information, and to notify their customers and other individuals of their policies and practices relating to the collection and disclosure of health-related and customer information.

In addition, we must comply with international privacy laws, regulations, and directives concerning the cross border transfer or use of employee and customer personal information. These laws, regulations and directives also:

~~provide additional protections regarding the use and disclosure of certain information such as social security numbers;~~

~~require notice to affected individuals, regulators and others if there is a breach of the security of certain personal information;~~

~~require financial institutions and creditors to implement effective programs to detect, prevent, and mitigate identity theft;~~

~~regulate the process by which financial institutions make telemarketing calls and send e-mail or fax messages to consumers and customers; and~~

~~prescribe the permissible uses of certain personal information, including customer information and consumer report information.~~

Financial regulators in the U.S. and international jurisdictions in which Prudential Financial operates continue to focus on cybersecurity, including in proposed rulemaking, and have communicated heightened expectations and have increased emphasis in this area in their examinations of regulated entities. For example, the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation, which is scheduled to become effective in May 2018, confers additional privacy rights on individuals in the European Union and establishes penalties for violations. In addition, legislative and regulatory bodies may consider additional or more detailed or restrictive laws and regulations regarding these subjects and the privacy and security of personal information.

In March 2017, the NY DFS’s new cybersecurity regulation went into effect. The regulation requires financial institutions regulated by NY DFS, including Prudential Financial's insurance subsidiaries licensed in New York, to establish a cybersecurity program. The regulation includes specific technical safeguards as well as requirements regarding governance, incident planning, data management, system testing, vendor oversight and regulator notification. In addition, in October 2017, the NAIC adopted the Insurance Data Security Model Law that is consistent with the New York regulation. The model law in turn is expected to form the basis for legislation in the other states in which Prudential Financial's insurers operate.

The Company is monitoring regulatory guidance and rulemaking in this area, and may be subject to increased compliance costs and regulatory requirements. In order to respond to the threat of security breaches and cyber-attacks, Prudential Financial has developed a program overseenpaid by the Chief Information Security Officer and the Information Security Office that is designed to protect and preserve the confidentiality, integrity, and continued availability of all information owned by, or in the care of the Company. As part of this program, we also maintain an incident response plan. The program provides for the coordination of various corporate functions and governance groups, and serves as a framework for the execution of responsibilities across businesses and operational roles. The program establishes security standards for our technological resources, and includes training for employees, contractors and third parties. As part of the program, we conduct periodic exercises and a response readiness assessment with outside advisors to gain a third-party independent assessment of our technical program and our internal response preparedness. We regularly engage with the outside security community and monitor cyber threat information.

~~Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Bribery Laws~~

Our business is subject to various anti-money laundering and financial transparency laws and regulations that seek to promote cooperation among financial institutions, regulators and law enforcement entities in identifying parties that may be involved in terrorism or money laundering. In addition, under current U.S. law and regulations we may be prohibited from dealing with certain individuals or entities in certain circumstances and we may be required to monitor customer activities, which may affect our ability to attract and retain customers. We are also subject to various laws and regulations relating to corrupt and illegal payments to government officials and others, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the U.K.’s Anti-Bribery Law. The obligation of financial institutions, including the Company, to identify their clients, to monitor for and report suspicious transactions, to monitor dealings with government officials, to respond to requests for information by regulatory authorities and law enforcement agencies, and to share information with other financial institutions, has required the implementation and maintenance of internal practices, procedures and controls.

~~Unclaimed Property Laws~~

We are subject to the laws and regulations of states and other jurisdictions concerning the identification, reporting and escheatment of unclaimed or abandoned funds, and we are subject to audit and examination for compliance with these requirements. For additional discussion of these matters, seeSee Note ~~12 to the Financial Statements.~~

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~~Taxation~~

~~U.S. Taxation~~

Prudential Financial and certain domestic subsidiaries, including the Company, file a consolidated federal income tax return that includes both life insurance companies and non-life insurance companies. Certain other domestic subsidiaries file separate tax returns. The principal differences between the Company’s actual income tax expense and the applicable statutory federal income tax rate are generally deductions for non-taxable investment income, including the dividends received deduction ("DRD") and certain tax credits. For tax years prior to 2018, the applicable statutory federal tax rate was 35%. For tax years starting in 2018, the applicable statutory federal income tax rate is 21%. In addition, as discussed further below, the tax attributes of our products may impact both the Company’s and our customers’ tax positions. See “Income Taxes” in Note 2 to the Financial Statements and Note 913 to the Financial Statements for a ~~description~~discussion of dividend restrictions.

Areas of the ~~Company’s tax position. As discussed further below, new tax legislation and other potential changes~~RBC framework that have been subject to reexamination or revision include the following:

Tax Act Changes. In June 2018, the NAIC’s Capital Adequacy Task Force approved revisions to the ~~tax law may impact the Company’s tax position and the attractiveness~~RBC framework in respect of ~~our products.~~

~~H.R.1, also referred to as~~ the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “Tax Act of 2017”)~~, was enacted into law on~~. The revisions apply to our RBC ratio as of December ~~22, 2017 and is generally effective starting in~~31, 2018. The Tax Act of 2017 changes the taxation of businesses and individuals by lowering tax rates and broadening the tax base through the acceleration of taxable income and the deferral or elimination of certain deductions, as well as changing the system of taxation of earnings of foreign subsidiaries. The most significant changes for the Company are: (1) the reductionFor a discussion of the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%; (2) revised methodologies for determining deductions for tax reserves and the DRD; and (3) an increased capitalization and amortization period for acquisition costs related to certain products.

~~Our analysis~~impact of the Tax Act of 2017 ~~is ongoing, as guidance may be needed from the Treasury Department~~ and ~~the IRS to fully understand and implement several provisions. Other life insurance and financial services companies may benefit more or less from~~ these ~~tax law~~ changes ~~which could impact the Company’s overall competitive position. The law is also expected to reduce the Company’s statutory capital and risk-based capital. For additional details,~~on our RBC ratio, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Liquidity and Capital ~~Resources-Capital.~~Resources-Capital-Insurance Regulatory Capital.”

~~Notwithstanding~~

Bond Factors. The NAIC’s Investment Risk-Based Capital Working Group is developing updates to the ~~enactment~~RBC factors for invested assets including expanding, for RBC purposes, the current NAIC designations from six to twenty.

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Longevity/Mortality Risk. The NAIC’s Longevity Risk Subgroup of the ~~Tax Act of 2017,~~Life Insurance and Annuities Committee and Financial Condition Committee is developing recommendations to recognize longevity risk in statutory reserves and/or risk-based capital related to annuities. The Company assumes this longevity risk primarily in its individual annuities business. The NAIC is also developing updates to the ~~President, Congress, as well as state~~existing mortality risk factors in RBC.

Operational Risk. In 2018 the NAIC adopted operational risk charges that will be effective for year-end 2018 RBC formulas and ~~local governments, may continue~~is continuing to consider ~~from time~~whether to ~~time legislation that could increase the amount of corporate taxes we pay, thereby reducing earnings or the taxation of life insurance products.~~

U.S. federal tax law generally permits tax deferral on the inside build-up of investment value of certain retirement savings, annuities and life insurance products until there is a contract distribution and, in general, excludes from taxation the death benefit paid under a life insurance contract. The Tax Act of 2017 did not change these rules, though it is possible that some individuals with overall lower effective tax rates could be less attractedadd an explicit growth risk charge to the ~~tax deferral aspect~~RBC formula. The operational risk charges are not expected to materially impact our 2018 RBC ratio given that we expect to hold statutory capital consistent with or in excess of the ~~Company’s products. The general reduction in individual tax rates and elimination of certain individual deductions may also impact~~thresholds established through these new charges.

Due to the ~~Company depending on whether current and potential customers have more or less after-tax income to save for retirement and manage their mortality and longevity risk through the purchase~~ongoing nature of the ~~Company’s products. Congress from time to time may enact other changes to~~NAIC’s activities regarding RBC, we cannot determine the ~~tax law that could make our products less attractive to consumers, including legislation that would modify the tax favored treatment of retirement savings, life insurance and annuities products.~~

The products we sell have different tax characteristics and in some cases generate tax deductions and credits for the Company. Changes in either the U.S. or foreign tax laws may negatively impact the deductions and credits available to the Company, including the abilityultimate timing of the ~~Company~~proposed changes or their impact on RBC or on our financial position.

Insurance Reserves and Regulatory Capital. State insurance laws require us to ~~claim foreign tax credits~~analyze the adequacy of our reserves annually. Our appointed actuary must submit an opinion that our reserves, when considered in light of the assets we hold with respect to ~~taxes withheld on separate account products. These changes would increase the Company’s actual tax expense~~those reserves, make adequate provision for our contractual obligations and ~~reduce its consolidated net income.~~related expenses.

The ~~level of profitability of~~reserving framework for certain ~~products is significantly dependent on these characteristics and our ability to continue to generate taxable income, which is taken into consideration when pricing products and is a component~~ of our products has undergone reexamination and revision in recent years, including in the following areas:

Variable Annuities Framework for Change. In 2018, the NAIC adopted a framework for proposed revisions to the current Actuarial Guideline No. 43 (“AG 43”) and RBC “C-3 Phase II” system applicable to variable annuities reserve and capital ~~management strategies. Accordingly,~~requirements. Proposed changes include: (i) aligning economically-focused hedge assets with liability valuations, (ii) reforming standard scenarios for AG 43 and C3 Phase II; (iii) revising asset admissibility for derivatives and deferred tax assets, and (iv) standardizing capital market assumptions and aligning total asset requirements and reserves. The NAIC will seek to implement the revised framework in ~~tax law, our ability~~2019 with a January 1, 2020 targeted effective date and an optional three-year phase-in. The Company does not expect material impacts to ~~generate taxable income, or other factors impacting~~target capital levels from the ~~availability or value of~~revised framework.

During 2016, we recaptured the ~~tax characteristics generated by our products, could impact product pricing and returns or require us to reduce our sales of these products or implement other actions that could be disruptive~~risks related to our ~~businesses.~~variable annuities living benefit riders and certain retirement products that were previously reinsured to our captive reinsurance company in a series of transactions we collectively refer to as the “Variable Annuities Recapture”. While we completed the Variable Annuities Recapture in advance of definitive guidance from the NAIC's Variable Annuity Issues Working Group, we believe the Variable Annuities Recapture is reasonably aligned with the key concept changes planned under the framework. For additional information on the Variable Annuities Recapture, see Item 1. “Business" above.

International and Global Regulatory Initiatives

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Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act

Rescission of Designation

Initiatives Regarding Dodd-Frank and Financial Regulation

ERISA

Fiduciary Rules and Other Standards of Care

DOL Fiduciary Rules

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SEC Best Interest Regulation

State Standard of Care Regulation

State Insurance Holding Company Regulation

Change of Control

Group-Wide Supervision

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Additional areas of focus regarding group-wide supervision of insurance holding companies include the following:

Examination. State insurance departments conduct periodic examinations of the books and records, financial reporting, policy filings and market conduct of insurance companies domiciled in their states, generally once every three to five years. Examinations are generally carried out in cooperation with the insurance departments of other states under guidelines promulgated by the NAIC. As group-wide supervisor, NJDOBI, along with our other insurance regulators, has expanded the periodic examinations to cover Prudential and all of its subsidiaries. In June 2018, AZDOI and NJDOBI, along with the insurance regulators of Connecticut, and Indiana, completed their first global consolidated group-wide examination of Prudential Financial and its subsidiaries for the five-year period ended December 31, 2016 and had no reportable findings.

We cannot predict what, if any, additional requirements and compliance costs any new group-wide standards will impose on Prudential Financial.

Insurance Operations

State Insurance Regulation

Financial Regulation

Dividend Payment Limitations. The Arizona insurance law regulates the amount of dividends that may be paid by the Company. See Note 13 to the Financial Statements for a discussion of dividend restrictions.

Areas of the RBC framework that have been subject to reexamination or revision include the following:

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Operational Risk. In 2018 the NAIC adopted operational risk charges that will be effective for year-end 2018 RBC formulas and is continuing to consider whether to add an explicit growth risk charge to the RBC formula. The operational risk charges are not expected to materially impact our 2018 RBC ratio given that we expect to hold statutory capital consistent with or in excess of the thresholds established through these new charges.

Due to the ongoing nature of the NAIC’s activities regarding RBC, we cannot determine the ultimate timing of the proposed changes or their impact on RBC or on our financial position.

The reserving framework for certain of our products has undergone reexamination and revision in recent years, including in the following areas:

Variable Annuities Framework for Change. In 2018, the NAIC adopted a framework for proposed revisions to the current Actuarial Guideline No. 43 (“AG 43”) and RBC “C-3 Phase II” system applicable to variable annuities reserve and capital requirements. Proposed changes include: (i) aligning economically-focused hedge assets with liability valuations, (ii) reforming standard scenarios for AG 43 and C3 Phase II; (iii) revising asset admissibility for derivatives and deferred tax assets, and (iv) standardizing capital market assumptions and aligning total asset requirements and reserves. The NAIC will seek to implement the revised framework in 2019 with a January 1, 2020 targeted effective date and an optional three-year phase-in. The Company does not expect material impacts to target capital levels from the revised framework.

During 2016, we recaptured the risks related to our variable annuities living benefit riders and certain retirement products that were previously reinsured to our captive reinsurance company in a series of transactions we collectively refer to as the “Variable Annuities Recapture”. While we completed the Variable Annuities Recapture in advance of definitive guidance from the NAIC's Variable Annuity Issues Working Group, we believe the Variable Annuities Recapture is reasonably aligned with the key concept changes planned under the framework. For additional information on the Variable Annuities Recapture, see Item 1. “Business" above.

Market Conduct Regulation

State insurance laws and regulations include numerous provisions governing the marketplace activities of insurers, including provisions governing the form and content of disclosure to consumers, illustrations, advertising, sales practices and complaint handling. State regulatory authorities generally enforce these provisions through periodic market conduct examinations.

Insurance Guaranty Association Assessments

Each state has insurance guaranty association laws under which insurers doing business in the state are members and may be assessed by state insurance guaranty associations for certain obligations of insolvent insurance companies to policyholders and claimants. Typically, states assess each member insurer in an amount related to the member insurer's proportionate share of the line of business written by all member insurers in the state. While we cannot predict the amount and timing of future assessments on the Company under these laws, Prudential Financial has established estimated reserves for future assessments relating to insurance companies that are currently subject to insolvency proceedings.

Federal and State Securities Regulation Affecting Insurance Operations

Our variable annuity products generally are “securities” within the meaning of federal securities laws and may be required to be registered under the federal securities laws and subject to regulation by the SEC and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). Federal securities regulation affects investment advice, sales and related activities with respect to these products.

In certain states, our variable annuity products are considered “securities” within the meaning of state securities laws. As securities, these products may be subject to filing and certain other requirements. Also, sales activities with respect to these products generally are subject to state securities regulation. Such regulation may affect investment advice, sales and related activities for these products.

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Federal Insurance Office

Derivatives Regulation

Prudential Financial and its subsidiaries use derivatives for various purposes, including hedging interest rate, foreign currency and equity market exposures. Dodd-Frank established a framework for regulation of the over-the-counter derivatives markets. This framework sets out requirements regarding the clearing and reporting of derivatives transactions, as well as collateral posting requirements for uncleared swaps. Affiliated swaps entered into between Prudential Financial subsidiaries are generally exempt from most of these requirements.

We continue to monitor the potential hedging cost impacts of new initial margin requirements that we will be required to comply with in 2020, and increased capital requirements for derivatives transactions that may be imposed on banks that are our counterparties. Additionally, the increased need to post cash collateral in connection with mandatorily cleared swaps may also require the liquidation of higher yielding assets for low yielding cash, resulting in a negative impact on investment income.

Privacy and Cybersecurity Regulation

provide additional protections regarding the use and disclosure of certain information such as social security numbers;

require notice to affected individuals, regulators and others if there is a breach of the security of certain personal information;

require financial institutions and creditors to implement effective programs to detect, prevent, and mitigate identity theft;

regulate the process by which financial institutions make telemarketing calls and send e-mail or fax messages to consumers and customers; and

prescribe the permissible uses of certain personal information, including customer information and consumer report information.

Financial regulators in the U.S. and international jurisdictions in which Prudential Financial operates continue to focus on cybersecurity, including in proposed rulemaking, and have communicated heightened expectations and have increased emphasis in this area in their examinations of regulated entities. For example, the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation ("GDPR"), which became effective in May 2018, confers additional privacy rights on individuals in the European Union and establishes penalties for violations. In addition, in the United States the Federal government has proposed a number of laws similar to the GDPR and California has enacted broad legislation effective in 2020 which is similar in many ways to the GDPR.

In October 2017, the NAIC adopted the Insurance Data Security Model Law. The model law requires that insurance companies establish a cybersecurity program and includes specific technical safeguards as well as requirements regarding governance, incident planning, data management, system testing, vendor oversight and regulator notification. New York implemented a similar law in March 2017 and other states have either implemented the model law or are anticipated to implement it in the near future.

The Company is monitoring regulatory guidance and rulemaking in this area, and may be subject to increased compliance costs and regulatory requirements. In order to respond to the threat of security breaches and cyber-attacks, Prudential Financial has developed a program overseen by the Chief Information Security Officer and the Information Security Office that is designed to protect and preserve the confidentiality, integrity, and continued availability of all information owned by, or in the care of the Company. As part of this program, we also maintain an incident response plan. The program provides for the coordination of various corporate functions and governance groups, and serves as a framework for the execution of responsibilities across businesses and operational roles. The program establishes security standards for our technological resources, and includes training for employees, contractors and third parties. As part of the program, we conduct periodic exercises and a response readiness assessment with outside advisors to gain a third-party independent assessment of our technical program and our internal response preparedness. We regularly engage with the outside security community and monitor cyber threat information.

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Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Bribery Laws

Unclaimed Property Laws

Taxation

U.S. Taxation

Prudential Financial and certain domestic subsidiaries, including the Company, file a consolidated federal income tax return that includes both life insurance companies and non-life insurance companies. Certain other domestic subsidiaries file separate tax returns. The principal differences between the Company’s actual income tax expense and the applicable statutory federal income tax rate are generally deductions for non-taxable investment income, including the Dividends Received Deduction ("DRD"), foreign taxes applied at a different tax rate than the U.S. rate and certain tax credits. For tax years prior to 2018, the applicable statutory federal tax rate was 35%. For tax years starting in 2018, the applicable statutory federal income tax rate is 21%. In addition, as discussed further below, the tax attributes of our products may impact both the Company’s and our customers’ tax positions. See “Income Taxes” in Note 2 to the Financial Statements and Note 11 to the Financial Statements for a description of the Company’s tax position. As discussed further below, new tax legislation and other potential changes to the tax law may impact the Company’s tax position and the attractiveness of our products.

The Tax Act of 2017, was enacted into law on December 22, 2017 and was generally effective starting in 2018. The Tax Act of 2017 changes the taxation of businesses and individuals by lowering tax rates and broadening the tax base through the acceleration of taxable income and the deferral or elimination of certain deductions, as well as changing the system of taxation of earnings of foreign subsidiaries. The most significant changes for the Company are: (1) the reduction of the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%; (2) revised methodologies for determining deductions for tax reserves and the DRD; and (3) an increased capitalization and amortization period for acquisition costs related to certain products.

During 2018 the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) promulgated Proposed Regulations on a number of provisions within or impacted by the Tax Act of 2017. The Treasury and IRS have requested comments on the Proposed Regulations. Our analysis of these Proposed Regulations is on-going and further guidance may be needed from the Treasury Department and the IRS to fully understand and implement several provisions. Other life insurance and financial services companies may benefit more or less from these tax law changes, which could impact the Company’s overall competitive position. Notwithstanding the enactment of the Tax Act of 2017, the President, Congress, as well as state and local governments, may continue to consider from time to time legislation that could increase the amount of corporate taxes we pay, thereby reducing earnings.

U.S. federal tax law generally permits tax deferral on the inside build-up of investment value of certain retirement savings, annuities and life insurance products until there is a contract distribution and, in general, excludes from taxation the death benefit paid under a life insurance contract. The Tax Act of 2017 did not change these rules, though it is possible that some individuals with overall lower effective tax rates could be less attracted to the tax deferral aspect of the Company’s products. The general reduction in individual tax rates and elimination of certain individual deductions may also impact the Company depending on whether current and potential customers have more or less after-tax income to save for retirement and manage their mortality and longevity risk through the purchase of the Company’s products. Congress from time to time may enact other changes to the tax law that could make our products less attractive to consumers, including legislation that would modify the tax favored treatment of retirement savings, life insurance and annuities products.

The products we sell have different tax characteristics and in some cases generate tax deductions and credits for the Company. Changes in either the U.S. or foreign tax laws may negatively impact the deductions and credits available to the Company, including the ability of the Company to claim foreign tax credits with respect to taxes withheld on our investments supporting separate account products. These changes would increase the Company’s actual tax expense and reduce its consolidated net income.

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The profitability of certain products is significantly dependent on these characteristics and our ability to continue to generate taxable income, which is taken into consideration when pricing products and is a component of our capital management strategies. Accordingly, changes in tax law, our ability to generate taxable income, or other factors impacting the availability or value of the tax characteristics generated by our products, could impact product pricing and returns or require us to reduce our sales of these products or implement other actions that could be disruptive to our businesses.

International and Global Regulatory Initiatives

In addition to the adoption of Dodd-Frank in the United States, lawmakers around the world are actively exploring steps to avoid future financial crises. In many respects, this work is being led by the FSB, which consists of representatives of national financial authorities of the G20 nations. The G20, the FSB and related bodies have developed proposals to address such issues as financial group supervision, capital and solvency standards, systemic economic risk, corporate governance including executive compensation, and a host of related issues.

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In July 2013, Prudential Financial along with eight other global insurers, was designated by the FSB as a global systemically important insurer (“G-SII”) through a quantitative methodology developed and implemented by the IAIS. Similar assessments were performed and subsequent G-SII designation lists were issued annually through November 2016. Prudential Financial remained designated as a G-SII throughout this period. In November 2017, the FSB announced that the list of G-SIIs identified in 2016 would stand until ~~further consideration in~~ November ~~2018. The FSB also recommended that~~2018, at which point it would assess the ~~IAIS continue ongoing efforts to develop~~progress made by the IAIS’ on the development of an ~~activities based approach~~Activities-Based Approach (“ABA”) to assessing and managing potential systemic risk in the insurance sector.

At Over the ~~direction~~course of 2018, the IAIS’ work to develop an ABA evolved into the development of a Holistic Framework for Systemic Risk in the Insurance Sector (“Holistic Framework”). Key elements of the ~~FSB, the~~Holistic Framework include enhancements to IAIS ~~has developed a set of group level~~ policy measures ~~for insurance supervisors~~pertaining to ~~apply to G-SIIs, including two group-wide capital standards. The basic capital requirement (“BCR”), which was approved~~macroprudential surveillance, enterprise risk management, liquidity management, crisis management and recovery planning as well as the continuation of annual data collection and monitoring by the IAIS. The IAIS will finalize the Holistic Framework in 2019 for implementation in 2020. In November 2018, the FSB announced that it would not engage in an identification of G-SIIs based on progress made on the development of the Holistic Framework and ~~G20~~that it will assess an IAIS recommendation to suspend G-SII identification from 2020 in November ~~2014, is a globally consistent and comparable baseline capital metric.~~2019. The ~~higher loss absorbency (“HLA”) standard, which was approved by~~FSB further announced that it will review the ~~FSB and G20~~need to either discontinue or re-establish the annual identification of G-SIIs in November 2015, establishes a capital buffer to be held in addition to the BCR. In February 2017, the IAIS, with the approval of the FSB, delayed jurisdictional implementation of HLA until 2022 at the earliest and advised that the ICS would replace the BCR as the foundation for the HLA requirement.2022.

In addition to ~~G-SII related policy measures,~~its work on assessing and managing potential systemic risk, the IAIS is developing the Common Framework for the Supervision of Internationally Active Insurance Groups ("ComFrame"). Through ComFrame, the IAIS seeks to promote effective and globally consistent supervision of the insurance industry through uniform standards for insurer corporate governance, enterprise risk management and other control functions, group-wide supervision and group capital adequacy. The non-capital related components of ComFrame are being developed iteratively through a series of public consultations and are scheduled to be adopted by the IAIS in November 2019. The ICS, which is the capital adequacy component of ComFrame, is also being developed iteratively through both a series of public consultations and voluntary field tests. ~~Recently,~~In November 2017, the IAIS announced an agreement among its members on the development and implementation of the ICS. Terms of the agreement include: adoption of the ICS by the IAIS in November 2019; a five-year monitoring phase beginning in 2020 during which ~~Internationally Active Insurance Groups (“IAIGs”)~~IAIGs are to report ICS results to their group supervisory authorities; and implementation of the ICS at the jurisdictional level in ~~2026.~~2025.

As a standard setting body, the IAIS does not have direct authority to require insurance companies to comply with the policy measures it develops, including the ~~BCR,~~ ICS and ~~HLA standards.~~proposed policy measures within the Holistic Framework. However, if the policy measures were adopted by either Prudential Financial's group ~~supervisory authorities in the U.S.~~supervisor or supervisors of Prudential Financial's international operations or companies, Prudential Financial could become subject to these standards. Adoption of IAIS policy measures could impact the manner in which Prudential Financial deploys its capital, structures and manages its businesses, and otherwise operates both within the U.S. and abroad. The possibility of inconsistent and conflicting regulation of the Prudential Financial at the group level and the subsidiary level also exists as law makers and regulators in multiple jurisdictions simultaneously pursue these initiatives.

Employees

The Company has no employees. Services to the Company are primarily provided by employees of Prudential Insurance as described under “Expense Charges and Allocations” in Note 1514 to the Financial Statements.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

You should carefully consider the following risks. These risks are not exclusive, and additional risks to which we are subject include, but are not limited to, the factors mentioned under “Forward-Looking Statements” above and the risks of our business described elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Many of these risks are interrelated and could occur under similar business and economic conditions, and the occurrence of certain of them may in turn cause the emergence or exacerbate the effect of others. Such a combination could materially increase the severity of the impact of these risks on our business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.

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Overview

~~On an annual basis, the Company reviews its~~The Company's risk ~~identification~~management framework ~~which~~ documents the definition, potential manifestation, and management of its risks. ~~These Risk Factors describe the Company’s material risks and their potential manifestation, as reflected in the risk identification framework.~~

The Company has categorized its risks into tactical and strategic risks. Tactical risks may cause damage to the Company, and the Company seeks to manage and mitigate them through models, metrics and the overall risk framework. The Company’s tactical risks include investment, insurance, market, liquidity, and operational risk. Strategic risks can cause the Company’s fundamental business model to change, either through a shift in the businesses in which it is engaged or a change in execution. The Company’s strategic risks include regulatory, technological changes and other external factors. These risks, as well as the sub-risks that may impact the Company, are discussed below.

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Investment Risk

Our investment portfolios are subject to the risk of loss due to default or deterioration in credit quality or value.

We are exposed to investment risk through our investments, which primarily consist of public and private fixed maturity securities, commercial mortgage and other loans, equity securities and alternative assets including private equity, hedge funds and real estate. We are also exposed to investment risk through a potential counterparty default.

Investment risk may result from: (1) economic conditions; (2) adverse capital market conditions, including disruptions in individual market sectors or a lack of buyers in the marketplace; (3) volatility; (4) credit spread changes; (5) benchmark interest rate changes; and (6) declines in value of underlying collateral. These factors may impact the credit quality, liquidity and value of our investments and derivatives, potentially resulting in higher capital charges and unrealized or realized losses. Also, certain investments we hold, regardless of market conditions, are relatively illiquid and our ability to promptly sell these assets for their full value may be limited. Additionally, our valuation of investments may include methodologies, inputs and assumptions which are subject to change and different interpretation and could result in changes to investment valuations that may materially impact our results of operations or financial condition. For information about the valuation of our investments, see Note 3 to the Financial Statements.

Our investment portfolio is subject to credit risk, which is the risk that an obligor (or guarantor) is unable or unwilling to meet its contractual payment obligations on its fixed maturity security, loan or other obligations. Credit risk may manifest in an idiosyncratic manner (i.e., specific to an individual borrower or industry) or through market-wide credit cycles. Financial deterioration of the obligor increases the risk of default and may increase the capital charges required under such regimes as the NAIC RBC, or other constructs to hold the investment and in turn, potentially limit our overall capital flexibility. Credit defaults (as well as credit impairments, realized losses on credit-related sales, and increases in credit related reserves) may result in losses which adversely impact earnings, capital and our ability to appropriately match our liabilities and meet future obligations.

Our Company is subject to counterparty risk, which is the risk that the counterparty to a transaction could default or deteriorate in creditworthiness before or at the final settlement of a transaction. In the normal course of business, we enter into financial contracts to manage risks (such as derivatives to manage market risk and reinsurance treaties to manage insurance risk), improve the return on investments (such as securities lending and repurchase transactions) and provide sources of liquidity or financing (such as credit agreements, securities lending agreements and repurchase agreements). These transactions expose the Company to counterparty risk. Counterparties include commercial banks, investment banks, broker-dealers and insurance and reinsurance companies. In the event of a counterparty deterioration or default, the magnitude of the losses will depend on then current market conditions and the length of time required to enter into a replacement transaction with a new counterparty. Losses are likely to be higher under stressed conditions.

Our investment portfolio is subject to equity risk, which is the risk of loss due to deterioration in market value of public equity or alternative assets. We include public equity and alternative assets (including private equity, hedge funds and real estate) in our portfolio constructions, as these asset classes can provide ~~cash flows~~returns over longer periods of time, aligning with the ~~emergence~~long-term nature of ~~cash flows~~certain of our liabilities. Public equity and alternative assets have varying degrees of price transparency. Equities traded on stock exchanges (public equities) have significant price transparency, as transactions are often required to be disclosed publicly. Assets for which price transparency is more opaque include private equity (joint ventures/limited partnerships) and direct real estate. As these investments typically do not trade on public markets and indications of realizable market value may not be readily available, valuations can be infrequent and/or more volatile. A sustained decline in public equity and alternative markets may reduce the returns earned by our investment portfolio through lower than expected dividend income, property operating income, and capital gains, thereby adversely impacting earnings, capital, and product pricing assumptions. These assets may also produce volatility in earnings as a result of uneven distributions on the underlying investments.

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Insurance Risk

We have significant liabilities for ~~policyholders~~policyholders' benefits which are subject to insurance risk. Insurance risk is the risk that actual experience deviates adversely from our best estimate insurance assumptions, including mortality and policyholder behavior assumptions. We provide a variety of insurance products that are designed to help customers protect against a variety of financial uncertainties. Our insurance products protect customers against their potential risk of loss by transferring those risks to the Company, where those risks can be managed more efficiently through pooling and diversification over a larger number of independent exposures. During this transfer process, we assume the risk that actual losses experienced in our insurance products deviates significantly from what we expect. More specifically, insurance risk is concerned with the deviations that impact our future liabilities. Our profitability may decline if mortality experience or policyholder behavior experience differ significantly from our expectations when we price our products. In addition, if we experience higher than expected claims our liquidity position may be adversely impacted, and we may incur losses on investments if we are required to sell assets in order to pay claims. If it is necessary to sell assets at a loss, our results of operations and financial condition could be adversely impacted.

~~Table~~ For a discussion of ~~Contents~~

the impact of changes in insurance assumptions on our financial condition, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Accounting Policies and Pronouncements-Application of Critical Accounting Estimates-Insurance Liabilities.”

Certain of our insurance products are subject to mortality risk, which is the risk that actual deaths experienced deviate adversely from our expectations. Mortality risk is a biometric risk that can manifest in the following ways:

Mortality calamity is the risk that mortality rates in a single year deviate adversely from what is expected as the result of pandemics, natural or man-made disasters, military actions or terrorism. A mortality calamity event will reduce our earnings and capital and we may be forced to liquidate assets before maturity in order to pay the excess claims. Mortality calamity risk is more pronounced in respect of specific geographic areas (including major metropolitan centers, where we have concentrations of customers), concentrations of employees or significant operations, and in respect of countries and regions in which we operate that are subject to a greater potential threat of military action or conflict. Ultimate losses would depend on several factors, including the rates of mortality and morbidity among various segments of the insured population, the collectability of reinsurance, the possible macroeconomic effects on our investment portfolio, the effect on lapses and surrenders of existing policies, as well as sales of new policies and other variables.

Mortality trend is the risk that mortality improvements in the future deviate adversely from what is expected. Mortality trend is a long-term risk in that can emerge gradually over time. Longevity products, such as annuities ~~and pension risk transfer,~~, experience adverse impacts due to higher-than-expected mortality improvement. Mortality products, such as life insurance, experience adverse impacts due to lower-than-expected improvement. If this risk were to emerge, the Company would update assumptions used to calculate reserves for in force business, which may result in additional assets needed to meet the higher expected annuity claims or earlier expected life claims. An increase in reserves due to revised assumptions has an immediate impact on our results of operations and financial condition; however, economically the impact is generally long-term as the excess outflow is paid over time.

Mortality base is the risk that actual base mortality deviates adversely from what is expected in pricing and valuing our products. Base mortality risk can arise from a lack of credible data on which to base the assumptions.

Certain of our insurance products are subject to policyholder behavior risk, which is the risk that actual policyholder behavior deviates adversely from what is expected. Policyholder behavior risk includes the following components:

Lapse calamity is the risk that lapse rates over the short-term deviate adversely from what is ~~expected.~~expected, for example, surrenders of certain insurance products may increase following a downgrade of our financial strength ratings or adverse publicity. Only certain products are exposed to this risk. Products that offer a cash surrender value that resides in the general account could pose a potential short-term lapse calamity risk. Surrender of these products can impact liquidity, and it may be necessary in certain market conditions to sell assets to meet surrender demands. Lapse calamity can also impact our earnings through its impact on estimated future profits.

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Policyholder behavior efficiency is the risk that the behavior of our customers or policyholders deviates adversely from what is expected. Policyholder behavior efficiency risk arises through product features which provide some degree of choice or flexibility for the policyholder, which can impact the amount and/or timing of claims. Such choices include surrender, lapse, partial withdrawal, policy loan, utilization, and premium payment rates for contracts with flexible premiums. While some behavior is driven by macro factors such as market movements, policyholder behavior at a fundamental level is driven primarily by policyholders’ individual needs, which may differ significantly from product to product depending on many factors including the features offered, the approach taken to market each product, and competitor pricing. For example, persistency (the probability that a ~~policy or~~ contract will remain in force) within our annuities business may be significantly impacted by the value of guaranteed minimum benefits contained in many of our variable annuity products being higher than current account values in light of poor market performance as well as other factors. Many of our products also provide our customers with wide flexibility with respect to the amount and timing of premium deposits and the amount and timing of withdrawals from the policy’s value. Results may vary based on differences between actual and expected premium deposits and withdrawals for these products, especially if these product features are relatively new to the marketplace. The pricing of certain of our variable annuity products that contain certain living benefit guarantees is also based on assumptions about utilization rates, or the percentage of contracts that will utilize the benefit during the contract duration, including the timing of the first ~~lifetime income~~ withdrawal. Results may vary based on differences between actual and expected benefit utilization. ~~Finally, surrenders~~We may also be impacted by customers seeking to sell their benefits. In particular, third-party investor strategies in our annuities business could adversely affect the profitability of ~~certain insurance products may increase following a downgrade of~~existing business and our ~~financial strength ratings or adverse publicity.~~pricing assumptions for new business. Policyholder behavior efficiency is generally a long-term risk that emerges over time. An increase in reserves due to revised assumptions has an immediate impact on our results of operations and financial condition; however, from an economic or cash flow perspective, the impact is generally long-term as the excess outflow is paid over time.

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Our ability to reprice products is limited, and may not compensate for deviations from our expected insurance assumptions.

Although some of our products permit us to increase premiums or adjust other charges and credits during the life of the policy or contract, the adjustments permitted under the terms of the policies or contracts may not be sufficient to maintain profitability or may cause the policies or contracts to lapse. Many of our products do not permit us to increase premiums or adjust other charges and credits or limit those adjustments during the life of the contract. Even if permitted under the policy or contract, we may not be able or willing to raise premiums or adjust other charges sufficiently, or at all. Accordingly, significant deviations in actual experience from our pricing assumptions could have an adverse effect on the profitability of our products. ~~Finally, third-party investor strategies in the annuities business, could adversely affect the profitability of existing business and our pricing assumptions for new business.~~

Market Risk

The profitability of many of our insurance and annuity products are subject to market risk. Market risk is the risk of loss from changes in interest rates and equity prices.

The profitability of many of our insurance and annuity products depends in part on the value of the separate accounts supporting these products, which can fluctuate substantially depending on market conditions.

Derivative instruments we use to hedge and manage interest rate and equity market risks associated with our products and businesses, and other risks might not perform as intended or expected resulting in higher than expected realized losses and stresses on liquidity. Market conditions can limit availability of hedging instruments, require us to post additional collateral, and further increase the cost of executing product related hedges and such costs may not be recovered in the pricing of the underlying products being hedged.

Market risk may limit opportunities for investment of available funds at appropriate returns, including due to the current low interest rate environment, or other factors, with possible negative impacts on our overall results. Limited opportunities for attractive investments may lead to holding cash for long periods of time and increased use of derivatives for duration management and other portfolio management purposes. The increased use of derivatives may increase the volatility of our U.S. GAAP results and our statutory capital.

Our investments, results of operations and financial condition may also be adversely affected by developments in the global economy, and in the U.S. economy (including as a result of actions by the Federal Reserve with respect to monetary policy, and adverse political developments). Global or U.S. economic activity and financial markets may in turn be negatively affected by adverse developments or conditions in specific geographical regions.

For a discussion of the impact of changes in market conditions on our financial condition see “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk".

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Our insurance and annuity products, and our investment returns, are subject to interest rate risk, which is the risk of loss arising from asset/liability duration mismatches within our general account investments. The risk of mismatch in asset/liability duration is mainly driven by the specific dynamics of product liabilities. Some product liabilities are expected to have only modest risk related to interest rates because cash flows can be matched by available assets in the investable space. The interest rate risk emerges primarily from their tail cash flows (30 years or more), which cannot be matched by assets for sale in the marketplace, exposing the Company to future reinvestment risk. Market-sensitive cash flows exist with other product liabilities including products whose cash flows can be linked to market performance through secondary guarantees, minimum crediting rates, and/or changes in insurance assumptions.

Our exposure to interest rates can manifest ~~itself~~ over years as in the case of earnings compression or in the short term by creating volatility in both earnings and capital. For example, some of our products expose us to the risk that changes in interest rates will reduce the spread between the amounts that we are required to pay under ~~the~~ contracts and the rate of return we are able to earn on our general account investments supporting ~~the~~these contracts. When interest rates decline or remain low, as they have in recent years, we must invest in lower-yielding instruments, potentially reducing net investment income and constraining our ability to offer certain products. This risk is increased as more policyholders may retain their policies in a low rate environment. Since many of our policies and contracts have guaranteed minimum crediting rates or limit the resetting of crediting rates, the spreads could decrease or go negative.

Alternatively, when interest rates rise, we may not be able to replace the assets in our general account ~~as quickly~~ with the higher-yielding assets as quickly as needed to fund the higher crediting rates necessary to keep these products and contracts competitive. It is possible that fewer policyholders may retain their policies and annuity contracts as they pursue higher crediting rates, which could expose the Company to losses and liquidity stress.

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Our mitigation efforts with respect to interest rate risk are primarily focused on maintaining an investment portfolio with diversified maturities that has a key rate duration profile that is approximately equal to the key rate duration profile of our ~~estimated~~ liability ~~cash flow profile;~~and surplus benchmarks; however, ~~this estimate~~these benchmarks are based on estimates of the liability cash flow ~~profile is~~profiles which are complex and could turn out to be inaccurate, especially when markets are volatile. In addition, there are practical and capital market limitations on our ability to accomplish this matching. Due to these and other factors we may need to liquidate investments prior to maturity at a loss in order to satisfy liabilities or be forced to reinvest funds in a lower rate environment.

Guarantees within certain of our products, in particular our variable annuities, are market sensitive and may decrease our earnings or increase the volatility of our results of operations or financial position under U.S. GAAP. Certain of our products, particularly our variable annuity products, include guarantees of minimum surrender values or income streams for stated periods or for life, which may be in excess of account values. Downturns in equity markets, increased equity volatility, increased credit spreads, or (as discussed above) reduced interest rates could result in an increase in the valuation of liabilities associated with such guarantees, resulting in increases in reserves and reductions in net income. We use a variety of hedging and risk management strategies, including product features, to mitigate these risks in part and we may periodically change our strategies over time. These strategies may, however, not be fully effective. In addition, we may be unable or may choose not to fully hedge these risks. Hedging instruments may not effectively offset the costs of guarantees or may otherwise be insufficient in relation to our obligations. Hedging instruments also may not change in value correspondingly with associated liabilities due to equity market or interest rate conditions, non-performance risk or other reasons. We may choose to hedge these risks on a basis that does not correspond to their anticipated or actual impact upon our results of operations or financial position under U.S. GAAP. Changes from period to period in the valuation of these policy benefits, and in the amount of our obligations effectively hedged, will result in volatility in our results of operations and financial position under U.S. GAAP and our statutory capital levels. Estimates and assumptions we make in connection with hedging activities may fail to reflect or correspond to our actual long-term exposure from of our guarantees. Further, the risk of increases in the costs of our guarantees not covered by our hedging and other capital and risk management strategies may become more significant due to changes in policyholder behavior driven by market conditions or other factors. The above factors, individually or collectively, may have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition or liquidity.

Our valuation of the liabilities for the minimum benefits contained in many of our variable annuity products requires us to consider the market perception of our risk of non-performance, and a decrease in our own credit spreads resulting from ratings upgrades or other events or market conditions could cause the recorded value of these liabilities to increase, which in turn could adversely affect our results of operations and financial position.

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Liquidity Risk

As a financial services company, ~~PALAC is~~we are exposed to liquidity risk, which is the risk that ~~PALAC~~the Company is unable to meet near-term obligations as they come due.

Liquidity risk is a manifestation of events that are driven by other risk types (market, insurance, investment, operational). A liquidity shortfall may arise in the event of insufficient funding sources or an immediate and significant need for cash or collateral. In addition, it is possible that expected liquidity sources may be unavailable or inadequate to satisfy the liquidity demands described below.

The Company has four primary sources of liquidity exposure and associated drivers that trigger material liquidity demand. Those sources are:

Derivative collateral market exposure: Abrupt changes to interest rate, equity, and/or currency markets may increase collateral requirements to counterparties and create liquidity risk for the Company.

Asset liability mismatch: There are liquidity risks associated with liabilities coming due prior to the matching asset cash flows. Structural maturities mismatch can occur in activities such as securities lending, where the liabilities are effectively overnight open transactions used to fund longer term assets.

Wholesale funding: We depend upon the financial markets for funding. These sources might not be available during times of stress, or may only be available on unfavorable terms, which can result in a decrease in our profitability and a significant reduction in our financial flexibility.

Insurance cash flows: We face potential liquidity risks from unexpected cash demands due to severe mortality calamity, customer withdrawals or lapse events. If such events were to occur, the Company may face unexpectedly high levels of claim payments to policyholders.

For a discussion of ~~PALAC's~~the Company's liquidity and sources and uses of liquidity see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of ~~Operations and Financial Condition-Liquidity~~Operations-Liquidity and Capital ~~Resources-Liquidity.”~~

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Resources-Liquidity".

Operational Risk

Our operations are exposed to the risk of loss resulting from inadequate or failed processes or systems, human error or misconduct, and as a result of external events.

An operational risk failure may result in one or more actual or potential impacts to the Company.

Operational Risk Types

Processes - Processing failure; failure to safeguard or retain documents/records; errors in valuation/pricing models and processes; project management or execution failures; improper sales practices.

Systems - Failures during the development and implementation of new systems; systems failures.

People - Internal fraud, breaches of employment law, unauthorized activities; loss or lack of key personnel, inadequate training; inadequate supervision.

External Events - External crime; outsourcing risk; vendor risk; natural and other disasters; changes in laws/regulations.

Legal - Legal and regulatory compliance failures.

Potential Impacts

Financial losses - The Company experiences a financial loss. This loss may originate from various causes including, but not limited to, transaction processing errors and fraud.

Customer impacts - The Company may not be able to service customers. This may result if the Company is unable to continue operations during a business continuation event or if systems are compromised due to malware or virus.

Regulatory fines or sanctions - When the Company fails to comply with applicable laws or regulations, regulatory fines or sanctions may be imposed. In addition, possible restrictions on business activities may result.

Legal actions - Failure to comply with laws and regulations also exposes the Company to litigation risk. This may also result in financial losses.

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Liabilities we may incur as a result of operational failures are described further under “Contingent Liabilities” in Note 1215 to the Financial Statements. In addition, certain pending regulatory and litigation matters affecting us, and certain risks to our businesses presented by such matters, are discussed ~~under “Litigation and Regulatory Matters”~~ in Note 1215 to the Financial Statements. We may become subject to additional regulatory and legal actions in the future.

Key Enterprise Operational Risks - Key enterprise operational risks include the following:

We are subject to business continuation risk, which is the risk that our systems and data may be disrupted. We depend heavily on our telecommunication, information technology and other operational systems and on the integrity and timeliness of data we use to run our businesses and service our customers. These systems may fail to operate properly or become disabled as a result of events or circumstances wholly or partly beyond our control. Further, we face the risk of operational and technology failures by others, including clearing agents, exchanges and other financial intermediaries and of vendors and parties to which we outsource the provision of services or business operations. We may experience a business continuation event as a result of:

Severe pandemic, either naturally occurring or intentionally manipulated pathogens.

Geo-political risks, including armed conflict and civil unrest.

Terrorist events.

A significant natural or accidental disaster.

We are subject to the risk that we may not adequately maintain information security. There continues to be significant and organized cyber-attack activity against western organizations, including but not limited to the financial services ~~sector.~~sector and no organization is fully immune to cyber-attacks. Risks related to ~~cyber-attacks~~cyber-attack arise in the following areas:

Protecting both “structured” and “unstructured” sensitive information is a constant need. However, some risks associated with trusted insiders (i.e., employees, consultants, or vendors who are authorized to access the Company’s systems) ~~remain and~~ cannot be ~~effectively~~fully mitigated using technology ~~alone.~~or otherwise.

Unsuspecting employees represent a primary avenue for external parties to gain access to our network and systems. Many attacks, even from sophisticated actors, include rudimentary techniques such as coaxing an internal user to click on a malicious attachment or link to introduce malware or steal their username and password.

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In the past, hackers went after credit and debit card data, which is easy to monetize. As credit card security improves, the hackers will look to other sources of monetization, specifically personally identifiable information or using cyber-attacks or the threat of cyber-attacks to extort money from companies. Insurance and retirement services companies are increasingly being targeted by hackers.

Nation-state sponsored organizations are engaged in cyber-attacks but not necessarily for monetization purposes. Nation states appear to be motivated by the desire to gain information about foreign citizens and governments or to influence or cause disruptions in commerce or political affairs. ~~As evidenced by the ability of criminal organizations and nation-states to successfully breach large financial institutions and the U.S. government, no organization is fully immune to cyber-attacks.~~

We have also seen an increase in non-technical attempts to commit fraud or solicit information via call centers and interactive voice response systems, and we anticipate the attempts will become more common.

We rely on third parties to provide services as described further below. While we have certain standards for all vendors that provide us services, our vendors, and in turn, their own service providers, may become subject to a security breach, including as a result of their failure to perform in accordance with contractual arrangements.

We may not adequately ensure the privacy of sensitive data. In the course of our ordinary business we collect, store and share with various third-parties (e.g., service providers, reinsurers, etc.) substantial amounts of private and confidential policyholder information, including in some instances sensitive health-related information. We are subject to the risk that the privacy of this information may be compromised, including as a result of an information security breach described above.

Third parties (outsourcing providers, vendors and suppliers) present added operational risk to our enterprise. The Company's business model relies heavily on the use of third parties to deliver contracted services in a broad range of areas. This presents the risk that the Company is unable to meet legal, regulatory, financial or customer obligations because third parties fail to deliver contracted services, or that the Company is exposed to reputational damage because third parties operate in a poorly controlled manner. We use affiliates and third-party vendors located outside the U.S. to provide certain services and functions, which also exposes us to business disruptions and political risks as a result of risks inherent in conducting business outside of the U.S.

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Affiliate and third-party distributors of our products present added regulatory, competitive and other risks to our enterprise. Our products are sold primarily through our captive/affiliated distribution system and third-party distributing firms. Our captive/affiliated distribution system is made up of large numbers of decentralized sales personnel who are compensated based on commissions. The third-party distributing firms generally are not dedicated to us exclusively and may frequently recommend and/or market products of our competitors. Accordingly, we must compete intensely for their services. Our sales could be adversely affected if we are unable to attract, retain or motivate third-party distributing firms or if we do not adequately provide support, training, compensation, and education to this sales network regarding our products, or if our products are not competitive and not appropriately aligned with consumer needs. While third-party distributing firms have an independent regulatory accountability, some regulators have been clear with expectations that product manufacturers retain significant sales risk accountability.

In addition, there have been a number of investigations regarding the marketing practices of brokers and agents selling annuity and insurance products and the payments they receive. These investigations have resulted in enforcement actions against companies in our industry and brokers and agents marketing and selling those companies’ products. These investigations and enforcement actions could result in penalties and the imposition of corrective action plans and/or changes to industry practices, which could adversely affect our ability to market our products. Furthermore, if our products are distributed in an inappropriate manner, or to customers for whom they are unsuitable, or distributors of our products otherwise engage in misconduct, we may suffer reputational and other harm to our business and be subject to regulatory action.

Although we distribute our products through a wide variety of distribution channels, we do maintain relationships with certain key distributors. We periodically negotiate the terms of these relationships, and there can be no assurance that such terms will remain acceptable to us or such third parties. An interruption in certain key relationships could materially affect our ability to market our products and could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition. Distributors may elect to reduce or terminate their distribution relationships with us, including for such reasons as adverse developments in our business, adverse rating agency actions or concerns about market-related risks. We are also at risk that key distribution partners may merge, change their business models in ways that affect how our products are sold, or terminate their distribution contracts with us, or that new distribution channels could emerge and adversely impact the effectiveness of our distribution efforts. An increase in bank and broker-dealer consolidation activity could increase competition for access to distributors, result in greater distribution expenses and impair our ability to market products through these channels. Consolidation of distributors and/or other industry changes may also increase the likelihood that distributors will try to renegotiate the terms of any existing selling agreements to terms less favorable to us.

~~In addition, when~~ Finally, we also may be challenged by new technologies and marketplace entrants that could interfere with our products are distributed through unaffiliated firms, we may not be able to monitor or control the manner of their distribution despite our training and compliance programs. If our products are distributed in an inappropriate manner, or to customers for whom they are unsuitable, or distributors of our products otherwise engage in misconduct, we may suffer reputational and other harm to our business. We also have a large captive distribution channel and we are subject to the risk that our monitoring and controls will not detect inappropriate sales practices or misconduct by our own agents.existing relationships.

As a financial services company, we are exposed to model risk, which is the risk of financial loss or reputational damage or adverse regulatory impacts caused by model errors or limitations, incorrect implementation of models, or misuse of or overreliance upon models. Models are utilized by our businesses and corporate areas primarily to project future cash flows associated with pricing products, calculating reserves and valuing assets, as well as in evaluating risk and determining capital requirements, among other uses. These models may not operate properly and may rely on assumptions and projections that are inherently uncertain. As our businesses continue to grow and evolve, the number and complexity of models we utilize expands, increasing our exposure to error in the design, implementation or use of models, including the associated input data and assumptions.

Strategic Risk

We are subject to the risk of events that can cause our fundamental business model to change, either through a shift in the businesses in which we are engaged or a change in our execution. In addition, tactical risks may become strategic risks. For example, interest rates remaining low for a long time may, at some point, cause us to change our sales goals, exit a certain business, and/or change our business model.

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Changes in the regulatory landscape may be unsettling to our business model. New laws and regulations are being considered in the U.S. and our other countries of operation at an increasing pace, as there has been greater scrutiny on financial regulation over the past several years. Proposed or unforeseen changes in law or regulation may adversely impact our business. See “Business-Regulation” for a discussion of certain recently enacted and pending proposals by international, federal and state regulatory authorities and their potential impact on our business, including in the following areas:

~~Prudential Financial's regulation as a Designated Financial Company and the associated enhanced prudential standards, many of which are subject to ongoing rule-making.~~

Financial sector regulatory ~~reform that may arise out~~reform.

Tax laws (including U.S. federal, state, and non-U.S.).

Fiduciary rules and other standards of ~~reports issued by the U.S. Treasury.~~

~~Changes in tax law.~~

~~The DOL fiduciary rules.~~care.

Our regulation under U.S. state insurance laws and developments regarding group-wide supervision and capital standards, RBC factors for invested assets and reserves for variable annuities and other products.

Privacy and cybersecurity regulation.

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Changes in accounting rules applicable to our business may also have an adverse impact on our results of operations or financial condition. For a discussion of accounting pronouncements and their potential impact on our business, including Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2018-12, Financial Services - Insurance (Topic 944): Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts, see Note 2 to the Financial Statements.

Technological changes may be unsettling to our business model. We believe ~~there are three~~the following aspects of technological change ~~that~~ would significantly impact our business ~~model as described below.~~model. There may be other unforeseen changes in technology which may have a significant impact on our business model.

Interaction with customers. Technology is moving rapidly and as it does, it puts pressure on existing business models. Some of the changes we can anticipate are increased choices about how customers want to interact with the Company or how they want the Company to interact with them. Evolving customer preferences may drive a need to redesign products. Our distribution channels may change to become more automated, at the place and time of the customer’s choosing. Such changes clearly have the potential to disrupt our business model over the next 10 years.

Investment Portfolio. Technology may have a significant impact on the companies in which the Company invests. For example, environmental concerns spur scientific inquiry which may re-position the relative attractiveness of wind or sun power over oil and gas. The transportation industry may favor alternative modes of conveyance of goods which may shift trucking or air transport out of favor. Consumers may change their purchasing behavior to favor online activity which would change the role of malls and retail properties.

Medical Advances. The Company is exposed to the impact of medical advances in two major ways. Genetic testing and the availability of that information unequally to consumers and insurers can bring anti-selection risks. Specifically, data from genetic testing can give our prospective customers a clearer view into their future, allowing them to select products protecting them against likelihoods of mortality or longevity with more precision. Also, technologies that extend lives will challenge our actuarial assumptions especially in the annuity-based businesses.

Other factors may be unsettling to our business model. The following items are examples of those which, among others, could have a meaningful impact on our business.

A downgrade in our financial strength or credit ratings could potentially, among other things, adversely impact our business prospects, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity. For a discussion of our ratings and the potential impact of a ratings downgrade on our business, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Liquidity and Capital Resources-Capital.” We cannot predict what additional actions rating agencies may take, or what actions we may take in response to the actions of rating agencies, which could adversely affect our business. Our ratings could be downgraded at any time and without notice by any rating agency. In addition, a sovereign downgrade could result in a downgrade of our ~~operations~~subsidiaries operating in that jurisdiction, and ultimately of Prudential Financial and its other subsidiaries. For example, in September 2015, S&P downgraded Japan's sovereign rating to A+ with a 'Stable' outlook citing uncertainties around the strength of economic growth and weak fiscal positions. As a result, S&P subsequently lowered the ratings of a number of institutions in Japan, including ~~our~~Prudential Financial's Japanese insurance subsidiaries. It is possible that Japan’s sovereign rating could be subject to further downgrades, which would result in further downgrades of Prudential Financial’s insurance subsidiaries in Japan. Given the importance of Prudential Financial’s operations in Japan to its overall results, such downgrades could lead to a downgrade of Prudential Financial and its domestic insurance companies.

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The elimination of London Inter-Bank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") ~~reform~~ may adversely affect the interest rates on and value of certain derivatives and floating rate securities we hold, and any other assets or liabilities whose value ~~may be~~is tied to LIBOR. Actions by regulators ~~or law enforcement agencies, as well as ICE Benchmark Administration (the current administrator of LIBOR) may result~~have resulted in ~~changes to the way LIBOR is determined or~~ the establishment of alternative reference ~~rates. For example, on~~rates to LIBOR in most major currencies. On July 27, 2017, the U.K. Financial Conduct Authority announced that it intends to stop persuading or compelling banks to submit LIBOR rates after 2021. However, it remains unclear if, how and in what form, LIBOR will continue to exist. The U.S. Federal Reserve, based on the recommendations of the New York Federal Reserve’s Alternative Reference Rate Committee (constituted of major derivative market participants and their regulators), has ~~announced its plans to begin~~begun publishing ~~in mid-2018,~~ a Secured Overnight Funding Rate ("SOFR") which is intended to replace U.S. dollar ~~LIBOR. Plans~~LIBOR, and SOFR-based investment products have been issued in the U.S. Proposals for alternative reference rates for other currencies have also been ~~announced. At this time, it is not possible to predict how markets will respond~~announced or have already begun publication. Markets are slowly developing in response to these new rates and questions around liquidity in these rates and how to appropriately adjust these rates to eliminate any economic value transfer at the time of transition remain a significant concern for us and others in the marketplace. The effect of any changes or reforms to LIBOR or discontinuation of LIBOR on new or existing financial instruments to which we have ~~exposure. If~~exposure or the activities in our businesses will vary depending on (1) existing fallback provisions in individual contracts and (2) whether, how, and when industry participants develop and widely adopt new reference rates and fallbacks for both legacy and new products or instruments. Accordingly, it is difficult to predict the full impact of the transition away from LIBOR ~~ceases to exist or if the methods of calculating LIBOR change from current methods for any reason, interest rates~~ on certain derivatives and floating rate securities we hold, and any other assets or liabilities, as well as contractual rights and obligations, whose value is tied to ~~LIBOR,~~LIBOR. The value or profitability of these products and instruments may be adversely affected. ~~Further, any uncertainty regarding the continued use and reliability of LIBOR as a benchmark interest rate could adversely affect the value of such instruments.~~

The changing competitive landscape may adversely affect the Company. In ~~each of~~ our ~~businesses~~business we face intense competition from insurance companies and diversified financial institutions, both for the ultimate customers for our products and, in many businesses, for distribution through non-affiliated distribution channels. Technological advances, changing customer expectations, including related to digital offerings, or other changes in the marketplace may present opportunities for new or smaller competitors without established products or distribution channels to meet consumers’ increased expectations more efficiently than us. Fintech and insurtech companies have the potential to disrupt industries globally, and many participants have been partially funded by industry players.

Climate ~~Change~~change may increase the severity and frequency of calamities, or adversely affect our investment portfolio. Climate change may increase the frequency and severity of ~~weather related~~weather-related disasters and pandemics. In addition, climate change regulation may affect the prospects of companies and other entities whose securities we hold, or our willingness to continue to hold their securities. It may also impact other counterparties, including reinsurers, and affect the value of investments. We cannot predict the long-term impacts on us from climate change or related regulation.

Market conditions and other factors may adversely impact product sales or increase expenses. Examples include:

◦

A change in market conditions, such as high inflation and high interest rates, could cause a change in consumer sentiment and behavior adversely affecting sales and persistency of our savings and protection products. Conversely, low inflation and low interest rates could cause persistency of these products to vary from that anticipated and adversely affect profitability. Similarly, changing economic conditions and unfavorable public perception of financial institutions can influence customer behavior, including increasing claims or surrenders in certain products.


◦	Lapses and surrenders of certain insurance products may increase if a market downturn, increased market volatility or other market conditions result in customers becoming dissatisfied with their investments or products.

Our reputation may be adversely impacted if any of the risks described in this section are realized. Reputational risk could manifest from any of the risks as identified in the Company’s risk identification process. Failure to effectively manage risks across a broad range of risk issues exposes the Company to reputational harm. If the Company were to suffer a significant loss in reputation, both policyholders and counterparties could seek to exit existing relationships. Additionally, large changes in credit worthiness, especially credit ratings, could impact access to funding markets while creating additional collateral requirements for existing relationships. The mismanagement of any such risks may potentially damage our reputational asset. Our business is anchored in the strength of our brand, our alignment to our values, and our proven commitment to keep our promises to our customers. Any negative public perception, founded or otherwise, can be widely and rapidly shared over social media or other means, and could cause damage to our reputation.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

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Item 2. Properties

The Company occupies office space in Shelton, Connecticut, which is leased from an affiliate, Prudential Annuities Information Services and Technology Corporation, as described under “Expense Charges and Allocations” in Note 1514 to the Financial Statements.

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Item 3. Legal Proceedings

See Note 1215 to the Financial Statements under ~~“-Litigation~~“Litigation and Regulatory Matters” for a description of certain pending litigation and regulatory matters affecting us, and certain risks to our businesses presented by such matters.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Not Applicable.

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PART II

Item 5. Market for the Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The Company is a ~~wholly owned~~wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential Annuities, Inc. (“PAI”). There is no public market for the Company’s common stock.

Item 6. Selected Financial Data

Omitted pursuant to General Instruction I(2)(a) of Form 10-K.

Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

You should read the following analysis of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with the Forward-Looking Statements included below the Table of Contents, “Risk Factors,” and the Financial Statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Overview

The Company has sold a wide array of annuities, including deferred and immediate 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. In addition, the Company has a relatively small in force block of variable life insurance policies. The Company stopped actively selling ~~such~~annuity products between March 2010 and December 2017.

In March 2010, the Company ceased offering its variable and fixed annuity products (and where offered, the companion market value adjustment option) to new investors upon the launch of a new product line by each of Pruco Life Insurance Company ("Pruco Life") and Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey ("PLNJ") (which are affiliates of the Company). These initiatives were implemented to create operational and administrative efficiencies by offering a single product line of annuity products from a more limited group of legal entities. During 2012, the Company suspended additional customer deposits for variable annuities with certain living benefit guarantees. However, the Company continues to accept additional customer deposits on certain in force contracts, subject to applicable contract provisions and administrative rules. The Company launched a new fixed indexed annuity ~~in January 2018~~ and ~~will launch~~ a new deferred income annuity during 2018.

On August 31, 2013, the Company redomesticated from Connecticut to Arizona. As a result of the redomestication, the Company is now an Arizona insurance company and its principal insurance regulatory authority is the Arizona Department of Insurance ("AZDOI"). See Note 1 to the Financial Statements for additional information.

Variable Annuities Recapture

Through March 31, 2016, the Company reinsured the majority of its variable annuity living benefit guarantees to its affiliated companies, Pruco Re and Prudential Insurance, in order to facilitate the capital markets hedging program for these living benefit guarantees. Effective April 1, 2016, the Company recaptured the risks related to its variable annuity living benefit guarantees that were previously reinsured to Pruco Re and Prudential Insurance. In addition, the Company reinsured the variable annuity base contracts, along with the living benefit guarantees, Pruco Life, excluding the PLNJ business which was reinsured to Prudential Insurance, under a coinsurance and modified coinsurance agreement. The reinsurance agreement covers new and in force business and excludes business reinsured externally by Pruco Life. The product risks related to the reinsured business are being managed in the Company. In addition, the living benefit hedging program related to the reinsured living benefit guarantees is being managed within the Company. These series of transactions are collectively referred to as the "Variable Annuities Recapture". As a result of the Variable Annuities Recapture, Pruco Re no longer had any material active reinsurance with affiliates. On September 30, 2016, Pruco Re was merged with and into the Company.

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Revenues and Expenses

The Company earns revenues principally from contract charges, mortality and expense fees, asset administration fees from ~~insurance~~annuity and investment products and from net investment income on the investment of general account and other funds. The Company earns contract fees, mortality and expense fees and asset administration fees primarily from the sale and servicing of annuity products. The Company’s operating expenses principally consist of ~~guaranteed benefits~~annuity benefit guarantees provided and reserves established for anticipated future ~~guaranteed benefits~~annuity benefit guarantees and costs of managing risk related to these products, interest credited to contractholders' account balances, general business expenses, reinsurance premiums, commissions and other costs of selling and servicing the various products it sold.

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 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 with respect to these portfolios. However, there was also a reduction in contractual investment 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.

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Profitability

The Company’s profitability depends principally on its ability to price our 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 contractholder behavior experience on annuity products, our ability to attract and retain customer assets, generate and maintain favorable investment results, effectively deploy capital and utilize our tax capacity, and manage expenses. See “Risk Factors” 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.

Industry Trends

Our business is impacted by financial markets, economic conditions, regulatory oversight, and a variety of trends that affect the industries where we compete.

Financial and Economic Environment. Interest rates in the U.S. remain lower than historical levels, which may continue to negatively impact our portfolio income yields and our net investment spread results. See “Impact of a Low Interest Rate Environment” below. In addition, we are subject to financial impacts associated with movements in equity markets and the evolution of the credit cycle as discussed in “Risk Factors”.

Demographics. Customer demographics continue to evolve and new opportunities present themselves in different consumer segments such as the millennial and multicultural markets. Consumer expectations and preferences are changing. We believe existing customers and potential customers are increasingly looking for cost-effective solutions that they can easily understand and access through technology-enabled devices. At the same time, income protection, wealth accumulation and the needs of retiring baby boomers are continuing to shape the insurance industry. A persistent retirement security gap exists in terms of both savings and protection. Despite the ongoing phenomenon of the risk and responsibility of retirement savings shifting from employers to employees, employers are becoming increasingly focused on the financial wellness of the individuals they employ.

Regulatory Environment. See “Business—Regulation” for a discussion of regulatory developments that may impact the Company and the associated risks.

Competitive Environment. See “Business” for a discussion of the competitive environment and the basis on which we compete.

Impact of a Low Interest Rate Environment

As a financial services company, market interest rates are a key driver of the Company's results of operations and financial condition. Changes in interest rates can affect our results of operations and/or our financial condition in several ways, including favorable or adverse impacts to:

investment-related activity, including: investment income returns, net interest margins, net investment spread results,

new money rates, mortgage loan prepayments and bond redemptions;

insurance reserve levels, amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs ("DAC")/value of business acquired (“VOBA”)

and market experience true-ups/deferred sales inducements ("DSI");

customer account values, including their impact on fee income;

fair value of, and possible impairments, on intangible assets;

product offerings, design features, crediting rates and sales mix; and

policyholder behavior, including surrender or withdrawal activity.

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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 Financial Statements could change significantly.

The following sections discuss the accounting policies applied in preparing our financial statements that management believes are most dependent on the application of estimates and assumptions and require management’s most difficult, subjective or complex judgments.

Insurance Assets

Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Deferred Sales Inducements

We capitalize costs that are directly related to the acquisition of annuity contracts. These costs primarily include commissions, as well as costs of policy issuance and underwriting and certain other expenses that are directly related to successfully negotiated contracts. We have also deferred costs associated with sales inducements offered in the past related to our variable and fixed annuity contracts. Sales inducements are amounts that are credited to the policyholders' account balances mainly as an inducement to purchase the contract. For additional information about sales inducements, see Note 79 to the Financial Statements. We generally amortize DAC and DSI over the expected lives of the contracts, based on our estimates of the level and timing of gross profits. As described in more detail below, in calculating DAC and DSI amortization we are required to make assumptions about investment returns, mortality, persistency, and other items that impact our estimates of the level and timing of gross profits. We also periodically evaluate the recoverability of our DAC and DSI. For certain contracts, this evaluation is performed as part of our premium deficiency testing, as discussed further below in ~~“—Policyholder Liabilities"~~“Insurance Liabilities—Future Policy Benefits". As of December 31, ~~2017,~~2018, DAC and DSI were ~~$4,597~~$4,448 million and ~~$1,021~~$890 million, respectively.

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Amortization methodologies

We generally amortize DAC and other costs over the expected life of the contracts in proportion to total gross profits. Total gross profits include both actual gross profits and estimates of gross profits for future periods. Gross profits are defined as i) amounts assessed for mortality, contract administration, surrender charges, and other assessments plus amounts earned from investment of policyholder balances less ii) benefit claims in excess of policyholder balances, costs incurred for contract administration, the net cost of reinsurance for certain businesses, interest credited to policyholder balances and other credits. If significant negative gross profits are expected in any ~~period,~~periods, the amount of insurance in force is generally substituted as the base for computing amortization. For variable annuities, U.S. GAAP, gross profits and amortization rates also include the impacts of the embedded derivatives associated with certain of the optional 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 distinct amortization rates and expense amounts. In addition, in calculating gross profits, we include the profits and losses related to contracts previously 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 (an SEC registrant) and has extensive transactions and relationships with other subsidiaries of Prudential Financial, including reinsurance agreements, as discussed in Note 1310 to the 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 other costs, see “—Results of Operations”.

We also regularly evaluate and adjust the related DAC and DSI balances with a corresponding charge or credit to current period earnings for the impact of actual gross profits and changes in our projections of estimated future gross profits on our DAC and DSI amortization rates. Adjustments to the DAC and DSI balances include the impact to our estimate of total gross profits of the annual review of assumptions, our quarterly adjustments for current period experience, and our quarterly adjustments for market performance. Each of these adjustments is further discussed below in “—Annual assumptions review and quarterly ~~adjustments.”~~adjustments”.

Annual assumptions review and quarterly adjustments

Annually, we perform a comprehensive review of the assumptions used in estimating gross profits for future periods. Over the last several years, the Company’s most significant assumption updates resulting in a change to expected future gross profits and the amortization of DAC and DSI have been related to lapse ~~experience~~ and other contractholder behavior assumptions, mortality, and revisions to expected future rates of returns on investments. These assumptions may also cause potential significant variability in amortization expense in the future. The impact on our results of operations of changes in these assumptions can be offsetting and we are unable to predict their movement or offsetting impact over time.

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The quarterly adjustments for current period experience referred to above reflect the impact of differences between actual gross profits for a given period and the previously estimated expected gross profits for that period. To the extent each period’s actual experience differs from the previous estimate for that period, the assumed level of total gross profits may change. In these cases, we recognize a cumulative adjustment to all previous periods’ amortization, also referred to as an experience true-up adjustment.

The quarterly adjustments for market performance referred to above reflect the impact of changes to our estimate of total gross profits to reflect actual fund performance and market conditions. A significant portion of gross profits for our variable annuity contracts is dependent upon the total rate of return on assets held in separate account investment options. This rate of return influences the fees we earn on variable annuity policies, costs we incur associated with the guaranteed minimum death and guaranteed minimum income benefit features related to our variable annuity contracts, as well as other sources of profit. Returns that are higher than our expectations for a given period produce higher than expected account balances, which increase the future fees we expect to earn on variable annuity policies and decrease the future costs we expect to incur associated with the guaranteed minimum death and guaranteed minimum income benefit features related to our variable annuity contracts. The opposite occurs when returns are lower than our expectations. The changes in future expected gross profits are used to recognize a cumulative adjustment to all prior periods’ amortization.

The near-term future equity rate of return assumption used in evaluating DAC and other costs is 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%~~15.0%, we use our maximum future rate of return. As of December 31, ~~2017,~~2018, we assume an 8.0% long-term equity expected rate of return and a ~~3.3%~~7.6% near-term mean reversion equity expected rate of return.

The weighted average rate of return assumptions consider many factors, including asset durations, asset allocations and other factors. We generally update the near-term equity rate 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 assumptions. As a result of our ~~2017~~2018 annual reviews and update of assumptions and other refinements, we ~~reduced~~kept our long-term expectation of the 10-year U.S. Treasury rate ~~by 25 basis points~~unchanged from last year and ~~now~~continue to grade to 3.75% over ten years.

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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.

Value of Business Acquired

In addition to DAC and DSI, we also recognize an asset for value of business acquired, or VOBA. VOBA is an intangible asset which represents an adjustment to the stated value of acquired in force insurance contract liabilities to present them at fair value, determined as of the acquisition date. VOBA is amortized over the expected life of the acquired contracts using the same methodology and assumptions used to amortize DAC and DSI (see “—Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Deferred Sales Inducements” above for additional information). VOBA is also subject to recoverability testing. As of December 31, ~~2017,~~2018, VOBA was ~~$35~~$33 million.

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Insurance Liabilities

Future Policy Benefits

Future Policy Benefit Reserves

We establish reserves for future policy benefits to, or on behalf of, policyholders, using methodologies prescribed by U.S. GAAP. The reserving methodologies used include the following:

For ~~most long-duration contracts,~~life contingent payout annuities, we utilize a net premium valuation methodology in measuring the liability for future policy benefits. Under this methodology, a liability for future policy benefits is accrued when premium revenue is recognized. The liability, which represents the present value of future benefits to be paid to or on behalf of policyholders and related expenses less the present value of future net premiums (portion of the gross premium required to provide for all benefits and expenses), is estimated using methods that include assumptions applicable at the time the insurance contracts are made with provisions for the risk of adverse deviation, as appropriate. Original assumptions continue to be used in subsequent accounting periods to determine changes in the liability for future policy benefits (often referred to as the “lock-in concept”) unless a premium deficiency exists. The result of the net premium valuation methodology is that the liability at any point in time represents an accumulation of the portion of premiums received to date expected to be needed to fund future benefits (i.e., net premiums received to date), less any benefits and expenses already paid. The liability does not necessarily reflect the full policyholder obligation the Company expects to pay at the conclusion of the contract since a portion of that obligation would be funded by net premiums received in the future and would be recognized in the liability at that time. We perform premium deficiency tests using best estimate assumptions as of the testing date without provisions for adverse deviation. If the liabilities determined based on these best estimate assumptions are greater than the net reserves (i.e., GAAP reserves net of any DAC, DSI or VOBA asset), the existing net reserves are adjusted by first reducing these assets by the amount of the deficiency or to zero through a charge to current period earnings. If the deficiency is more than these asset balances for insurance contracts, we then increase the net reserves by the excess, again through a charge to current period earnings. If a premium deficiency is recognized, the assumptions as of the premium deficiency test date are locked in and used in subsequent valuations and the net reserves continue to be subject to premium deficiency testing. In addition, for limited-payment contracts, future policy benefit reserves also include a deferred profit liability representing gross premiums received in excess of net premiums. The deferred profits are generally recognized in revenue in a constant relationship with insurance in force or with the amount of expected future benefit payments.

For certain contract features, such as those related to guaranteed minimum death benefits (“GMDB”), guaranteed minimum income benefits (“GMIB”), a liability is established when associated assessments (which include all policy charges including charges for administration, mortality, expense, surrender, and other, regardless of how characterized) are recognized. This liability is established ~~utilizing~~using current best estimate assumptions and is based on the ratio of the present value of total expected excess payments (i.e., payments in excess of account value) over the life of the contract divided by the present value of total expected assessments (i.e., benefit ratio). The liability equals the current benefit ratio multiplied by cumulative assessments recognized to date, plus interest, less cumulative excess payments to date. Similar to as described above for DAC, the reserves are subject to adjustments based on annual reviews of assumptions and quarterly adjustments for experience, including market performance. These adjustments reflect the impact on the benefit ratio of using actual historical experience from the issuance date to the balance sheet date plus updated estimates of future experience. The updated benefit ratio is then applied to all prior periods’ assessments to derive an adjustment to the reserve recognized through a benefit or charge to current period earnings.

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For certain product guarantees, primarily certain optional living benefit features of the variable annuity products including guaranteed minimum accumulation benefits (“GMAB”), guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefits (“GMWB”) and guaranteed minimum income and withdrawal benefits (“GMIWB”), the benefits are accounted for as embedded derivatives using a fair value accounting framework. The fair value of these contracts is calculated as the present value of expected future benefit payments to contractholders less the present value of assessed rider fees attributable to the embedded derivative feature. Under U.S. GAAP, the fair values of these benefit features are based on assumptions a market participant would use in valuing these embedded derivatives. Changes in the fair value of the embedded derivatives are recorded quarterly through a benefit or charge to current period earnings.

The assumptions used in establishing reserves are generally based on the Company’s experience, industry experience and/or other factors, as applicable. We typically update our actuarial assumptions, such as mortality, morbidity and policyholder behavior assumptions annually, unless a material change is observed in an interim period that we feel is indicative of a long-term trend. Generally, we do not expect trends to change significantly in the short-term and, to the extent these trends may change, we expect such changes to be gradual over the long-term. In a sustained low interest rate environment, there is an increased likelihood that the reserves determined based on best estimate assumptions may be greater than the net liabilities.

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The following paragraphs provide additional details about our reserves:

The reserves for future policy benefits of our business relate to reserves for the GMDB and GMIB features of our variable annuities, and for the optional living benefit features that are accounted for as embedded derivatives. As discussed above, in establishing reserves for GMDBs and GMIBs, we utilize current best estimate assumptions. The primary assumptions used in establishing these reserves generally include annuitization, lapse, withdrawal and mortality assumptions, as well as interest rate and equity market return assumptions. 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. For life contingent payout annuity contracts, we establish reserves using best estimate assumptions with provisions for adverse deviations as of inception or best estimate assumptions as of the most recent loss recognition event.

The reserves for certain optional living benefit features, including GMAB, GMWB and GMIWB are accounted for as embedded derivatives at fair value, as described above. 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 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 risk of its own non-performance (“NPR”), as well as actuarially determined assumptions, including mortality rates and contractholder behavior, such as lapse rates, benefit utilization rates and withdrawal rates. 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 returns used to grow the contractholders’ account values. The Company’s discount rate assumption is based on the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) swap curve adjusted for an additional spread, which includes an estimate of NPR. Actuarial assumptions, including contractholder behavior and mortality, are reviewed at least annually and updated based upon emerging experience, future expectations and other data, including any observable market data, such as available industry studies or market transactions such as acquisitions and reinsurance transactions. For additional information regarding the valuation of these optional living benefit features, see Note 105 to the Financial Statements.

Sensitivities for Insurance Assets and Liabilities

The following table summarizes the impact that could result on each of the listed financial statement balances ~~relative to~~from changes in certain assumptions that may be considered reasonably likely to occur. The information below is for illustrative purposes ~~only~~ and ~~considers~~includes only the hypothetical direct impact on December 31, ~~2017~~2018 balances of changes in a single assumption and not changes in any ~~combinations~~combination of assumptions. Changes in excess of ~~those~~the amounts illustrated may occur in ~~any period.~~future periods. A description of the estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of each of these financial statement balances is provided further above. For traditional ~~long duration contracts~~long-duration and limited payment contracts, U.S. GAAP requires the original assumptions used when the contracts are issued to be locked-in and that those assumptions be used in all future liability calculations as long as the resulting liabilities are adequate to provide for the future benefits and expenses (i.e., there is no premium deficiency). Therefore, these products are not reflected in the sensitivity table below unless the hypothetical change in assumption would result in an adverse impact that would cause a premium deficiency. Similarly, the impact of any favorable change in assumptions for traditional long duration and limited payment contracts is not reflected in the table below given that the current assumption is required to remain locked-in and instead the positive impacts would be recognized into net income over the life of the policies in force.

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The impacts presented within this table do not reflect the related impacts of our asset liability management strategy which seeks to offset the changes in the balances presented within this table and is primarily comprised of investments and derivatives. See further below for a discussion of the estimates and assumptions involved with the application of U.S. GAAP accounting policies for these instruments and “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” for hypothetical impacts on related balances as a result of changes in certain significant assumptions.


	December 31, 2017									December 31, 2018
	Increase (Decrease) in									Increase (Decrease) in
	Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Deferred Sales Inducements and Value of Business Acquired			Future Policy Benefits and Policyholders’ Account Balances(1)(6)			Net Impact			Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs, Deferred Sales Inducements and Value of Business Acquired			Reinsurance Recoverables			Future Policy Benefits and Policyholders’ Account Balances(1)(6)			Net Impact
				(in millions)												(in millions)
Assumptions:
Hypothetical change in current
Long-Term Equity Expected Rate of Return(2)
Increase by 50 basis points	$	95		$	(40	)	$	135		$	165		$	0		$	(50	)	$	215
Decrease by 50 basis points	$	(190	)	$	55		$	(245	)	$	(170	)	$	0		$	50		$	(220	)
NPR Credit Spread(3)
Increase by 50 basis points	$	(325	)	$	(1,590	)	$	1,265		$	(285	)	$	(30	)	$	(1,405	)	$	1,090
Decrease by 50 basis points	$	360		$	1,755		$	(1,395	)	$	315		$	30		$	1,530		$	(1,185	)
Mortality(4)
Increase by 1%	$	(15	)	$	(115	)	$	100		$	(10	)	$	0		$	(100	)	$	90
Decrease by 1%	$	15		$	120		$	(105	)	$	10		$	0		$	100		$	(90	)
Lapse(5)
Increase by 10%	$	(110	)	$	(605	)	$	495		$	(90	)	$	(10	)	$	(475	)	$	375
Decrease by 10%	$	120		$	635		$	(515	)	$	95		$	10		$	500		$	(395	)


(1)	Includes GMDB/GMIB reserves, embedded derivative liabilities for certain living benefit guaranteed features.


(2)	Represents the impact of an increase or decrease in the long-term equity expected rate of return.


(3)	Represents the impact of an increase or decrease in the NPR credit spread.


(4)	Represents the impact of an increase or decrease in mortality rates.


(5)	Represents the impact of an increase or decrease in lapse rates.


(6)	Balances are gross of reinsurance.

Valuation of Investments, Including Derivatives, and the Recognition of Other-than-Temporary Impairments

Our investment portfolio consists of public and private fixed maturity securities, commercial mortgage and other loans, equity securities, other invested assets and derivative financial instruments. Derivatives are financial instruments whose values are derived from interest rates, foreign exchange rates, financial indices or the values of securities. Derivative financial instruments we generally use include swaps, futures, forwards and options and may be exchange-traded or contracted in the over-the-counter (“OTC”) market. We are also party to financial instruments that contain derivative instruments that are “embedded” in the financial instruments. Management believes the following accounting policies related to investments, including derivatives, are most dependent on the application of estimates and assumptions. Each of these policies is discussed further within other relevant disclosures related to the investments and derivatives, as referenced below:

Valuation of investments, including derivatives;

Recognition of other-than-temporary impairments ("OTTI"); and

Determination of the valuation allowance for losses on commercial mortgage and other loans.

We present at fair value in the statements of financial position our debt security investments classified as available-for-sale, ~~(including fixed maturity and equity securities),~~ investments classified as trading, ~~derivatives,~~ and ~~embedded~~certain fixed maturities, equity securities, and certain investments within “Other invested assets,” such as derivatives. For additional information regarding the key estimates and assumptions surrounding the determination of fair value of fixed maturity and equity securities, as well as derivative instruments, embedded derivatives and other investments, see Note 105 to the Financial Statements.

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For our investments classified as available-for-sale, the impact of changes in fair value is recorded as an unrealized gain or loss in “Accumulated other comprehensive ~~income”~~income (loss)” (“AOCI”), a separate component of equity. For our investments classified as trading, equity securities, and derivatives, the impact of changes in fair value is recorded within “Asset administration fees and other income”. In addition, investments classified as available-for-sale are subject to impairment reviews to identify when a decline in value is other-than-temporary. For a discussion of our policies regarding other-than-temporary declines in investment value and the related methodology for recording OTTI of fixed maturity ~~and equity~~ securities, see Note 2 to the Financial Statements.

Commercial mortgage and other loans are carried primarily at unpaid principal balances, net of unamortized deferred loan origination fees and expenses and unamortized premiums or discounts and a valuation allowance for losses. For a discussion of our policies regarding the valuation allowance for commercial mortgage and other loans, see Note 2 to the Financial Statements.

Taxes on Income

Our effective tax rate is based on income, non-taxable and non-deductible items, statutory tax rates and tax planning opportunities available in the various jurisdictions in which we operate. Inherent in determining our annual tax rate are judgments regarding business plans, planning opportunities and expectations about future outcomes. The dividend received deduction (“DRD”) is a major reason for the difference between the Company’s effective tax rate and the federal statutory rate. The DRD is an estimate that incorporates the prior and current year information, as well as the current year’s equity market performance. Both the current estimate of the DRD and the DRD in future periods can vary 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 underlying fund investments, changes in the account balances of variable life and annuity contracts, and the Company’s taxable income before the DRD. In addition, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the “Tax Act of 2017") modified the methodology for determining the DRD that will likely reduce this tax benefit in future periods.

In December 2017, SEC staff issued “SAB 118, Income Tax Accounting Implications of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” (“SAB 118”), which allows the registrants to record provisional amounts during a ‘measurement period’ not to extend beyond one year. Under the relief provided by SAB 118, a company can recognize provisional amounts when it does not have the necessary information available, prepared or analyzed in reasonable detail to complete its accounting for the change in tax law. See Note 911 to the Financial Statements for a discussion of provisional amounts related to the Tax Act of 2017 included in “Total income tax expense (benefit)” in ~~2017.~~2017 and adjustments to provisional amounts recorded in 2018.

An increase or decrease in our effective tax rate by one percentage point would have resulted in an increase or decrease in our ~~2017~~2018 "Total income tax expense (benefit)" of ~~$11~~$18 million.

Contingencies

A contingency is an existing condition that involves a degree of uncertainty that will ultimately be resolved upon the occurrence of future events. Under U.S. GAAP, accruals for contingencies are required to be established when the future event is probable and its impact can be reasonably estimated, such as in connection with an unresolved legal matter. The initial reserve reflects management’s best estimate of the probable cost of ultimate resolution of the matter and is revised accordingly as facts and circumstances change and, ultimately, when the matter is brought to closure.

Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements

~~There are no new critical~~On August 15, 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2018-12, Financial Services - Insurance (Topic 944): Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts, which is expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s Financial Statements and Notes to the Financial Statements. The ASU is effective January 1, 2021 (with early adoption permitted), and will impact, at least to some extent, the accounting ~~estimates resulting from new accounting pronouncements adopted during 2017.~~and disclosure requirements for all long-duration insurance and investment contracts issued by the Company. See Note 2 to the Financial Statements for a ~~complete~~more detailed discussion of ~~newly adopted accounting pronouncements and~~ASU 2018-12, as well as other accounting pronouncements issued but not yet ~~adopted.~~adopted and newly adopted accounting pronouncements.

Changes in Financial Position

~~2017~~2018 to ~~2016~~2017 Annual Comparison

Total assets ~~increased~~decreased by ~~$0.2~~$5.3 billion from ~~$59.8 billion at December 31, 2016 to~~ $60.0 billion at December 31, ~~2017.~~2017 to $54.7 billion at December 31, 2018. Significant components were:

Separate account assets decreased $6.8 billion primarily driven by net outflows, unfavorable market performance and policy charges.

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DAC and DSI decreased $0.3 billion primarily driven by base amortization and impacts from gains in our living benefit results partially offset by capitalization of new business.

Income tax receivable decreased $0.2 billion consistent with the increase in net income.

Partially offsetting these decreases to total assets was the following:

Total investments and cash and cash equivalents increased ~~$0.3~~$2.0 billion ~~due~~ primarily todriven by cash from insurance operations ~~and unrealized gains on investments due to a decline in rates,~~ partially offset by a return of capital to ~~PAI~~Prudential Annuities Inc. ("PAI") and ~~a decline in affiliated derivative assets~~unrealized losses on investments due to ~~favorable equity markets.~~

~~DAC and DSI increased $0.3 billion primarily driven by positive unlocks and capitalization of new business, partially offset by base amortization.~~

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~~Separate account assets increased $0.6 billion primarily driven by market appreciation, partially offset by net outflows from continued surrenders on runoff block and contract charges.~~

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

~~Income tax receivable decreased $0.9 billion primarily as a result of tax reform.~~rates.

Total liabilities ~~increased~~decreased by ~~$1.0~~$5.8 billion, from ~~$52.7 billion at December 31, 2016 to~~ $53.7 billion at December 31, ~~2017.~~2017 to $47.9 billion at December 31, 2018. Significant components were:

~~Future policy benefits~~Separate account liabilities decreased $6.8 billion, corresponding with the decrease in separate account assets discussed above.

Partially offsetting the decrease to total liabilities were the following:


•	Policyholders' account balances increased $0.5 billion primarily driven by sales of PruSecure^SM and HDI 3.0.

Other liabilities increased $0.4 billion primarily driven by ~~credit spread tightening~~investment payable on open trades as a result of settlement timing.

Future policy benefits increased $0.2 billion primarily driven by unfavorable equity markets and living benefit reserve growth, partially offset by ~~favorable markets.~~

~~Policyholders' account balances increased $0.1 billion primarily due to transfers from the separate account.~~

~~Separate account liabilities increased $0.6 billion, offsetting the increase in separate account assets discussed above.~~credit spread widening and rising rates.

Total equity ~~decreased~~increased by ~~$0.8~~$0.4 billion from ~~$7.1 billion at December 31, 2016 to~~ $6.3 billion at December 31, 2017 to $6.7 billion at December 31, 2018, primarily reflecting after-tax gain of $1.7 billion for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, partially offset by a $1.0 billion return of capital to PAI and ~~a $0.9 billion loss resulting from tax reform, partially offset by a pre-tax gain of $1.1 billion for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, which includes~~ $0.2 billion of accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) primarily driven by unrealized ~~gains~~losses in the current ~~year.~~year, as discussed above.

Results of Operations

~~2017 to 2016 Annual Comparison~~

Income (Loss) from Operations before Income Taxes

2018 to 2017 Annual Comparison.

Income from operations before income taxes increased ~~$2.9~~$0.7 billion from ~~a loss of~~$1.1 billion for the year ended 2017, to $1.8 billion for the year ended ~~2016, to income of $1.1 billion for the year ended 2017.~~2018.

The increase in income from operations before income taxes was primarily driven by favorable realized investment gains in the current year due to an unfavorable impact from living benefit results in the prior year as a result of significant NPR losses due to spread tightening in comparison to a favorable ~~variance of $2.0 billion for recapture~~impact from spread widening in the current year, partially offset by a less favorable year over year impact from rates and reinsurance losses for the year ended December 31, 2016, driven by the Variable Annuities Recapture. as well as a favorable variance from the annual review and update of assumptions and other refinements.equity markets. Also contributing to the increase was athe favorable ~~variance~~impact of realized gains related to our capital hedge program in ~~fees~~2018, primarily driven by equity market declines in the ~~Variable Annuities Recapture. See~~fourth quarter of 2018. Capital hedge impacts are excluded from the table ~~below, for more information.~~below. Partially offsetting these increases is a less favorable market unlocking impact in 2Q18 compared to 2Q17.

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The following table illustrates the net impact of changes in the U.S. GAAP embedded derivative liability and hedge positions,

and the related amortization of DAC and other costs, for the year ended December 31, ~~2017~~2018 and ~~2016:~~2017:

2017 2016
(1) in millions
Excluding impact of assumption updates and other refinements:
Net hedging impact(2)(3) $ 547
$ (294 )
Change in portions of U.S. GAAP liability, before NPR(4) 2,259
2,162
Change in the NPR adjustment (3,551 ) (4,044 )
Net impact from changes in the U.S. GAAP embedded derivative and hedge positions (745 ) (2,176 )
Related benefit (charge) to amortization of DAC and other costs 148
803
Net impact of assumption updates and other refinements (75 ) 1,331
Recapture and reinsurance gains (losses) 0
(2,866 )
Other investment gains (losses) 0
0
Net impact from changes in the U.S. GAAP embedded derivative and hedge positions, after the impact of NPR, DAC and other costs—reported in Individual Annuities(3) $ (671 ) $ (2,908 )



		2018			2017
		in millions (1)
Excluding impact of assumption updates and other refinements:
	Net hedging impact(2)	$	(208	)	$	547
	Change in portions of U.S. GAAP liability, before NPR(3)	(865		)	2,259
	Change in the NPR adjustment	1,325			(3,551		)
	Net impact from changes in the U.S. GAAP embedded derivative and hedge positions	252			(745		)
	Related benefit (charge) to amortization of DAC and other costs	(173		)	148
Net impact of assumption updates and other refinements		(159		)	(75		)
Net impact from changes in the U.S. GAAP embedded derivative and hedge positions, after the impact of NPR, DAC and other costs—reported in Individual Annuities		$	(80	)	$	(671	)


(1)	Positive amount represents income; negative amount represents a loss.


(2)	Net hedging impact represents the difference between the change in fair value of the risk we seek to hedge using derivatives and the change in fair value of the derivatives utilized with respect to that risk.


(3)	Excludes $(389) million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016, representing the impact of managing interest rate risk through capital management strategies other than hedging of particular exposures.


~~(4)~~	Represents risk margins and valuation methodology differences between the economic liability managed by the ~~ALM~~Asset Liability Management ("ALM") strategy and the U.S. GAAP liability, as well as the portion of the economic liability managed with fixed income instruments.

~~Table~~For the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, the net impact from changes in the U.S. GAAP embedded derivative and hedge positions, after the impact of ~~Contents~~

NPR, DAC and other costs, was a charge of $80 million which includes a $159 million net charge from our annual reviews and update of assumptions and other refinements, including updates to expected withdrawal rates as well as economic assumptions. These charges were largely offset by changes in the U.S. GAAP embedded derivative and hedge positions as a result of credit spreads widening, partially offset by less favorable impacts from rates and equity markets.

For the twelve months ended December 31, 2017, the net impact from changes in the U.S. GAAP embedded derivative and hedge positions, after the impacts of NPR, DAC and other costs, was a charge of $671 million. The net impact from changes in the U.S. GAAP embedded derivative and hedge positions resulted in a net charge of $745 million, predominantly as a result of tightening credit spreads used in measuring our living benefit contracts.

For the twelve months ended December 31, 2016, the net impact from changes in the U.S. GAAP embedded derivative and hedge positions was a charge of $2.9 billion. This was primarily driven by a $2.9 billion loss resulting from the recapture of the living benefit guarantees from Pruco Re and subsequent reinsurance of the variable annuity business from Pruco Life, as described above within the Variable Annuities Recapture. Also contributing to the loss was a $4.0 billion loss relating to the change in the NPR adjustment, primarily driven by tightening of credit spreads. Partially offsetting ~~these losses was~~this is a $148 million net benefit ~~for the changes in the portions~~to amortization of ~~the U.S. GAAP liability before NPR that are excluded from our hedge target, as well as a benefit from our annual review~~DAC and ~~update of actuarial assumptions, driven by modifications to both actuarial assumptions, including updates to expected withdrawal rates, and economic assumptions.~~other costs.

Revenues, Benefits and Expenses

2018 to 2017 Annual Comparison.

Revenues increased ~~$2.5~~$1.6 billion from ~~a loss of $0.2 billion for the twelve months ended December 31, 2016 to income of~~ $2.3 billion for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 primarily driven by an increase of $2.6 billion in realized investment gains / (losses), as well as an increase of $0.5 billion in policy charges and fee income and asset administration fees and other income, due to ~~the Variable Annuities Recapture. Partially offsetting these increases was a decline of $0.8 billion in premiums mainly due to the consideration received for the Variable Annuities Recapture in 2016.~~

~~Benefits and expenses decreased $0.4 billion from $1.6~~$3.9 billion for the twelve months ended December 31, ~~2016 to~~2018, primarily driven by an increase of $1.7 billion in realized investment gains (losses), as discussed above.

Benefits and expenses increased $0.9 billion from $1.2 billion for the twelve months ended December 31, 2017 to $2.1 billion for the twelve months ended December 31, 2018, primarily driven by ~~a Policyholders' benefits decrease~~an increase of ~~$0.5~~$0.8 billion primarily ~~due~~related to ~~the Variable Annuities Recapture offset in premiums discussed above, as well as a $0.1 billion decline in~~ the amortization of ~~deferred policy acquisition costs net of favorable variance related to the annual review and update of assumptions~~DAC and other ~~refinements.~~costs due to changes in the living benefit reserves as a result of credit spread tightening in the prior year and a favorable impact from spread widening in the current year, as discussed above.

Variable Annuity Risks and Risk Mitigants

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 capital market assumptions such as equity market returns, interest rates and market volatility, along with actuarial assumptions such as contractholder mortality, the timing and amount of annuitization and withdrawals, and contract lapses. For these risk exposures, achievement of our expected returns ~~and profitability~~ is subject to the risk that actual experience will differ from the assumptions used in the original pricing of these products. We currently manage our exposure to certain risks driven by fluctuations in capital markets primarily through a combination of Product Design Features, an Asset Liability Management ~~Strategy~~strategy and a ~~capital hedge program.~~Capital Hedge Program.

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Product Design Features

A portion of the variable annuity contracts that we have offered include an automatic rebalancing feature, also referred to as an asset transfer feature. This feature is implemented at the contract level, and transfers assets between certain variable investment sub-accounts selected by the annuity contractholder and, depending on the benefit feature, a fixed-rate account in the general account or a bond fund sub-account within the separate ~~accounts.~~account. The objective of the asset transfer feature is to reduce our exposure to equity market risk and market volatility. The asset transfer feature associated with living benefit products formerly sold by PALAC and highest daily benefit products currently sold by Pruco Life and PLNJ use a designated bond fund sub-account within the separate accounts. The transfers are based on a static mathematical formula used with the particular benefit which considers a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the impact of investment performance on the contractholder’s total account value. Other product design features we utilize include, among others, asset allocation restrictions, minimum issuance age requirements and certain limitations on the amount of contractholder deposits. In addition, there is diversity in our fee arrangements, as certain fees are primarily based on the benefit guarantee amount, the contractholder account value and/or premiums, which helps preserve certain revenue streams when market fluctuations cause account values to decline.

Asset Liability Management Strategy (including fixed income instruments and derivatives)

Under Prudential Financial's historical hedging program to manage certain capital market risks associated with certain variable annuity living benefit guarantees, the Company utilized the U.S. GAAP valuation, with certain modifications, to derive a hedge target that was more reflective of the Company's best estimate of future benefit payments, net of fees collected. Derivative positions were entered into that sought to offset the change in value of the hedge target.

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During the third quarter of 2016, the Company implemented a new ALM strategy that utilizes a combination of both traditional fixed income instruments and derivatives to help defray potential claims associated with the variable annuity living benefit guarantees. Under the revised strategy, expected living benefit claims under less severe market conditions are managed through the accumulation of fixed income instruments and potential living benefit claims resulting from more severe market conditions are hedged using derivative instruments. For the portion of our ALM strategy executed with derivatives, we enter into a range of exchange-traded, cleared, and OTC equity and interest rate derivatives, including, but not limited to: equity and treasury futures; total return and interest rate swaps; and options, including equity options, swaptions, and floors and caps. The ~~Company expects~~intent of this strategy is to more efficiently manage the ~~revised strategy to result in more efficient management of its~~ capital and liquidity associated with these products while continuing to mitigate fluctuations in net income due to movements in capital ~~markets movements.~~markets.

The change in hedge strategy had no impact on how we value or account for the living benefit guarantees under U.S. GAAP.

The following table provides a reconciliation between the liability reported under U.S. GAAP and the economic liability the Company intends to manage through the ALM strategy.


	As of December 31, 2017			As of December 31, 2016			As of December 31, 2018			As of December 31, 2017
	(in millions)						(in millions)
U.S. GAAP liability (including non-performance risk)	$	8,152		$	7,707		$	8,332		$	8,152
Non-performance risk adjustment	2,998			6,643			4,275			2,998
Subtotal	11,150			14,350			12,608			11,150
Adjustments including risk margins and valuation methodology differences	(2,603		)	(5,309		)	(3,831		)	(2,603		)
Economic liability managed through the ALM strategy	$	8,546		$	9,041		$	8,777		$	8,546

As of December 31, ~~2017,~~2018, our fixed income instruments and derivative assets exceed the economic liability.

Under our ALM strategy, the Company expects differences in the U.S. GAAP net income impact between the changes in value of the fixed income instruments and derivatives as compared to the changes in the embedded derivative liability these assets support. These differences can be primarily attributed to three distinct areas:

• Different valuation methodologies in measuring the liability the Company intends to cover with fixed income instruments and derivatives versus the liability reported under U.S. GAAP— The valuation methodology utilized in estimating the economic liability the Company intends to defray with fixed income instruments and derivatives is different from that required to be utilized to measure the liability under U.S. GAAP. The valuation of the economic liability excludes certain items that are included within the U.S. GAAP liability, such as NPR (in order to maximize protection irrespective of the possibility of our own default), as well as risk margins (required by U.S. GAAP but different from our best estimate).

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• Different accounting treatment between liabilities and assets supporting those liabilities— Under U.S. GAAP, changes in value of the embedded derivative liability and derivative instruments used to hedge a portion of the economic liability are immediately reflected in net income. In contrast, changes in fair value of fixed income instruments that support a portion of the economic liability are designated as available for sale and are not recorded in net income but rather are recorded as unrealized gains (losses) in other comprehensive income.

• General hedge results—For the derivative portion of the ALM strategy, the net hedging impact (the extent to which the changes in value of the hedging instruments offset the change in value of the portion of the economic liability we are hedging) may be impacted by a number of factors including: cash flow timing differences between our hedging instruments and the corresponding portion of the economic liability we are hedging, basis differences attributable to actual underlying contractholder funds to be hedged versus hedgeable indices, rebalancing costs related to dynamic rebalancing of hedging instruments as markets move, certain elements of the economic liability that may not be hedged (including certain actuarial assumptions), and implied and realized market volatility on the hedge positions relative to the portion of the economic liability we seek to hedge.

For the portion of our ALM strategy executed with derivatives, we enter into a range of exchange-traded, cleared and over-the- counter (“OTC”) equity and interest rate derivatives including, but not limited to: equity and treasury futures; total return and interest rate swaps; and options including equity options, swaptions, and floors and caps.

~~For~~ information regarding the Capital Protection Framework we use to evaluate and support the risks of the ALM strategy, see “—Liquidity and Capital Resources—~~Capital.”~~Capital”.

Capital Hedge Program

During 2017, we commenced a capital hedge program within PALAC to further hedge equity market impacts. The program is intended to protect a portion of the overall capital position of the variable annuities business against its exposure to the equity markets. The capital hedge program is conducted using equity derivatives which include equity call and put options, total return swaps and futures contracts.

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Product Specific Risks and Risk Mitigants

For certain living benefits guarantees, claims will primarily represent the funding of contractholder lifetime withdrawals after the cumulative withdrawals have first exhausted the contractholder account value. Due to the age of the in force block, limited claim payments have occurred to date, and they are not expected to increase significantly within the next five years, based upon current assumptions. The timing and amount of future claims will depend on actual returns on contractholder account value and actual contractholder behavior relative to our assumptions. The majority of our current living benefits guarantees provide for guaranteed lifetime contractholder withdrawal payments inclusive of a “highest daily” contract value guarantee.

The majority of our variable annuity contracts with living benefits guarantees, include risk mitigants in the form of an asset transfer feature and/or inclusion in the ALM strategy. The risks associated with the guaranteed benefits of certain legacy products that were sold prior to our development of the asset transfer feature are also managed through our ALM strategy. Certain legacy GMAB products include the asset transfer feature, but are not included in the ALM strategy. The contracts with the GMIB feature have neither risk mitigant.

For our GMDBs, we provide a benefit payable in the event of death. Our base GMDB is generally equal to a return of cumulative purchase payments adjusted for any partial withdrawals. Certain products include an optional enhanced GMDB based on the greater of a minimum return on the contract value or an enhanced value. We have retained the risk that the total amount of death benefit payable may be greater than the contractholder account value. However, a substantial portion of the account values associated with GMDBs are subject to an asset transfer feature because the contractholder also selected a living benefit guarantee which includes an asset transfer feature. All of the variable annuity account values with living benefit guarantees also contain GMDBs. The living and death benefit features for these contracts cover the same insured life and, consequently, we have insured both the longevity and mortality risk on these contracts.

~~During 2018, we launched PruSecure~~^SM~~, a single premium fixed index annuity, which allows the policyholder to allocate all or a portion~~

Table of their account balance into an index account, such as the S&P 500. The index account provides interest or an interest component linked to, but not an investment in, the selected index, and its performance over the elected term (i.e., 1, 3 or 5 years), subject to certain participation rates and contractual minimums and maximums. We also anticipate the launch of Guaranteed Income for Tomorrow (“GIFT^SM~~”), a deferred income annuity, which initially will be distributed through direct response solicitation through Prudential Insurance's Group Insurance business.~~Contents

Income Taxes

The differences between income taxes expected at the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate of 21% applicable for 2018 and 35% applicable for the periods prior to 2018, and the reported income tax (benefit) expense are provided in the following table:


	Year Ended December 31,									Year Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015			2018			2017			2016
	(in millions)									(in millions)
Expected federal income tax expense (benefit) at federal statutory rate	$	391		$	(620	)	$	57		$	387		$	391		$	(620	)
Non-taxable investment income	(47		)	(50		)	(56		)	(19		)	(47		)	(50		)
Tax credits	(10		)	(10		)	(9		)	(14		)	(10		)	(10		)
Changes in tax law	882			0			0			(193		)	882			0
Other	(15		)	0			0			0			(15		)	0
Reported income tax expense (benefit)	$	1,201		$	(680	)	$	(8	)	$	161		$	1,201		$	(680	)
Effective tax rate	107.5		%	38.4		%	(5.0		)%	8.8		%	107.5		%	38.4		%

Effective Tax Rate

The effective tax rate is the ratio of “Total income tax expense (benefit)” divided by “Income (loss) from operations before income ~~taxes.”~~taxes”. Our effective tax rate for fiscal years 2018, 2017 and 2016 was 8.8%, 107.5% and ~~2015 was 107.5%,~~ 38.4% ~~and (5.0)%~~, respectively. For a detailed description of the nature of each significant reconciling item, see Note 911 to the Financial Statements. ~~The increase in income tax benefit corresponding to the change in the effective tax rate from (5.0)% in 2015 to 38.4% in 2016 was primarily driven by a decrease in pre-tax net income.~~ The increase in the effective tax rate from 38.4% in 2016 to 107.5% in 2017 was primarily driven by an increase in pre-tax net income and the ~~impacts~~impact of ~~the Tax Act of 2017 on the date of enactment. Going forward, we generally expect a lower future effective~~deferred tax ~~rate. This reduction is primarily due to applying the lower corporate~~revaluation from tax ~~rate~~law change under the Tax Act of 2017. The decrease in the effective tax rate from 107.5% in 2017 to ~~our business earnings.~~

~~Table~~8.8% in 2018 was primarily driven by the impact of ~~Contents~~

deferred tax revaluation from tax law change under the Tax Act of 2017.

Unrecognized Tax Benefits

The Company’s liability for income taxes includes the liability for unrecognized tax benefits and interest that relate to tax years still subject to review by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) or other taxing authorities. The completion of review or the expiration of the Federal statute of limitations for a given audit period could result in an adjustment to the liability for income taxes. The Company had no unrecognized benefit as of December 31, 2018, 2017 ~~2016~~ and ~~2015.~~2016. We do not anticipate any significant changes within the next 12 months to our total unrecognized tax benefits related to tax years for which the statute of limitations has not expired.

Income Tax Expense vs. Income Tax Paid in Cash

Income tax expense recorded under U.S. GAAP routinely differs from the income taxes paid in cash in any given year. Income tax expense recorded under U.S. GAAP is based on income reported in our Statements of Operations for the current period and it includes both current and deferred taxes. Income taxes paid during the year include tax installments made for the current year as well as tax payments and refunds related to prior periods.

For additional information on income tax related items, see “Business—Regulation” and Note 911 to the Financial Statements.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

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 business, 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 business, 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 Designated Financial Company under Dodd-Frank. As a Designated Financial Company, Prudential Financial is~~Our businesses are subject to comprehensive regulation and supervision by domestic and ~~examination by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston and to stricter prudential regulatory standards, which~~international regulators. These regulations currently include, or ~~will~~may include in the future, 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. Emerging state and international standards may also impose additional capital and other requirements. For information on these regulatory initiatives and their potential impact on us, see ~~“Business-Regulation” and “Risk Factors”.~~

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"Business—Regulation”

Capital

Our capital management framework is primarily based on statutory RBC 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”).~~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. ~~We expect that~~The Company’s capital levels substantially exceed the minimum level required by applicable insurance regulations. Our regulatory capital levels may be affected in the future by changes to the applicable regulations, proposals for which are currently under consideration by both domestic and international insurance regulators.

In June 2018, the Capital Adequacy Task Force of the NAIC approved revisions to the NAIC RBC framework as a result of the adoption of the Tax Act of 2017 ~~will adversely affect~~and the ~~statutory capital position~~corresponding reduction of ~~Prudential Financial's domestic insurance companies as of December 31, 2017, due to the reduction in~~ the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% ~~and~~. The revisions will apply to the ~~resulting reduction in the value~~calculation of ~~statutory deferred tax assets and increase in certain statutory reserves. Nevertheless, we expect the Company’s~~our RBC ~~ratios to be greater than 400%~~ratio as of December 31, ~~2017, even after giving effect to impacts from~~2018. The reduction of the ~~Tax Act of 2017.~~

~~In addition, the NAIC is expected to revise the RBC requirements for future periods to reflect~~corporate tax rate under the Tax Act of 2017 ~~which may further adversely affect~~has the ~~statutory capital position~~effect of increasing certain RBC factors, resulting in an overall decrease in insurers’ RBC ratio. The Company expects to have the Company in future periods. While the impact of the NAIC rules will not be fully known until the final updated RBC requirements are formally issued and adopted, the updated requirements may cause the regulatory capital levels of the Companynecessary resources to ~~be below our~~maintain its “AA” ratings targets ~~in which case we would expect to fund any additional capital necessary to get back to our target levels using available capital and/or funding obtained through the capital markets.~~under this proposed RBC framework.

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, and credit quality migration of the investment portfolio, among other items. In addition, the recapture of business subject to reinsurance arrangements due to defaults by, or credit quality migration affecting, the reinsurers or for other reasons 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.

In December 2018, the Company returned capital of $225 million to its parent, PAI. In June 2018 and September 2018, the Company returned capital of $250 million to PAI. In March 2018, the Company returned capital of $300 million to PAI. On June 7, 2017, September 6, 2017 and ~~November 24,~~December 21, 2017, the Company returned capital of $100 million, $200 million and $650 million, respectively, to ~~its parent,~~ PAI. On December 21, 2016, the Company returned capital of $1,140 million to PAI. ~~On December 22, 2015 and June 29, 2015, the Company paid dividends of $180 million and $270 million, respectively, to PAI.~~

~~In June of 2016, the Company received a capital contribution in the amount of $8,422 million from PAI, related to the Variable Annuities Recapture.~~

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~~ratio 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.~~losses and foreign currency exchange rates.

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The Framework accommodates periodic volatility within ranges that ~~are deemed~~we deem acceptable, while also providing for additional potential sources of capital, including on-balance sheet capital ~~derivatives,~~capacity and contingent sources of capital. 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.

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 liquidity to meet projected cash outflows, including claims. The impact of Prudential Funding, LLC’s ("Prudential Funding"), a

wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential Insurance, 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.

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Cash Flow

The principal sources of the Company’s liquidity are certain annuity considerations, investment and fee income, investment maturities and 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, the payment of dividends and return of capital to the parent company, hedging activity and payments in connection with financing activities. In March 2010, the Company ceased offering its existing variable annuity products to new investors upon the launch of a new product line by certain affiliates, but has launched a new fixed indexed annuity in January 2018 and ~~will launch~~ a new deferred income annuity ~~during~~in March 2018.

We believe that the cash flows from our operations are adequate to satisfy our current liquidity ~~requirements, including considering the impacts of the Tax Act of 2017.~~requirements. The continued adequacy of this liquidity will depend upon factors such as future securities market conditions, changes in interest rate levels, contractholder perceptions of our financial strength, customer behavior, catastrophic events and the relative safety and attractiveness of competing products, each of which could lead to reduced cash inflows or increased cash outflows. Our cash flows from investment activities result from repayments of principal, proceeds from maturities and sales of invested assets and investment income, net of amounts reinvested. The primary liquidity risks with respect to these cash flows are the risk of default by debtors or bond insurers, our counterparties’ willingness to extend repurchase and/or securities lending arrangements, commitments to invest and market volatility. We closely manage these risks through our credit risk management process and regular monitoring of our liquidity position.

In managing ~~our~~the liquidity, we consider the risk of policyholder and contractholder withdrawals of funds earlier than our assumptions when selecting assets to support these contractual obligations. We use surrender charges and other contract provisions to mitigate the extent, timing and profitability impact of withdrawals of funds by ~~customers from annuity contracts and deposit liabilities.~~customers.

Liquid Assets

Liquid assets include cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, U.S. Treasury fixed maturities, fixed maturities that are not designated as held-to-maturity and public equity securities. As of December 31, ~~2017~~2018 and ~~2016,~~2017, the Company had liquid assets of ~~$12.6~~$14.6 billion and ~~$12.3~~$12.6 billion, respectively. The portion of liquid assets comprised of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments was ~~$2.4~~$4.5 billion and ~~$2.8~~$2.4 billion as of December 31, ~~2017~~2018 and ~~2016,~~2017, respectively. As of December 31, ~~2017, $9.6~~2018, $9.3 billion, or 95%, of the fixed maturity investments in company general account portfolios were rated high or highest quality based on NAIC or equivalent rating.

Given the size and liquidity profile of our investment portfolios, we believe that claim experience, including contractholder withdrawals and surrenders, varying from our projections does not constitute a significant liquidity risk. Our asset/liability management process takes into account the expected maturity of investments and expected claim payments as well as the specific nature and risk profile of the liabilities. To the extent we need to pay claims in excess of projections, we may borrow temporarily or sell investments sooner than anticipated to pay these claims, which may result in increased borrowing costs or realized investment gains or losses including from changes in interest rates or credit spreads. The payment of claims and sale of investments earlier than anticipated would have an impact on the reported level of cash flow from operating and investing activities, respectively, in our financial statements. Historically, there has been no significant variation between the expected maturities of our investments and the payment of claims.

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Financing Activities

Prudential Funding, LLC

Prudential Financial and Prudential Funding ~~LLC (“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.

Hedging activities associated with living benefit guarantees

As noted above, effective April 1, 2016, the hedging portion of our risk management strategy associated with the living benefit guarantees recaptured from Pruco Re and Prudential Insurance, as well as the living benefit guarantees reinsured from Pruco Life, is being managed within the Company. For the portion of the risk management strategy executed through hedging, we enter into a range of exchange-traded, cleared and other OTC equity and interest rate derivatives in order to hedge certain living benefit guarantees accounted for as embedded derivatives against changes in certain capital market risks above a designated threshold. The portion of the risk management strategy comprising the hedging portion requires access to liquidity to meet the Company's payment obligations relating to these derivatives, such as payments for periodic settlements, purchases, maturities and terminations.

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These liquidity needs can vary materially due to, among other items, changes in interest rates, equity markets, mortality and policyholder behavior.

The hedging portion of the risk management strategy may also result in collateral postings on derivatives to or from counterparties. The net collateral position depends on changes in interest rates and equity markets related to the amount of the exposures hedged. Depending on market conditions, the collateral posting requirements can result in material liquidity needs.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Market Risk

Market risk is defined as the risk of loss from changes in interest rates, equity prices, and foreign currency exchange rates resulting from asset/liability mismatches where the change in the value of our liabilities is not offset by the change in value of our assets. See Item 1A, “Risk Factors” above 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.

Through March 31, 2016, the Company reinsured the majority of its variable annuity living benefit guarantees to its affiliated companies, Pruco Re and Prudential Insurance. Effective April 1, 2016, the Company recaptured the risks related to its variable annuity living benefit guarantees that were previously reinsured to Pruco Re and Prudential Insurance. In addition, the Company reinsured the variable annuity base contracts, along with the living benefit guarantees, from Pruco Life, excluding the PLNJ business which was reinsured to Prudential Insurance, under a coinsurance and modified coinsurance agreement. This reinsurance agreement covers new and in force business and excludes business reinsured externally. The product risks related to the reinsured business are being managed in the Company. In addition, the living benefit hedging program related to the reinsured living benefit guarantees is being managed within the Company.

Market Risk Management

Management of market risk, which we consider to be a combination of both investment risk and market risk exposures, includes the identification and measurement of various forms of risk, the establishment of risk thresholds and the creation of processes intended to maintain risks within these thresholds while optimizing returns on the underlying assets or liabilities. As an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential Financial, the Company benefits from the risk management strategies implemented by Prudential Financial.

Our risk management process utilizes a variety of tools and techniques, including:

Measures of price sensitivity to market changes (e.g., interest rates, equity index prices, foreign exchange);

Asset/liability management;

Stress scenario testing;

Hedging programs; and

Risk management governance, including policies, limits and a committee that oversees investment and market risk.

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Market Risk Mitigation

Risk mitigation takes three primary forms:

Asset/Liability Management: Managing assets to liability-based measures. For example, investment policies identify target durations for assets based on liability characteristics and asset portfolios are managed to within ranges around them. This mitigates potential unanticipated economic losses from interest rate movements.

Hedging: Using derivatives to offset risk exposures. For example, for our variable annuities, potential living benefit claims resulting from more severe market conditions are hedged using derivative instruments.

Management of portfolio concentration risk: For example, ongoing monitoring and management ~~at the enterprise level~~ of key rate, currency and other concentration risks support diversification efforts to mitigate exposure to individual markets and sources of risk.

Market Risk Related to Interest Rates

We perform liability-driven investing and engage in careful asset/liability management. Asset/liability mismatches create the risk that changes in liability values will differ from the changes in the value of the related assets. Additionally, changes in interest rates may impact other items including, but not limited to, the following:

Net investment spread between the amounts that we are required to pay and the rate of return we are able to earn on investments for certain products supported by general account investments;

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Asset-based fees earned on assets under management or contractholder account values;

Estimated total gross profits and the amortization of deferred policy acquisition and other costs;

Net exposure to the guarantees provided under certain products; and

Our capital levels.

In order to mitigate the ~~unfavorable~~ impact that ~~the current~~an unfavorable interest rate environment has on our net interest margins, we employ a proactive asset/liability management program, which includes strategic asset allocation and derivative strategies within a disciplined risk management framework. These strategies seek to match the characteristics of our products, and to approximate the interest rate sensitivity of the assets with the estimated interest rate sensitivity of the product liabilities. Our ALM program also helps manage duration gaps, currency and other risks between assets and liabilities through the use of derivatives. We adjust this dynamic process as products change, as customer behavior changes and as changes in the market environment occur. As a result, our asset/liability management process has permitted us to manage interest rate risk successfully through several market cycles.

We use duration and convexity analyses to measure price sensitivity to interest rate changes. Duration measures the relative sensitivity of the fair value of a financial instrument to changes in interest rates. Convexity measures the rate of change of duration with respect to changes in interest rates. We use ALM and derivative strategies to manage our interest rate exposure by matching the relative sensitivity of asset and liability values to interest rate changes, or controlling “duration mismatch” of assets and liability duration targets. In certain markets, capital market limitations that hinder our ability to acquire assets that approximate the duration of some of our liabilities are considered in setting duration targets. We consider risk-based capital and tax implications as well as current market conditions in our ALM strategies.

The Company also mitigates interest rate risk through a market value adjusted (“MVA”) provision on certain of the Company’s annuity products' fixed investment options. This MVA provision limits interest rate risk by subjecting the contractholder to an MVA when funds are withdrawn or transferred to variable investment options before the end of the guarantee period. In the event of rising interest rates, which generally make the fixed maturity securities underlying the guarantee less valuable, the MVA could be negative. In the event of declining interest rates, which generally make the fixed maturity securities underlying the guarantee more valuable, the MVA could be positive. The resulting increase or decrease in the value of the fixed option, from calculation of the MVA, is designed to offset the decrease or increase in the market value of the securities underlying the guarantee.

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We assess the impact of interest rate movements on the value of our financial assets, financial liabilities and derivatives using hypothetical test scenarios that assume either upward or downward 100 basis point parallel shifts in the yield curve from prevailing interest rates, reflecting changes in either credit spreads or the risk-free rate. The following table sets forth the net estimated potential loss in fair value on these financial instruments from a hypothetical 100 basis point upward shift at December 31, ~~2017~~2018 and ~~2016.~~2017. This table is presented on a gross basis and excludes offsetting impacts to insurance liabilities that are not considered financial liabilities under U.S. GAAP. This scenario results in the greatest net exposure to interest rate risk of the hypothetical scenarios tested at those dates. While the test scenario is for illustrative purposes only and does not reflect our expectations regarding future interest rates or the performance of fixed income markets, it is a near-term, reasonably possible hypothetical change that illustrates the potential impact of such events. These test scenarios do not measure the changes in value that could result from non-parallel shifts in the yield curve, which we would expect to produce different changes in discount rates for different maturities. As a result, the actual loss in fair value from a 100 basis point change in interest rates could be different from that indicated by these calculations. The estimated changes in fair values do not include separate account ~~assets or living benefit embedded derivatives, which are hedged by the derivatives included in the table below.~~

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assets.


	December 31, 2017								December 31, 2016								December 31, 2018								December 31, 2017
	Notional		Fair Value			Hypothetical Change in Fair Value			Notional		Fair Value			Hypothetical Change in Fair Value			Notional		Fair Value			Hypothetical Change in Fair Value			Notional		Fair Value			Hypothetical Change in Fair Value

	(in millions)																(in millions)
Financial assets with interest rate risk:
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale			$	10,277		$	(1,265	)			$	9,363		$	(1,137	)
Fixed maturities(1)																			$	10,062		$	(1,238	)			$	10,277		$	(1,265	)
Policy loans			13			0					13			0					13			0					13			0
Commercial mortgage and other loans			1,396			(75		)			1,236			(63		)			1,340			(67		)			1,396			(75		)
Derivatives:
Swaps	$	102,609	2,942			(2,916		)	$	95,260	3,116			(3,822		)	$	97,629	2,902			(3,415		)	$	102,609	2,942			(2,916		)
Futures	2,636		11			(479		)	3,743		19			(620		)	1,769		(3		)	(173		)	2,636		11			(479		)
Options	47,477		157			146			15,435		127			211			46,117		(247		)	300			47,477		157			146
Forwards	988		20			1			500		(25		)	0			1,733		55			(204		)	988		20			1
Variable annuity and other living benefit feature embedded derivatives(1)			(8,147		)	5,318					(7,707		)	4,505
Financial liabilities with interest rate risk(2):
Variable annuity and other living benefit feature embedded derivatives(2)																			(8,321		)	4,684					(8,147		)	5,318
Financial liabilities with interest rate risk(3):
Policyholders' account balances-investment contracts			(282		)	3					(248		)	3					(561		)	3					(282		)	3
Net estimated potential gain (loss)						$	733							$	(923	)						$	(110	)						$	733


(1)	Includes assets classified as "Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, at fair value" and "Fixed maturities, trading, at fair value."


(2)	Excludes any offsetting impact of derivative instruments purchased to hedge changes in the embedded derivatives. Amounts reported gross of reinsurance.

~~(2)~~(3)

Excludes ~~$13.7~~$14.2 billion and ~~$13.2~~$13.7 billion as of December 31, ~~2017~~2018 and ~~2016,~~2017, respectively, of insurance reserve and deposit liabilities which are not considered financial liabilities. We believe that the interest rate sensitivities of these insurance liabilities would serve as an offset to the net interest rate risk of the financial assets and financial liabilities, including investment contracts.

Market Risk Related to Equity Prices

We have exposure to equity risk primarily through asset/liability mismatches, including our equity-based derivatives and certain variable annuity and other living benefit feature embedded derivatives. As discussed above, as part of our risk management strategy, the Company recaptured the risks related to its variable annuity living benefit guarantees that were previously reinsured. Our ~~equity based derivatives are primarily held as part of our~~ capital hedging ~~program.~~program primarily holds equity derivatives. In addition to the impact on our ~~capital hedges,~~equity derivatives, changes in equity prices may impact other items including, but not limited to, the following:

Asset-based fees earned on assets under management or contractholder account value;

Estimated total gross profits and the amortization of deferred policy acquisition and other costs; and

Net exposure to the guarantees provided under certain products.

We manage equity risk against benchmarks in respective markets. We benchmark our return on equity holdings against a blend of market indices, mainly the S&P 500 and Russell 2000 for U.S. equities. We benchmark foreign equities against the Tokyo Price Index, and the MSCI EAFE, a market index of European, Australian and Far Eastern equities. We target price sensitivities that approximate those of the benchmark indices. For equity investments within the separate accounts, the investment risk is borne by the separate account contractholder rather than by the Company.

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We estimate our equity risk from a hypothetical 10% decline in equity benchmark levels. The following table sets forth the net estimated potential loss in fair value from such a decline as of December 31, ~~2017~~2018 and ~~2016.~~2017. While these scenarios are for illustrative purposes only and do not reflect our expectations regarding future performance of equity markets or of our equity portfolio, they do represent near-term, reasonably possible hypothetical changes that illustrate the potential impact of such events. These scenarios consider only the direct impact on fair value of declines in equity benchmark market levels and not changes in asset-based fees recognized as revenue, changes in our estimates of total gross profits used as a basis for amortizing deferred policy acquisition and other costs, or changes in any other assumptions such as market volatility or mortality, utilization or persistency rates in our variable annuity contracts that could also impact the fair value of our living benefit features. In addition, these scenarios do not reflect the impact of basis risk, such as potential differences in the performance of the investment funds underlying the variable annuity products relative to the market indices we use as a basis for developing our hedging strategy. The impact of basis risk could result in larger differences between the change in fair value of the equity-based derivatives and the related living benefit features in comparison to these scenarios. In calculating these amounts, we exclude separate account equity securities.

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	As of December 31, 2017								As of December 31, 2016								As of December 31, 2018								As of December 31, 2017
	Notional		Fair Value			Hypothetical Change in Fair Value			Notional		Fair Value			Hypothetical Change in Fair Value			Notional		Fair Value			Hypothetical Change in Fair Value			Notional		Fair Value			Hypothetical Change in Fair Value

	(in millions)																(in millions)
Equity securities(1)			$	15		$	(2	)			$	10		$	(1	)			$	11		$	0				$	15		$	(2	)
Equity-based derivatives(2)	$	46,216	(189		)	1,302			$	18,663	(232		)	999			$	42,179	785			1,376			$	46,216	(189		)	1,302
Variable annuity living benefit feature embedded derivatives(3)			(8,147		)	(1,332		)			(7,707		)	(1,234		)			(8,321		)	(1,396		)			(8,147		)	(1,332		)
Net estimated potential loss						$	(32	)						$	(236	)						$	(20	)						$	(32	)


(1)	Includes equity securities classified as trading securities under U.S. GAAP that are held for "other than trading" activities.


(2)	Both the notional amount and fair value of equity-based derivatives are also reflected in amounts under “Market Risk Related to Interest Rates” above and are not cumulative.


(3)	Excludes any offsetting impact of derivative instruments purchased to hedge changes in the embedded derivatives. Amounts reported gross of reinsurance.

Derivatives

We use derivative financial instruments primarily to reduce market risk from changes in interest rates and equity prices, including their use to alter interest rate exposures arising from mismatches between assets and liabilities. Our derivatives primarily include swaps, futures, options and forward contracts that are exchange-traded or contracted in the ~~over-the-counter ("OTC")~~OTC market. See Note 114 to the Financial Statements for more information.

Market Risk Related to Certain Variable Annuity Products

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 capital market assumptions, such as equity market returns, interest rates, ~~and~~ market volatility and actuarial assumptions. For our capital market assumptions, we manage our exposure to the risk created by capital markets fluctuations through a combination of product design elements, such as an asset transfer feature and inclusion of certain optional living benefits in our living benefits hedging program and affiliated and external reinsurance. Certain variable annuity optional living benefit features are accounted for as embedded derivatives and recorded at fair value.

~~Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data~~

~~Information required with respect to this Item 8 regarding Financial Statements and Supplementary Data is set forth within the Financial Statements Index elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.~~

~~Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Independent Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure~~

~~None.~~

~~Item 9A. Controls and Procedures~~

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017 is included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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 the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”) Rules 13a-15(e), as of December 31, 2017. Based on such evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of December 31, 2017, 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 December 31, 2017 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting.

~~Item 9B. Other Information~~

~~None.~~

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~~PART III~~

~~Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance~~

~~We have adopted Prudential Financial’s code of business conduct and ethics known as “Making the Right Choices”. Making the Right Choices is posted at www.investor.prudential.com.~~

In addition, we have adopted Prudential Financial’s Corporate Governance Guidelines, which we refer to herein as the “Corporate Governance Principles and Practices”. Prudential Financial’s Corporate Governance Principles and Practices are available free of charge at www.investor.prudential.com.

Certain of the information called for by this item is hereby incorporated herein by reference to the relevant portions of Prudential Financial’s definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 8, 2018 to be filed by Prudential Financial with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days after December 31, 2017 (the “Proxy Statement”).

~~Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services~~

~~The information called for by this item is hereby incorporated herein by reference to the relevant portions of the Proxy Statement.~~

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~~PART IV~~

~~Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules~~



~~(a) (1)~~	~~Financial Statements of the Company are listed in the accompanying “Financial Statements Index” hereof and are filed as part of this Report.~~
~~(2)~~	Financial Statement Schedules None.*
~~(3)~~	~~Exhibits~~



3. ~~(i)(a)~~	Certificate Restating the Certificate of Incorporation of American Skandia Life Assurance Corporation, dated February 8, 1988 is incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K, Registration No. 33-44202, filed March 27, 2004.
~~(i)(b)~~	Certificate of Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of American Skandia Life Assurance Corporation, dated December 17, 1999 is incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K, Registration No. 33-44202, filed March 27, 2004.
~~(i)(c)~~	Certificate of Amendment changing the name from American Skandia Life Assurance Corporation to Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation, effective as of January 1, 2008, is incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K, Registration No 33-44202, filed March 15, 2011.
~~(i)(d)~~	Articles of Domestication of Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation, effective August 31, 2013, are incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K, Registration No. 33-44202, filed August 30, 2013.
~~(ii)(a)~~	~~By-Laws of American Skandia Life Assurance Corporation, as amended June 17, 1998, are incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K, Registration No. 33-44202, filed March 27, 2004.~~
~~(ii)(b)~~	By-Laws of Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation, as amended and restated effective January 1, 2008, are incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K, Registration No 33-44202, filed March 15, 2011.
~~(ii)(c)~~	Amended and Restated By-Laws of Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation, effective August 31, 2013, are incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K, Registration No. 33-44202, filed August 30, 2013.
~~24. Powers of Attorney are filed herewith.~~
~~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.~~

* Schedules are omitted because they are either not applicable or because the information required therein is included in the Notes to Financial Statements.

~~Item 16. Form 10-K Summary~~

~~None.~~

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~~SIGNATURES~~

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 and 15 (d) 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, in the City of Shelton, and State of Connecticut on the 8th day of March 2018.



~~PRUDENTIAL ANNUITIES LIFE ASSURANCE CORPORATION~~ ~~(Registrant)~~
~~By:~~		~~/s/ Kent D. Sluyter~~
		~~Kent D. Sluyter~~
		~~President and Chief Executive Officer~~

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities indicated on March 8, 2018.



~~Name~~		~~Title~~

~~/s/ Kent D. Sluyter~~		~~President,~~
~~Kent D. Sluyter~~		~~Chief Executive Officer and Director~~

~~/s/ John Chieffo~~		~~Executive Vice President,~~
~~John Chieffo~~		~~Chief Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer and Director~~

* Lori D Fouché		~~Director~~
~~Lori D Fouch~~é

* Kenneth Y. Tanji		~~Director~~
~~Kenneth Y. Tanji~~

* Arthur W. Wallace		~~Director~~
~~Arthur W. Wallace~~

* Candace J. Woods		~~Director~~
~~Candace J. Woods~~



* By:		~~/s/ Lynn K. Stone~~
		~~Lynn K. Stone~~
		~~(Attorney-in-Fact)~~

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

PRUDENTIAL ANNUITIES LIFE ASSURANCE CORPORATION

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS INDEX



	Page

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting	4745
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm	4846
Statements of Financial Position as of December 31, ~~2017~~2018 and ~~2016~~2017	4947
Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 ~~2016~~ and ~~2015~~2016	5048
Statements of Equity for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 ~~2016~~ and ~~2015~~2016	5149
Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 ~~2016~~ and ~~2015~~2016	5250
Notes to Financial Statements:	5452
1 Business and Basis of Presentation	5452
2 Significant Accounting Policies and Pronouncements	5754
3 Investments	70
4 Derivative Instruments	78
5 Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities	84
6 Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs	8096
57 Value of Business Acquired	8097
68 Policyholders’ Liabilities	8197
79 Certain Long-duration Contracts With Guarantees	8298
810 Reinsurance	102
11 Income Taxes	104
12 Equity	107
13 Statutory Net Income and Surplus and Dividend Restriction	85111
~~9 Income Taxes~~14 Related Party Transactions	86111
~~10 Fair Value of Assets and Liabilities~~	89
~~11 Derivative Instruments~~	~~105~~
1215 Commitments, Contingent Liabilities and Litigation and Regulatory Matters	~~111~~
~~13 Reinsurance~~	~~113~~
~~14 Equity~~	115
~~15 Related Party Transactions~~	~~118~~
16 Contract Withdrawal Provisions	~~121~~116
17 Quarterly Results of Operations (Unaudited)	~~121~~116

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Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Management of Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation (the “Company”) is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Management conducted an assessment of the effectiveness, as of December 31, ~~2017,~~2018, of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, based on the framework established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on our assessment under that framework, management concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, ~~2017.~~2018.

Our internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by or under the supervision of our principal executive and principal financial officers to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Our internal control over financial reporting includes policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect transactions and dispositions of assets; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and the directors of the Company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on our financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

This Annual Report does not include an attestation report of the Company’s registered public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, regarding the internal control over financial reporting. Management’s report was not subject to attestation by the Company’s registered public accounting firm pursuant to rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission that permit the Company to provide only management’s report in this Annual Report.

March ~~8, 2018~~7, 2019

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Stockholder of

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation:

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying statements of financial position of Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation (the "Company") as of December 31, ~~2017~~2018 and ~~2016,~~2017, and the related statements of operations and comprehensive income, of equity and of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, ~~2017,~~2018, including the related notes and financial statement schedules listed in the index appearing under Item 15 (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, ~~2017~~2018 and ~~2016,~~2017, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, ~~2017~~2018 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Changes in Accounting Principles

As discussed in Note 2 to the financial statements, the Company changed the manner in which it accounts for certain financial assets and liabilities and the manner in which it accounts for certain tax effects originally recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income in 2018.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company's financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ~~(“PCAOB”)~~(PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. The Company is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. As part of our audits we are required to obtain an understanding of internal control over financial reporting but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion.

Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Significant Transactions with Related Parties

As described in Note 1514 to the financial statements, the Company has entered into significant transactions with The Prudential Insurance Company of America, and other affiliates.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

New York, New York

March ~~8, 2018~~7, 2019

We have served as the Company's auditor since 2003.

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Statements of Financial Position

As of December 31, ~~2017~~2018 and ~~2016~~2017 (in thousands, except share amounts)

December 31, 2017 December 31, 2016
ASSETS
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost, 2017: $10,145,266; 2016: $9,818,298) $ 10,110,786
$ 9,362,763
Trading account assets, at fair value 181,717
149,871
Equity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value (cost, 2017: $14; 2016: $365) 18
18
Commercial mortgage and other loans 1,387,012
1,231,893
Policy loans 12,558
12,719
Short-term investments 711,071
947,150
Other long-term investments 335,811
551,931
Total investments 12,738,973
12,256,345
Cash and cash equivalents 1,639,939
1,848,039
Deferred policy acquisition costs 4,596,565
4,344,361
Accrued investment income 88,331
86,004
Reinsurance recoverables 563,428
588,608
Income taxes 1,116,735
1,978,607
Value of business acquired 35,109
30,287
Deferred sales inducements 1,020,786
978,823
Receivables from parent and affiliates 49,351
111,703
Other assets 121,086
169,649
Separate account assets 37,990,547
37,429,739
TOTAL ASSETS $ 59,960,850
$ 59,822,165
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
LIABILITIES
Future policy benefits $ 9,132,569
$ 8,686,196
Policyholders’ account balances 4,846,152
4,736,889
Payables to parent and affiliates 36,026
91,432
Cash collateral for loaned securities 17,383
23,350
Long-term debt 928,165
971,899
Short-term debt 43,734
28,101
Reinsurance payables 262,588
275,822
Other liabilities 422,636
489,007
Separate account liabilities 37,990,547
37,429,739
Total liabilities 53,679,800
52,732,435
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES (See Note 12)

EQUITY
Common stock, $100 par value; 25,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding 2,500
2,500
Additional paid-in capital 7,145,436
8,095,436
Retained earnings/(accumulated deficit) (776,762 ) (693,258 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (90,124 ) (314,948 )
Total equity 6,281,050
7,089,730
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY $ 59,960,850
$ 59,822,165



	December 31, 2018			December 31, 2017
ASSETS
Fixed Maturities, available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost, 2018: $10,186,465; 2017: $10,145,266)(1)	$	9,771,673		$	10,110,786
Fixed Maturities, trading, at fair value (amortized cost, 2018: $294,549 ; 2017: $161,393)(1)	289,752			166,360
Equity securities, at fair value (cost, 2018: $18,765; 2017: $11,614)(1)	20,613			15,375
Commercial mortgage and other loans	1,353,478			1,387,012
Policy loans	12,805			12,558
Short-term investments	37,568			711,071
Other invested assets (includes $50,945 and $151,481 measured at fair value at December 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively)(1)	348,541			335,811
Total investments	11,834,430			12,738,973
Cash and cash equivalents	4,503,534			1,639,939
Deferred policy acquisition costs	4,447,505			4,596,565
Accrued investment income	90,895			88,331
Reinsurance recoverables	572,102			563,428
Income taxes	964,521			1,116,735
Value of business acquired	33,222			35,109
Deferred sales inducements	889,598			1,020,786
Receivables from parent and affiliates	46,381			49,351
Other assets	85,310			121,086
Separate account assets	31,210,346			37,990,547
TOTAL ASSETS	$	54,677,844		$	59,960,850
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
LIABILITIES
Future policy benefits	$	9,368,986		$	9,132,569
Policyholders’ account balances	5,353,596			4,846,152
Payables to parent and affiliates	30,846			36,026
Cash collateral for loaned securities	384			17,383
Short-term debt	140,569			43,734
Long-term debt	787,596			928,165
Reinsurance payables	232,937			262,588
Other liabilities	811,016			422,636
Separate account liabilities	31,210,346			37,990,547
Total liabilities	47,936,276			53,679,800
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES (See Note 15)
EQUITY
Common stock, $100 par value; 25,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding	2,500			2,500
Additional paid-in capital	6,120,436			7,145,436
Retained earnings/(accumulated deficit)	943,005			(776,762		)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(324,373		)	(90,124		)
Total equity	6,741,568			6,281,050
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	$	54,677,844		$	59,960,850

(1) Prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation. See "Adoption of ASU 2016-01" in Note 2 for details.

See Notes to Financial Statements

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income

Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017 ~~2016~~ and ~~2015~~2016 (in thousands)


	2017			2016			2015			2018			2017			2016
REVENUES
Premiums	$	63,573		$	896,839		$	9,787		$	67,265		$	63,573		$	896,839
Policy charges and fee income	2,209,579			1,755,224			740,823			2,171,278			2,209,579			1,755,224
Net investment income	422,809			338,370			139,430			402,808			422,809			338,370
Asset administration fees and other income	413,375			299,384			177,479			389,156			413,375			299,384
Realized investment gains (losses), net:
Other-than-temporary impairments on fixed maturity securities	(8,576		)	(7,853		)	(44		)	(6,813		)	(8,576		)	(7,853		)
Other-than-temporary impairments on fixed maturity securities transferred to other comprehensive income (loss)	(546		)	1,354			24			0			(546		)	1,354
Other realized investment gains (losses), net	(796,278		)	(3,436,261		)	6,072			890,886			(796,278		)	(3,436,261		)
Total realized investment gains (losses), net	(805,400		)	(3,442,760		)	6,052			884,073			(805,400		)	(3,442,760		)
Total revenues	2,303,936			(152,943		)	1,073,571			3,914,580			2,303,936			(152,943		)
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES
Policyholders’ benefits	114,068			604,057			60,461			187,088			114,068			604,057
Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances	30,280			68,889			225,555			249,175			30,280			68,889
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs	(13,946		)	(179,816		)	309,152			589,795			(13,946		)	(179,816		)
Commission expense(1)	1,135,000			919,859			215,749			862,338			861,303			653,906
General, administrative and other expenses(1)	(79,061		)	204,649			97,722			181,964			194,636			470,602
Total benefits and expenses	1,186,341			1,617,638			908,639			2,070,360			1,186,341			1,617,638
INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES	1,117,595			(1,770,581		)	164,932			1,844,220			1,117,595			(1,770,581		)
Total income tax expense (benefit)	1,201,099			(680,493		)	(8,285		)	161,504			1,201,099			(680,493		)
NET INCOME (LOSS)	$	(83,504	)	$	(1,090,088	)	$	173,217		$	1,682,716		$	(83,504	)	$	(1,090,088	)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	109			(20		)	(54		)	(1,354		)	109			(20		)
Net unrealized investment gains (losses):
Unrealized investment gains (losses) for the period	320,182			(469,356		)	(54,279		)
Reclassification adjustment for gains included in net income	3,177			(86,184		)	(4,831		)
Net unrealized investment gains (losses)	323,359			(555,540		)	(59,110		)
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:	323,468			(555,560		)	(59,164		)
Less: Income tax expense (benefit) related to other comprehensive income (loss)
Foreign currency translation adjustments	38			(7		)	(19		)
Net unrealized investment gains (losses)	98,606			(194,439		)	(20,689		)	(248,688		)	323,359			(555,540		)
Total	98,644			(194,446		)	(20,708		)	(250,042		)	323,468			(555,560		)
Less: Income tax expense (benefit) related to other comprehensive income (loss)										(52,510		)	98,644			(194,446		)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of taxes	224,824			(361,114		)	(38,456		)	(197,532		)	224,824			(361,114		)
Comprehensive income (loss)	$	141,320		$	(1,451,202	)	$	134,761		$	1,485,184		$	141,320		$	(1,451,202	)


(1)	Prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation.

See Notes to Financial Statements

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Statements of Equity

Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017 ~~2016~~ and ~~2015~~2016 (in thousands)


	Common Stock		Additional Paid-In Capital			Retained Earnings/ (Accumulated Deficit)			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income			Total Equity			Common Stock		Additional Paid-In Capital			Retained Earnings/ (Accumulated Deficit)			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (loss)			Total Equity
Balance, December 31, 2014	$	2,500	$	901,422		$	673,613		$	84,622		$	1,662,157
Contributed capital			0									0
Return of capital			0									0
Dividend to parent						(450,000		)				(450,000		)
Assets purchased/transferred from/to affiliates			0									0
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)						173,217						173,217
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									(38,456		)	(38,456		)
Total comprehensive income (loss)												134,761
Balance, December 31, 2015	2,500		901,422			396,830			46,166			1,346,918			$	2,500	$	901,422		$	396,830		$	46,166		$	1,346,918
Contributed capital			8,421,955									8,421,955					8,421,955									8,421,955
Return of capital			(1,140,000		)							(1,140,000		)			(1,140,000		)							(1,140,000		)
Dividend to parent						0						0
Assets purchased/transferred from/to affiliates			(72,179		)							(72,179		)			(72,179		)							(72,179		)
Impact of Pruco Re and PALAC merger			(15,762		)							(15,762		)			(15,762		)							(15,762		)
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)						(1,090,088		)				(1,090,088		)						(1,090,088		)				(1,090,088		)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									(361,114		)	(361,114		)									(361,114		)	(361,114		)
Total comprehensive income (loss)												(1,451,202		)												(1,451,202		)
Balance, December 31, 2016	2,500		8,095,436			(693,258		)	(314,948		)	7,089,730			2,500		8,095,436			(693,258		)	(314,948		)	7,089,730
Contributed capital			0									0
Return of capital			(950,000		)							(950,000		)			(950,000		)							(950,000		)
Dividend to parent						0						0
Assets purchased/transferred from/to affiliates			0									0
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)						(83,504		)				(83,504		)						(83,504		)				(83,504		)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax									224,824			224,824											224,824			224,824
Total comprehensive income (loss)												141,320														141,320
Balance, December 31, 2017	$	2,500	$	7,145,436		$	(776,762	)	$	(90,124	)	$	6,281,050		2,500		7,145,436			(776,762		)	(90,124		)	6,281,050
Cumulative effect of adoption of ASU 2016-01																				337			(3		)	334
Cumulative effect of adoption of ASU 2018-02																				36,714			(36,714		)	0
Contributed capital
Return of capital																	(1,025,000		)							(1,025,000		)
Comprehensive income:
Net income (loss)																				1,682,716						1,682,716
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax																							(197,532		)	(197,532		)
Total comprehensive income (loss)																										1,485,184
Balance, December 31, 2018															$	2,500	$	6,120,436		$	943,005		$	(324,373	)	$	6,741,568

See Notes to Financial Statements

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Statements of Cash Flows

Years Ended December 31, 2018, 2017 ~~2016~~ and ~~2015~~2016 (in thousands)


	2017			2016			2015			2018			2017			2016
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income (loss)	$	(83,504	)	$	(1,090,088	)	$	173,217		$	1,682,716		$	(83,504	)	$	(1,090,088	)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Policy charges and fee income	(766		)	(245		)	907			(2,686		)	(766		)	(245		)
Realized investment (gains) losses, net	805,400			3,442,760			(6,052		)	(884,073		)	805,400			3,442,760
Depreciation and amortization	32,812			10,737			37,530			7,905			32,812			10,737
Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances	30,280			68,889			225,555			249,175			30,280			68,889
Change in:
Future policy benefits	982,792			759,604			238,052			1,095,204			982,792			759,604
Accrued investment income	(2,327		)	(63,389		)	2,393			(2,564		)	(2,327		)	(63,389		)
Net receivables from/payables to parent and affiliates	4,165			(55,984		)	61,252			(3,163		)	4,165			(55,984		)
Deferred sales inducements	(1,551		)	(1,805		)	38,380			(2,885		)	(1,551		)	(1,805		)
Deferred policy acquisition costs	(291,532		)	(449,496		)	381,480			216,799			(291,532		)	(449,496		)
Income taxes	763,227			(712,423		)	(3,426		)	204,634			763,227			(712,423		)
Reinsurance recoverables, net	2,708			199,107			(270,868		)	(33,703		)	2,708			199,107
Bonus reserve	0			0			(38,768		)
Derivatives, net	(1,364,754		)	2,605,415			21,581			131,874			(1,364,754		)	2,605,415
Deferred (gain)/loss on reinsurance	4,564			305,464			(118,028		)	(22,723		)	4,564			305,464
Other, net	87,036			(54,819		)	(3,508		)	190,662			87,036			(54,819		)
Cash flows from (used in) operating activities	968,550			4,963,727			739,697			2,827,172			968,550			4,963,727
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Proceeds from the sale/maturity/prepayment of:
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale	1,145,369			4,072,242			486,648			2,534,470			1,145,369			4,072,242
Fixed maturities, trading(1)										99,656			1,739			2,666
Equity securities(1)										7,896			3,306			4,823
Commercial mortgage and other loans	198,584			122,086			89,344			143,331			198,584			122,086
Trading account assets	5,045			7,489			3,765
Policy loans	1,276			1,833			1,257			675			1,276			1,833
Other long-term investments	72,667			9,587			3,764
Other invested assets(1)										29,103			72,667			9,587
Short-term investments	1,949,758			1,799,219			2,318,219			984,409			1,949,758			1,799,219
Payments for the purchase/origination of:
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale	(1,528,065		)	(5,535,732		)	(336,954		)	(2,230,936		)	(1,528,065		)	(5,535,732		)
Equity securities, available-for-sale	0			(351		)	0
Fixed maturities, trading(1)										(231,316		)	(15,964		)	(3,170		)
Equity securities(1)										(14,221		)	(3,048		)	(4,991		)
Commercial mortgage and other loans	(348,520		)	(353,692		)	(106,185		)	(125,007		)	(348,520		)	(353,692		)
Trading account assets	(19,012		)	(7,810		)	(3,681		)
Policy loans	(366		)	(442		)	(644		)	(187		)	(366		)	(442		)
Other long-term investments	(7,668		)	(111,838		)	(3,994		)
Other invested assets(1)										(167,930		)	(7,668		)	(111,838		)
Short-term investments	(1,713,877		)	(2,561,044		)	(2,419,261		)	(311,277		)	(1,713,877		)	(2,561,044		)
Notes receivable from parent and affiliates, net	2,717			(4,923		)	3,110			3,518			2,717			(4,923		)
Derivatives, net	4,948			(6,305		)	(6,528		)	1,073			4,948			(6,305		)
Other, net	254			(2,911		)	1,070			(69		)	254			(2,911		)
Cash flows from (used in) investing activities	(236,890		)	(2,572,592		)	29,930			723,188			(236,890		)	(2,572,592		)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Cash collateral for loaned securities	(5,967		)	12,782			5,283			(16,999		)	(5,967		)	12,782
Proceeds from the issuance of debt (maturities longer than 90 days)	0			125,000			0			0			0			125,000
Repayments of debt (maturities longer than 90 days)	0			(268,000		)	0			(43,734		)	0			(268,000		)
Net increase/(decrease) in short-term borrowing	(28,101		)	(1,000		)	(53,354		)	0			(28,101		)	(1,000		)
Drafts outstanding	10,624			5,777			(1,663		)	(7,026		)	10,624			5,777

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation


Distribution to parent	(950,000		)	(1,140,000		)	(450,000		)	(1,025,000		)	(950,000		)	(1,140,000		)
Contributed capital	0			860,573			0			0			0			860,573
Policyholders’ account deposits	2,623,534			2,116,567			1,295,546			3,150,952			2,623,534			2,116,567
Ceded policyholders’ account deposits	(24,191		)	(23,890		)	(54,027		)	(47,449		)	(24,191		)	(23,890		)
Policyholders’ account withdrawals	(2,589,770		)	(2,259,445		)	(1,511,470		)	(2,727,850		)	(2,589,770		)	(2,259,445		)
Ceded policyholders' account withdrawals	24,111			28,004			0			30,341			24,111			28,004
Cash flows from (used in) financing activities	(939,760		)	(543,632		)	(769,685		)	(686,765		)	(939,760		)	(543,632		)
NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(208,100		)	1,847,503			(58		)	2,863,595			(208,100		)	1,847,503
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF YEAR	1,848,039			536			594			1,639,939			1,848,039			536
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF YEAR	$	1,639,939		$	1,848,039		$	536		$	4,503,534		$	1,639,939		$	1,848,039
SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Income taxes paid, net of refunds	$	437,872		$	31,931		$	(4,858	)
Income taxes paid (refund)										$	(43,130	)	$	437,872		$	31,931
Interest paid	$	34,217		$	23,392		$	68		$	33,901		$	34,217		$	23,392


(1)	Prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation. See Note 2 for details.

Significant Non-Cash Transactions

Cash flows from investing and financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2016 excludes certain non-cash transactions related to the Variable Annuities Recapture. See Note 1 for additional information.

See Notes to Financial Statements

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements

1. BUSINESS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation (the “Company” or “PALAC”), with its principal offices in Shelton, Connecticut, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential Annuities, Inc. (“PAI”), which in turn is an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential Financial, Inc. ("Prudential Financial"), a New Jersey corporation.

The Company has developed long-term savings and retirement products, which were distributed through its affiliated ~~broker/dealer~~broker-dealer company, Prudential Annuities Distributors, Inc. (“PAD”). The Company issued variable and fixed deferred and immediate annuities for individuals and groups in the United States of America ~~District of Columbia~~ and Puerto Rico. In addition, the Company has a relatively small in force block of variable life insurance policies. The Company stopped actively selling ~~such~~annuity products ~~between~~in March ~~2010 and December 2017.~~2010.

In March 2010, the Company ceased offering its variable annuity products (and where offered, the companion market value adjustment option) to new investors upon the launch of a new product line by each of Pruco Life Insurance Company ("Pruco Life") and its wholly-owned subsidiary Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey ("PLNJ") (which are affiliates of the Company). These initiatives were implemented to create operational and administrative efficiencies by offering a single product line of annuity products from a more limited group of legal entities. During 2012, the Company suspended additional customer deposits for variable annuities with certain living benefit guarantees. However, the Company continues to accept additional customer deposits on certain in force contracts, subject to applicable contract provisions and administrative rules.

The Company resumed offering annuity products to new investors (except in New York) when it launched a new fixed ~~indexed~~index annuity ~~in January 2018~~ and ~~will launch~~ a new deferred income annuity ~~during~~in 2018.

The Company is engaged in a business that is highly competitive because of the large number of stock and mutual life insurance companies and other entities engaged in marketing long-term savings and retirement products, including insurance products, and individual and group annuities.

On August 31, 2013, the Company redomesticated from Connecticut to Arizona. As a result of the redomestication, the Company is now an ~~Arizona based~~Arizona-based insurance company and its principal insurance regulatory authority is the Arizona Department of Insurance ("AZDOI"). The redomestication also resulted in the Company being domiciled in the same jurisdiction as the then primary reinsurer of the Company’s living benefit guarantees, Pruco Reinsurance, Ltd. (“Pruco Re”), which enabled the Company to claim statutory reserve credit for business ceded to Pruco Re without the need for Pruco Re to collateralize its obligations under the reinsurance agreement. As of April 1, 2016, the Company no longer reinsures its living benefit guarantees to Pruco Re.

As disclosed in Note 1 to the Financial Statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company surrendered its New York license effective December 31, 2015, and reinsured the majority of its New York business to an affiliate, The Prudential Insurance Company of America (“Prudential Insurance”). The license surrender relieves the Company of the requirement to hold New York statutory reserves on its business in excess of the statutory reserves required by its domiciliary regulator, the AZDOI. For the small portion of New York business retained by the Company, a custodial account has been established to hold collateral assets in an amount equal to a percentage of the reserves associated with such business, as calculated in accordance with PALAC's New York Regulation 109 Plan approved by the New York Department of Financial Services.

Variable Annuities Recapture

~~Table of Contents~~

~~The financial statement impacts of these transactions were as follows:~~

~~Affected Financial Statement Lines Only~~

~~Interim Statement of Financial Position~~

Balance as of
March 31, 2016
Impacts of Recapture Impacts of Reinsurance Total
(in millions)
ASSETS
Total investments(1) $ 3,343
$ 3,084
$ 10,624
$ 17,051
Cash and cash equivalents 106
11
1,024
1,141
Deferred policy acquisition costs 537
0
3,134
3,671
Reinsurance recoverables 3,776
(3,401 ) 320
695
Deferred sales inducements 327
0
500
827
Income tax receivable(2) 0
115
2,441
2,556
TOTAL ASSETS 46,694
(191 ) 18,043
64,546
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
LIABILITIES
Policyholders' account balances $ 2,422
$ 0
$ 2,387
$ 4,809
Future policy benefits 4,295
0
6,972
11,267
Short-term and long-term debt(3) 0
0
1,268
1,268
Other liabilities 114
0
630
744
TOTAL LIABILITIES 45,472
0
11,257
56,729
EQUITY
Additional paid-in capital(4) 901
0
8,422
9,323
Retained earnings 254
(191 ) (1,600 ) (1,537 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income 64
0
(36 ) 28
TOTAL EQUITY 1,222
(191 ) 6,786
7,817
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY 46,694
(191 ) 18,043
64,546

~~Significant Non-Cash Transactions~~

(1) The increase in total investments includes non-cash activities of $3.1 billion for assets received related to the recapture transaction with Pruco Re, $7.1 billion for assets received related to the reinsurance transaction with Pruco Life and $3.6 billion related to non-cash capital contributions from PAI.

~~(2) Prudential Financial contributed current tax receivables through PAI of $1.5 billion to the Company as part of the Variable Annuities Recapture.~~

~~(3) The Company incurred ceding commissions of $3.6 billion, of which $1.1 billion was in the form of reassignment of debt from Pruco Life.~~

(4) The increase in additional paid-in capital ("APIC") includes non-cash capital contributions from PAI of $3.6 billion in invested assets, $1.5 billion of current tax receivables and $2.5 billion funding for the ceding commission for the reinsurance transaction with Pruco Life.

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~~Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)~~

Day 1 Impact of the Variable Annuities Recapture Impacts of Recapture Impacts of Reinsurance Total Impacts
(in millions)
REVENUES
Premiums $ 0
$ 832
$ 832
Realized investment gains (losses), net (305 ) (2,561 ) (2,866 )
TOTAL REVENUES (305 ) (1,729 ) (2,034 )
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES
Policyholders' benefits 0
522
522
General, administrative and other expenses 0
310
310
TOTAL BENEFITS AND EXPENSES 0
832
832
INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES (305 ) (2,561 ) (2,866 )
Income tax expense (benefit) (114 ) (961 ) (1,075 )
NET INCOME (LOSS) $ (191 ) $ (1,600 ) $ (1,791 )

As part of the Variable Annuities Recapture, the Company received invested assets of $3.1 billion as consideration from Pruco Re, which is equivalent to the amount of statutory reserve credit taken as of March 31, 2016, and unwound the associated reinsurance recoverable of $3.4 billion. As a result of the recapture transaction, the Company recognized a loss of $0.3 billion immediately.

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For the Variable Annuities Recapture, the Company received invested assets of $7.1 billion as consideration from Pruco Life and established reserves of $9.4 billion. In addition, the Company incurred ceding commissions of $3.6 billion, of which $1.1 billion was in the form of reassignment of debt from Pruco Life. Also, the Company established deferred policy acquisition costs ("DAC") and deferred sales inducements ("DSI") balances, which were equivalent to the ceding commission incurred by the Company. For the reinsurance of the variable annuity base contracts, the Company recognized a benefit of $0.3 billion, which was deferred and will subsequently be amortized through ~~General,~~"General, administrative and other ~~expenses.~~expenses". For the reinsurance of the living benefit guarantees, the Company recognized a loss of $2.6 billion immediately since the reinsurance contract is accounted for as a free-standing derivative.

The Company also received a capital contribution of $8.4 billion from PAI.

As a result of the Variable Annuities Recapture, Pruco Re no longer had any material active reinsurance with affiliates. On September 30, 2016, Pruco Re was merged with and into the Company.

The impact of these transactions on the Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) was as follows:

~~The following table summarizes the asset transfers~~



Day 1 Impact of the Variable Annuities Recapture(1)	Impacts of Recapture			Impacts of Reinsurance			Total Impacts
	(in millions)
REVENUES
Premiums	$	0		$	832		$	832
Realized investment gains (losses), net	(305		)	(2,561		)	(2,866		)
TOTAL REVENUES	(305		)	(1,729		)	(2,034		)
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES
Policyholders' benefits	0			522			522
General, administrative and other expenses	0			310			310
TOTAL BENEFITS AND EXPENSES	0			832			832
INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(305		)	(2,561		)	(2,866		)
Income tax expense (benefit)	(114		)	(961		)	(1,075		)
NET INCOME (LOSS)	$	(191	)	$	(1,600	)	$	(1,791	)


(1)	Day 1 Significant Non-Cash Transactions:

Consideration transferred includes non-cash activities of $3.1 billion for assets received related to the recapture transaction with Pruco Re, $7.1 billion for assets received related to the reinsurance transaction with Pruco Life and $3.6 billion related to non-cash capital contributions from PAI.

Prudential Financial contributed current tax receivables through PAI of $1.5 billion to the Company as part of the Variable Annuities ~~Recapture between~~Recapture.

The Company incurred ceding commissions of $3.6 billion, of which $1.1 billion was in the ~~Company~~form of reassignment of debt from Pruco Life.

Additional paid-in capital ("APIC") includes non-cash capital contributions from PAI of $3.6 billion in invested assets, $1.5 billion of current tax receivables and ~~its affiliates.~~

Affiliate Period Transaction Security Type Fair Value Book Value APIC Increase/ (Decrease) Realized Investment Gain/(Loss), Net
(in millions)
Pruco Re Apr - June 2016 Purchase Derivatives $ 3,084
$ 3,084
$ 0
$ 0
Pruco Life Apr - June 2016 Purchase Fixed Maturities, Trading Account Assets, Commercial Mortgages, Derivatives, JV/LP Investments and Short-Term Investments $ 6,994
$ 6,994
$ 0
$ 0
PAI Apr - June 2016 Contributed Capital Fixed Maturities, Trading Account Assets and Derivatives $ 3,517
$ 3,517
$ 3,517
$ 0

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$2.5 billion funding for the ceding commission for the reinsurance transaction with Pruco Life.

Basis of Presentation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”).

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

Reclassifications

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

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND PRONOUNCEMENTS

ASSETS

Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, at fair value are comprised of bonds, notes and redeemable preferred stock. Fixed maturities classified as “available-for-sale” are carried at fair value. See Note 105 for additional information regarding the determination of fair value. The associated unrealized gains and losses, net of tax, and the effect on DAC, VOBA, DSI, future policy benefits, policyholders’ account balances that would result from the realization of unrealized gains and losses, are included in “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” (“AOCI”). The purchased cost of fixed maturities is adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity or, if applicable, call date.

Interest income, and amortization of premium and accretion of discount are included in “Net investment income” under the effective yield method. Additionally, prepayment premiums are also included in “Net investment income”. For mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities, the effective yield is based on estimated cash flows, including interest rate and prepayment assumptions based on data from widely accepted third-party data sources or internal estimates. In addition to interest rate and prepayment assumptions, cash flow estimates also vary based on other assumptions regarding the underlying collateral including default rates and changes in value. These assumptions can significantly impact income recognition and the amount of OTTI recognized in earnings and other comprehensive income. For high credit quality mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities (those rated AA or above), cash flows are provided quarterly, and the amortized cost and effective yield of the securities are adjusted as necessary to reflect historical prepayment experience and changes in estimated future prepayments. The adjustments to amortized cost are recorded as a charge or credit to "Net investment income" in accordance with the retrospective method. For mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities rated below AA or those for which an OTTI has been recorded, the effective yield is adjusted prospectively for any changes in estimated cash flows. See the discussion below on realized investment gains and losses for a description of the accounting for impairments.

~~Trading account assets~~, Fixed maturities, trading, at fair value ~~represents equity securities and other~~consists of fixed ~~maturity securities~~maturities that are carried at fair value. Realized and unrealized gains and losses ~~for~~on these investments are reported in “Asset administration fees and other ~~income.” Interest~~income”, and interest and dividend income from these investments is reported in “Net investment income”.

Equity securities, ~~available-for-sale,~~ at fairvalue is comprised of common stock, mutual fund shares, and preferred stock, which are carried at fair value. ~~The associated~~Realized and unrealized gains and losses ~~net of tax, and the effect~~ on DAC, VOBA, DSI, and future policy benefits that would result from the realization of unrealized gains and losses, are included in AOCI. The cost of equity securities is written down to fair value when a decline in value is considered to be other-than-temporary. See the discussion below on realized investment gains and losses for a description of the accounting for impairments. Dividends from these investments are ~~generally recognized~~reported in “Asset administration fees and other income”, and dividend income is reported in “Net investment income” on the ex-dividend date.

Commercial mortgage and other loans consist of commercial mortgage loans and agricultural property loans. Commercial mortgage and other loans held for investment are generally carried at unpaid principal balance, net of unamortized deferred loan origination fees and expenses and net of an allowance for losses. Commercial mortgage and other loans acquired, including those related to the acquisition of a business, are recorded at fair value when purchased, reflecting any premiums or discounts to unpaid principal balances. Interest income, and the amortization of the related premiums or discounts, are included in “Net investment income” under the effective yield method. Prepayment fees are also included in "Net investment income".

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~~Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation~~

~~Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)~~

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

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

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

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

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

The allowance for losses includes a loan specific reserve for each impaired loan that has a specifically identified loss and a portfolio reserve for probable incurred but not specifically identified losses. For impaired commercial mortgage and other loans the allowances for losses are determined based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, or based upon the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent. The portfolio reserves for probable incurred but not specifically identified losses in the commercial mortgage and agricultural loan portfolios ~~considers~~consider the current credit composition of the portfolio based on an internal quality rating ~~(as~~as described ~~above).~~above. The portfolio reserves are determined using past loan experience, including historical credit migration, loss probability and loss severity factors by property type. These factors are reviewed and updated as appropriate.

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

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

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~~Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation~~

~~Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)~~

Commercial mortgage and other loans are occasionally restructured in a troubled debt restructuring. These restructurings generally include one or more of the following: full or partial payoffs outside of the original contract terms; changes to interest rates; extensions of maturity; or additions or modifications to covenants. Additionally, the Company may accept assets in full or partial satisfaction of the debt as part of a troubled debt restructuring. When restructurings occur, they are evaluated individually to determine whether the restructuring or modification constitutes a “troubled debt restructuring” as defined by authoritative accounting guidance. If the borrower is experiencing financial difficulty and the Company has granted a concession, the restructuring, including those that involve a partial payoff or the receipt of assets in full satisfaction of the debt is deemed to be a troubled debt restructuring. Based on the Company’s credit review process described above, these loans generally would have been deemed impaired prior to the troubled debt restructuring, and specific allowances for losses would have been established prior to the determination that a troubled debt restructuring has occurred.

In a troubled debt restructuring where the Company receives assets in full satisfaction of the debt, any specific valuation allowance is reversed and a direct write-down of the loan is recorded for the amount of the allowance, and any additional loss, net of recoveries, or any gain is recorded for the difference between the fair value of the assets received and the recorded investment in the loan. When assets are received in partial settlement, the same process is followed, and the remaining loan is evaluated prospectively for impairment based on the credit review process noted above. When a loan is restructured in a troubled debt restructuring, the impairment of the loan is remeasured using the modified terms and the loan’s original effective yield, and the allowance for loss is adjusted accordingly. Subsequent to the modification, income is recognized prospectively based on the modified terms of the loans in accordance with the income recognition policy noted above. Additionally, the loan continues to be subject to the credit review process noted above.

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

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

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

Policy loans represent funds loaned to policyholders up to the cash surrender value of the associated insurance policies and are carried at the unpaid principal balances due to the Company from the policyholders. Interest income on policy loans is recognized in “Net investment income” at the contract interest rate when earned. Policy loans are fully collateralized by the cash surrender value of the associated insurance policies.

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

Other ~~long-term investments~~invested assets consist of the Company’s non-coupon investments in ~~joint ventures~~limited partnerships and limited ~~partnerships, other~~liability companies ("LPs/LLCs") (other than operating joint ~~ventures,~~ventures), as well as wholly-owned investment real estate, derivative assets and other investments. ~~Joint venture and partnership~~LPs/LLCs interests are accounted for using either the equity method of accounting, ~~the cost method when the Company’s partnership interest is so minor (generally less than 3%) that it exercises virtually no influence over operating and financial policies,~~ or ~~the~~at fair value ~~option where elected.~~with changes in fair value reported in “Asset administration fees and other income”. The Company’s income from investments in ~~joint ventures and partnerships~~LPs/LLCs accounted for using the equity ~~method or the cost~~ method, other than the Company’s investments in operating joint ventures, is included in “Net investment income.” The carrying value of these investments is written down, or impaired, to fair value when a decline in value is considered to be other-than-temporary. In applying the equity method ~~or the cost method~~ (including assessment for OTTI), the Company uses financial information provided by the investee, generally on a one to ~~three month~~three-month lag.

~~Short-term~~ For the investments~~primarily consist of highly liquid debt instruments with a maturity of twelve months or less and greater than three months when purchased. These investments are generally carried~~ reported at fair value with changes in fair value reported in current earnings, the associated realized and ~~include certain money market investments, funds managed similar to regulated money market funds, short-term debt securities issued by government sponsored entities~~unrealized gains and losses are reported in “Asset administration fees and other ~~highly liquid debt instruments.~~income”.

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

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

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~~Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation~~

~~Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)~~

An OTTI is recognized in earnings for a debt security in an unrealized loss position when the Company either (1) has the intent to sell the debt security or (2) it is more likely than not will be required to sell the debt security before its anticipated recovery. For all debt securities in unrealized loss positions that do not meet either of these two criteria, the Company analyzes its ability to recover the amortized cost by comparing the net present value of projected future cash flows with the amortized cost of the security. The net present value is calculated by discounting the Company’s best estimate of projected future cash flows at the effective interest rate implicit in the debt security prior to impairment. The Company may use the estimated fair value of collateral as a proxy for the net present value if it believes that the security is dependent on the liquidation of collateral for recovery of its investment. If the net present value is less than the amortized cost of the investment an OTTI is recognized.

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

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

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

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

Unrealized investment gains and losses are also considered in determining certain other balances, including DAC, VOBA, DSI, certain future policy benefits and deferred tax assets or liabilities. These balances are adjusted, as applicable, for the impact of unrealized gains or losses on investments as if these gains or losses had been realized, with corresponding credits or charges included in AOCI. Each of these balances is discussed in greater detail below.

Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, amounts due from banks, certain money market investments, funds managed similar to regulated money market funds, ~~and~~ other debt instruments with maturities of three months or less when purchased, other than cash equivalents that are included in ~~“Trading account assets,~~"Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, at fair ~~value.”~~value," and receivables related to securities purchased under agreements to resell (see also "Securities sold under agreements to purchase" below.) The Company also engages in overnight borrowing and lending of funds with Prudential Financial and affiliates which are considered cash and cash equivalents.

~~Accrued investment income~~ ~~primarily includes accruals of interest and dividend income from investments that have been earned but not yet received.~~

Deferred policy acquisition costs are related directly to the successful acquisition of new and renewal insurance and annuity business that have been deferred to the extent such costs are deemed recoverable from future profits. Such DAC primarily ~~include~~includes commissions, costs of policy issuance and underwriting, and certain other expenses that are directly related to successfully negotiated contracts. In each reporting period, capitalized DAC is amortized to “Amortization of DAC", net of the accrual of imputed interest on DAC balances. DAC is subject to periodic recoverability testing. DAC, for applicable products, is adjusted for the impact of unrealized gains or losses on investments as if these gains or losses had been realized, with corresponding credits or charges included in AOCI.

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~~Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation~~

~~Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)~~

DAC related to fixed and variable deferred annuity products are generally deferred and amortized over the expected life of the contracts in proportion to gross profits arising principally from investment margins, mortality and expense margins, and surrender charges, based on historical and anticipated future experience, which is updated periodically. The Company uses a reversion to the mean approach for equities to derive future equity return assumptions. However, if the projected equity return calculated using this approach is greater than the maximum equity return assumption, the maximum equity return is utilized. Gross profits also include impacts from the embedded derivatives associated with certain of the optional living benefit features of the Company’s variable annuity contracts and related hedging activities. In calculating gross profits, 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, are also included. The Company is an indirect subsidiary of Prudential Financial, ~~(an SEC registrant)~~an United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") registrant, and has extensive transactions and relationships with other subsidiaries of Prudential Financial, including reinsurance agreements, as described in Note ~~15.~~10. 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. Total gross profits include both actual gross profits and estimates of gross profits for future periods. The Company regularly evaluates and adjusts DAC balances with a corresponding charge or credit to current period earnings, representing a cumulative adjustment to all prior periods’ amortization, for the impact of actual gross profits and changes in the Company's projections of estimated future gross profits. Adjustments to DAC balances include: (i) annual review of assumptions that reflect the comprehensive review of the assumptions used in estimating gross profits for future periods, (ii) quarterly adjustments for current period experience (also referred to as “experience true-up” adjustments) that reflect the impact of differences between actual gross profits for a given period and the previously estimated expected gross profits for that period, and (iii) quarterly adjustments for market performance (also referred to as “experience unlocking”) that reflect the impact of changes to the Company's estimate of total gross profits to reflect actual fund performance and market conditions.

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

For some products, policyholders can elect to modify product benefits, features, rights or coverages by exchanging a contract for a new contract or by amendment, endorsement, or rider to a contract, or by the election of a feature or coverage within a contract. These transactions are known as internal replacements. For internal replacement transactions, except those that involve the addition of a nonintegrated contract feature that does not change the existing base contract, the unamortized DAC is immediately charged to expense if the terms of the new policies are not substantially similar to those of the former policies. If the new terms are substantially similar to those of the earlier policies, the DAC is retained with respect to the new policies and amortized over the expected life of the new policies. See Note 46 for additional information regarding DAC.

~~Deferred sales inducements represent~~ Accrued investment income~~various types~~ primarily includes accruals of ~~sales inducements to contractholders related to fixed~~interest and variable deferred annuity contracts. The Company defers sales inducements and amortizes them over the anticipated life of the policy using the same methodology and assumptions used to amortize DAC. Sales inducement balances are subject to periodic recoverability testing. The Company records amortization of DSI in “Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances.” DSI for applicable products is adjusted for the impact of unrealized gains or losses ondividend income from investments ~~as if these gains or losses had~~that have been ~~realized, with corresponding credits or charges included in AOCI. See Note 7 for additional information regarding sales inducements.~~

~~VOBA~~ represents identifiable intangible assets to which a portion of the purchase price in a business acquisition is attributed under the application of purchase accounting. VOBA represents an adjustment to the stated value of in force insurance contract liabilities to present them at fair value, determined as of the acquisition date. VOBA balances are subject to recoverability testing, in the manner in which it was acquired. The Company has established a VOBA asset primarily for its acquisition of American Skandia Life Assurance Corporation. The Company amortizes VOBA over the anticipated life of the acquired contracts using the same methodology and assumptions used to amortize DAC. The Company records amortization of VOBA in “General, administrative, and other expenses.” See Note 5 for additional information regarding VOBA.earned but not yet received.

Reinsurance recoverables include corresponding receivables associated with reinsurance arrangements with affiliates. For additional information about these arrangements see Note ~~13.~~10.

Income taxes asset primarily represents the net deferred tax asset and the Company’s estimated taxes receivable for the current ~~year.~~year and open audit years.

The Company is a member of the federal income tax return of Prudential Financial and primarily files separate company state and local tax returns. Pursuant to the tax allocation arrangement with Prudential Financial, total federal income tax expense is determined on a separate company basis. Members with losses record tax benefits to the extent such losses are recognized in the consolidated federal tax provision.

Deferred income taxes are recognized, based on enacted rates, when assets and liabilities have different values for financial statement and tax reporting purposes. A valuation allowance is recorded to reduce a deferred tax asset to the amount expected to be realized.

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~~Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation~~

~~Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)~~

Items required by tax regulations to be included in the tax return may differ from the items reflected in the financial statements. As a result, the effective tax rate reflected in the financial statements may be different than the actual rate applied on the tax return. Some of these differences are permanent such as expenses that are not deductible in the Company’s tax return, and some differences are temporary, reversing over time, such as valuation of insurance reserves. Temporary differences create deferred tax assets and liabilities. Deferred tax assets generally represent items that can be used as a tax deduction or credit in future years for which the Company has already recorded the tax benefit in the Company’s Statements of Operations. Deferred tax liabilities generally represent tax expense recognized in the Company’s financial statements for which payment has been deferred, or expenditures for which the Company has already taken a deduction in the Company’s tax return but have not yet been recognized in the Company’s financial statements.

Deferred income taxes are recognized, based on enacted rates, when assets and liabilities have different values for financial statement and tax reporting purposes. The application of U.S. GAAP requires the Company to evaluate the recoverability of the Company’s deferred tax assets and establish a valuation allowance if necessary to reduce the Company’s deferred tax assets to an amount that is more likely than not expected to be realized. Considerable judgment is required in determining whether a valuation allowance is necessary, and if so, the amount of such valuation allowance. See Note 911 for a discussion of factors considered when evaluating the need for a valuation allowance.

In December of 2017, SEC staff issued "SAB 118, Income Tax Accounting Implications of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" ("SAB 118"), which ~~allows~~allowed registrants to record provisional amounts during a ‘measurement period’ not to extend beyond one year. Under the relief provided by SAB 118, a company ~~can~~could recognize provisional amounts when it ~~does~~did not have the necessary information available, prepared or analyzed in reasonable detail to complete its accounting for the change in tax law. See Note 911 for a discussion of provisional amounts related to the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 ("Tax Act of 2017"). recorded in 2017 and adjustments to provisional amounts recorded in 2018.

U.S. GAAP prescribes a comprehensive model for how a company should recognize, measure, present, and disclose in its financial statements uncertain tax positions that a company has taken or expects to take on tax returns. The application of this guidance is a two-step process. First, the Company determines whether it is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, that the tax position will be sustained upon examination. If a tax position does not meet the more likely than not recognition threshold, the benefit of that position is not recognized in the financial statements. The second step is measurement. The Company measures the tax position as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon ultimate resolution with a taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. This measurement considers the amounts and probabilities of the outcomes that could be realized upon ultimate settlement using the facts, circumstances, and information available at the reporting date.

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

The Company’s liability for income taxes includes a 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 jurisdictions. Audit periods remain open for review until the statute of limitations has passed. Generally, for tax years which produce net operating losses, capital losses or tax credit carryforwards (“tax attributes”), the statute of limitations does not close, to the extent of these tax attributes, until the expiration of the statute of limitations for the tax year in which they are fully utilized. The completion of review or the expiration of the statute of limitations for a given audit period could result in an adjustment to the liability for income taxes. The Company classifies all interest and penalties related to tax uncertainties as income tax expense.

See Note 911 for additional information regarding income taxes.

VOBA represents identifiable intangible assets to which a portion of the purchase price in a business acquisition is attributed under the application of purchase accounting. VOBA represents an adjustment to the stated value of in force insurance contract liabilities to present them at fair value, determined as of the acquisition date. VOBA balances are subject to recoverability testing, in the manner in which it was acquired. The Company has established a VOBA asset primarily for its acquisition of American Skandia Life Assurance Corporation. The Company amortizes VOBA over the anticipated life of the acquired contracts using the same methodology and assumptions used to amortize DAC. The Company records amortization of VOBA in “General, administrative, and other expenses.” See Note 7 for additional information regarding VOBA.

Deferred sales inducements represent various types of sales inducements to contractholders related to fixed and variable deferred annuity contracts. The Company defers sales inducements and amortizes them over the expected life of the policy using the same methodology and assumptions used to amortize DAC. Sales inducement balances are subject to periodic recoverability testing. The Company records amortization of DSI in “Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances.” DSI for applicable products is adjusted for the impact of unrealized gains or losses on investments as if these gains or losses had been realized, with corresponding credits or charges included in AOCI. See Note 9 for additional information regarding sales inducements.

Other assets consist primarily of accruals for asset administration fees, deferred loss on reinsurance with an affiliate and receivables resulting from sales of securities that had not yet settled at the balance sheet date.

Separate account assets represent segregated funds that are invested for certain contractholders. The contractholder has the option of directing funds to a wide variety of investment options, most of which invest in mutual funds. The investment risk on the variable portion of a contract is borne by the contractholder, except to the extent of minimum guarantees by the Company, which are not separate account liabilities. The assets of each account are legally segregated and are not subject to claims that arise out of any other business of the Company. The investment income and realized investment gains or losses from separate accounts generally accrue to the contractholders and are not included in the Company’s results of operations. Mortality, policy administration and surrender charges assessed against the accounts are included in “Policy charges and fee income”. Asset administration fees charged to the accounts are included in “Asset administration fees and other ~~income.”~~income”. See Note 79 for additional information regarding separate account arrangements with contractual guarantees. See also “Separate account liabilities” below.

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~~Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation~~

~~Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)~~

LIABILITIES

Future policy benefits liability is primarily comprised of liabilities for guarantee benefits related to certain long-duration life and annuity contracts, which are discussed more fully in Note 7.9. These reserves represent reserves for the guaranteed minimum death and optional living benefit features on the Company’s variable annuity products. The optional living benefits are primarily accounted for as embedded derivatives, with fair values calculated as the present value of future expected benefit payments to customers less the present value of assessed rider fees attributable to the embedded derivative feature. For additional information regarding the valuation of these optional living benefit features, see Note ~~10.~~5.

The Company’s liability for future policy benefits also includes reserves based on the present value of estimated future payments to or on behalf of policyholders, where the timing and amount of payment depends on policyholder mortality. Expected mortality is generally based on Company experience, industry data, and/or other factors. Interest rate assumptions are based on factors such as market conditions and expected investment returns. Although mortality, morbidity and interest rate assumptions are “locked-in” upon the issuance of new insurance or annuity business with fixed and guaranteed terms, significant changes in experience or assumptions may require the Company to provide for expected future losses on a product by establishing premium deficiency reserves. Premium deficiency reserves are established, if necessary, when the liability for future policy benefits plus the present value of expected future gross premiums are determined to be insufficient to provide for expected future policy benefits and expenses. Premium deficiency reserves do not include a provision for the risk of adverse deviation. Any adjustments to future policy benefit reserves related to net unrealized gains on securities classified as available-for-sale are included in AOCI. See Note 78 for additional information regarding future policy benefits.

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

Policyholders’ account balances liability represents the contract value that has accrued to the benefit of the policyholder as of the balance sheet date. This liability is primarily associated with the accumulated account deposits, plus interest credited, less policyholder withdrawals and other charges assessed against the account ~~balance.~~balance, as applicable. These policyholders’ account balances also include provision for benefits under non-life contingent payout ~~annuities and certain unearned revenues.~~annuities. See Note 68 for additional information regarding policyholders’ account balances.

Cash collateral for loaned securities represent liabilities to return cash proceeds from security lending transactions. Securities lending transactions are used primarily to earn spread income, or to borrow funds. As part of securities lending transactions, the Company transfers U.S. and foreign debt and equity securities, as well as U.S. government and government agency securities, and receives cash as collateral. Cash proceeds from securities lending transactions are used to earn spread income, and are typically invested in cash equivalents, short-term investments or fixed maturities. Securities lending transactions are treated as financing arrangements and are recorded at the amount of cash received. The Company obtains collateral in an amount equal to 102% and 105% of the fair value of the domestic and foreign securities, respectively. The Company monitors the market value of the securities loaned on a daily basis with additional collateral obtained as necessary. Substantially all of the Company’s securities lending transactions are with large brokerage firms and large banks. Income and expenses associated with securities lending transactions used to earn spread income are reported as “Net investment income”; however, for securities lending transactions used for funding purposes the associated rebate is reported as interest expense (included in “General, administrative and other expenses”).

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase represent liabilities associated with securities repurchase ~~and resale~~ agreements which are used primarily to earn spread income, to borrow funds, or to facilitate trading activity. As part of securities repurchase agreements, the Company transfers U.S. government and government agency securities to a third-party and receives cash as collateral. ~~As part of securities resale agreements, the Company invests cash and receives as collateral U.S. government securities or other debt securities.~~ For securities repurchase agreements used to earn spread income, the cash received is typically invested in cash equivalents, short-term investments or fixed maturities. Receivables associated with securities purchased under agreements to resell are generally reflected as cash equivalents (see also "Cash and cash equivalents" above). As part of securities resale agreements, the Company invests cash and receives as collateral U.S. government securities or other debt securities.

Securities repurchase and resale agreements that satisfy certain criteria are treated as secured borrowing or secured lending arrangements. These agreements are carried at the amounts at which the securities will be subsequently resold or reacquired, as specified in the respective transactions. For securities purchased under agreements to resell, the Company’s policy is to take possession or control of the securities either directly or through a ~~third party~~third-party custodian. These securities are valued daily and additional securities or cash collateral is received, or returned, when appropriate to protect against credit exposure. Securities to be resold are the same, or substantially the same, as the securities received. The majority of these transactions are with large brokerage firms and large banks. For securities sold under agreements to repurchase, the market value of the securities to be repurchased is monitored, and additional collateral is obtained where appropriate, to protect against credit exposure. The Company obtains collateral in an amount at least equal to 95% of the fair value of the securities sold. Securities to be repurchased are the same, or substantially the same, as those sold. The majority of these transactions are with highly rated money market funds. Income and expenses related to these transactions executed within the insurance companies used to earn spread income are reported as “Net investment income”; however, for transactions used for funding purposes, the associated borrowing cost is reported as interest expense (included in “General, administrative and other expenses”). Income and expenses related to these transactions executed within the Company’s derivative operations are reported in ~~“Other income”.~~

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~~Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation~~

~~Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)~~

~~Cash collateral for loaned securities~~ represent liabilities to return cash proceeds from security lending transactions. Securities lending transactions are used primarily to earn spread income, to borrow funds, or to facilitate trading activity. As part of securities lending transactions, the Company transfers U.S. and foreign debt and equity securities, as well as U.S. government and government agency securities, and receives cash as collateral. Cash proceeds from securities lending transactions are used to earn spread income, and are typically invested in cash equivalents, short-term investments or fixed maturities. Securities lending transactions are treated as financing arrangements and are recorded at the amount of cash received. The Company obtains collateral in an amount equal to 102% and 105% of the fair value of the domestic and foreign securities, respectively. The Company monitors the market value of the securities loaned on a daily basis with additional collateral obtained as necessary. Substantially all of the Company’s securities lending transactions are with large brokerage firms and large banks. Income and expenses associated with securities lending transactions used to earn spread income are reported as “Net investment income”; however, for securities lending transactions used for funding purposes the associated rebate is reported as interest expense (included in “General, administrative“Asset administration fees and other ~~expenses”)~~income”.

Short-term and long-term debt liabilities are primarily carried at an amount equal to unpaid principal balance, net of unamortized discount or premium and debt issue costs. Original-issue discount or premium and debt-issue costs are recognized as a component of interest expense over the period the debt is expected to be outstanding, using the interest method of amortization. Interest expense is generally presented within “General, administrative and other expenses” in the Company’s Statements of Operations. Short-term debt is debt coming due in the next twelve months, including that portion of debt otherwise classified as long-term. The short-term debt caption may exclude short-term debt items for which the Company ~~intends~~has the intent and ability to refinance on a long-term basis in the near term. See Note 1514 for additional information regarding short-term and long-term debt.

Reinsurance payables include corresponding payables associated with reinsurance arrangements with affiliates. For additional information about these arrangements see Note ~~13.~~10.

Other liabilities consist primarily of accrued expenses, technical overdrafts, deferred gain on reinsurance with an affiliate, and payables resulting from purchases of securities that had not yet settled at the balance sheet date. Other liabilities may also include derivative instruments for which fair values are determined as described below under “Derivative Financial Instruments”.

Separate account liabilities primarily represent the contractholders’ account balance in separate account assets and to a lesser extent borrowings of the separate account, and will be equal and offsetting to total separate account assets. See also “Separate account assets” above.

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

Commitments and contingent liabilities are accrued if it is probable that a liability has been incurred and an amount is reasonably estimable. Management evaluates whether there are incremental legal or other costs directly associated with the ultimate resolution of the matter that are reasonably estimable and, if so, they are included in the accrual. These accruals are generally reported in “Other liabilities”.

REVENUES AND BENEFITS AND EXPENSES

Insurance Revenue and Expense Recognition

Revenues for variable deferred annuity contracts consist of charges against contractholder account values or separate accounts for mortality and expense risks, administration fees, surrender charges and an annual maintenance fee per contract. Revenues for mortality and expense risk charges and administration fees are recognized as assessed against the contractholder. Surrender charge revenue is recognized when the surrender charge is assessed against the contractholder at the time of surrender. Liabilities for the variable investment options on annuity contracts represent the account value of the contracts and are included in “Separate account liabilities.”

Revenues for variable immediate annuity and supplementary contracts with life contingencies consist of certain charges against contractholder account values including mortality and expense risks and administration fees. These charges and fees are recognized as revenue when assessed against the contractholder. Liabilities for variable immediate annuity contracts represent the account value of the contracts and are included in “Separate account liabilities.”

Revenues for fixed immediate annuity and fixed supplementary contracts with and without life contingencies consist of net investment income. In addition, revenues for fixed immediate annuity contracts with life contingencies also consist of single premium payments recognized as annuity considerations when received. Reserves for contracts without life contingencies are included in “Policyholders’ account balances” while reserves for contracts with life contingencies are included in “Future policy benefits.” Assumed interest rates ranged from 0.0% to 8.3% at December 31, ~~2017~~2018 and ~~2016.~~

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~~Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation~~

~~Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)~~

2017.

Revenues for variable life insurance contracts consist of charges against contractholder account values or separate accounts for expense charges, administration fees, cost of insurance charges and surrender charges. Certain contracts also include charges against premium to pay state premium taxes. All of these charges are recognized as revenue when assessed against the contractholder. Liabilities for variable life insurance contracts represent the account value of the contracts and are included in “Separate account liabilities.”

Certain individual annuity contracts provide the contractholder a guarantee that the benefit received upon death or annuitization will be no less than a minimum prescribed amount. These benefits are accounted for as insurance contracts and are discussed in further detail in Note 7.9. The Company also provides contracts with certain optional living benefits which are considered embedded derivatives. These contracts are discussed in further detail in Note 7.9.

Amounts received as payment for variable annuities and other contracts without life contingencies are reported as deposits to “Policyholders’ account balances” and/or “Separate account liabilities.” Revenues from these contracts are reflected in “Policy charges and fee income” consisting primarily of fees assessed during the period against the policyholders’ account balances for policy administration charges and surrender charges. In addition to fees, the Company earns investment income from the investments in the Company’s general account portfolio. Fees assessed that represent compensation to the Company for services to be provided in future periods and certain other fees are generally deferred and amortized into revenue over the life of the related contracts in proportion to estimated gross profits. Benefits and expenses for these products include claims in excess of related account balances, expenses of contract administration, interest credited to policyholders’ account balances and amortization of DAC, DSI and VOBA.

Asset administration fees and other income~~primarily include~~ principally includes asset-based asset ~~administration fee income received on contractholders’ account balances invested~~management fees, which are recognized in the ~~Advanced Series Trust,~~period in which the services are performed. This financial statement line also includes realized and ~~the Prudential Series Fund (see Note 15)~~unrealized gains or losses from investments reported as “Fixed maturities, trading, at fair value”, ~~which~~“Equity securities, at fair value”, and “Other invested assets” that are a portfolio of mutual fund investments related to the Company’s separate account products. In addition, the Company receives fees on contractholders’ account balances invested in funds managed by companies other than affiliates of Prudential Insurance. Asset administration fees are recognized as income when earned.measured at fair value.

OTHER ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Derivative Financial Instruments

Derivatives are financial instruments whose values are derived from interest rates, foreign exchange rates, financial indices, values of securities or commodities, credit spreads, market volatility, expected returns, and liquidity. Values can also be affected by changes in estimates and assumptions, including those related to counterparty behavior and non-performance risk ("NPR") used in valuation models. Derivative financial instruments generally used by the Company include swaps, futures, forwards and options and may be exchange-traded or contracted in the over-the-counter ("OTC") market. Derivative positions are carried at fair value, generally by obtaining quoted market prices or through the use of valuation models.

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

Derivatives are used to manage the interest rate and currency characteristics of assets or liabilities. Additionally, derivatives may be used to seek to reduce exposure to interest rate, credit, foreign currency and equity risks associated with assets held or expected to be purchased or sold, and liabilities incurred or expected to be incurred. As discussed in detail below and in Note ~~11,~~4, all realized and unrealized changes in fair value of derivatives are recorded in current earnings, with the exception of the effective portion of cash flow hedges. Cash flows from derivatives are reported in the operating, investing, or financing activities sections in the Statements of Cash Flows based on the nature and purpose of the derivative.

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

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

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

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

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~~Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation~~

~~Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)~~

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

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

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

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

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

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

The Company sold variable annuity contracts that include optional living benefit features that may be treated from an accounting perspective as embedded derivatives. The Company had reinsurance agreements to transfer the risks related to certain of these benefit features to affiliates, Pruco Re and Prudential Insurance through March 31, 2016. Effective April 1, 2016, the Company recaptured the risks related to its variable annuity optional living benefit guarantees that were previously reinsured to Pruco Re and Prudential Insurance. In addition, the Company reinsured the variable annuity base contracts, along with the living benefit guarantees, from Pruco Life, excluding the PLNJ business which was reinsured to Prudential Insurance, under a coinsurance and modified coinsurance agreement. See Note 1 and 1310 for additional information. The embedded derivatives related to the living benefit features and the related reinsurance agreements are carried at fair value and included in “Future policy benefits” and “Reinsurance recoverables,” respectively. Changes in the fair value are determined using valuation models as described in Note ~~10,~~5, and are recorded in “Realized investment gains (losses), net.”

~~Recent Accounting Pronouncements~~RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

Changes to U.S. GAAP are established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") in the form of ~~accounting standards updates~~Accounting Standards Updates ("ASU") to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification.

The Company considers the applicability and impact of all ASU. ASU listed below include those that have been adopted during the current fiscal year and/or those that have been issued but not yet adopted as of the date of this filing. ASU not listed below were assessed and determined to be either not applicable or not material.

~~There have been no~~Adoption of ASU 2016-01

Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ~~during~~ASU 2016-01, Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Liabilities using a modified retrospective method. Adoption of this ASU impacted the Company’s accounting and presentation related to equity investments. The most significant impact is that the changes in fair value of equity securities previously classified as “available-for-sale” are to be reported in net income within “Asset administration fees and other income” in the Statements of Operations. Prior to this, the changes in fair value on equity securities classified as “available-for-sale” were reported in AOCI.

The impacts of this ASU on the Company’s Financial Statements can be categorized as follows: (1) Changes to the presentation within the Statements of Financial Position; (2) Cumulative-effect Adjustment Upon Adoption; and (3) Changes to Accounting Policies. Each of these components is described below.

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

(1) Changes to the presentation within the Statements of Financial Position

Because of the fundamental accounting changes as described in section "(3) Changes to Accounting Policies" below, the Company determined that changes to the presentation of certain balances in the investment section of the Company’s Statements of Financial Position were also necessary to maintain clarity and logical presentation. The table below illustrates these changes by presenting the balances as previously reported in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, ~~2017.~~2017 and the reclassifications that were made, along with a footnote explanation of each reclassification.



	December 31, 2017
	As previously reported		Reclassifications									As currently reported
Statement of Financial Position Line Items			(1)			(2)			(3)
	(in thousands)
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, at fair value	$	10,110,786										$	10,110,786
*Fixed maturities, trading, at fair value	0					166,360						166,360
Trading account assets, at fair value	181,717					(181,717		)				0
Equity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value	18		(18		)							0
*Equity securities, at fair value	0		18			15,357						15,375
Commercial mortgage and other loans	1,387,012											1,387,012
Policy loans	12,558											12,558
Short-term investments	711,071											711,071
Other long-term investments	335,811								(335,811		)	0
*Other invested assets	0								335,811			335,811
Total investments	$	12,738,973	$	0		$	0		$	0		$	12,738,973

* - New line item effective January 1, 2018.

Strikethrough - Eliminated line item effective January 1, 2018.


(1)	Retitled “Equity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value” to “Equity securities, at fair value” as equity securities can no longer be described as available-for-sale.


(2)	Eliminated the line item “Trading account assets, at fair value” and reclassified each component to another line item.


(3)	Retitled “Other long-term investments” to “Other invested assets”.

(2) Cumulative-effect Adjustment Upon Adoption

The provisions of ASU 2016-01 require that the Company apply the amendments through a cumulative-effect adjustment to the Statements of Financial Position as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. The following table illustrates the impact on the Company’s Statement of Financial Position as a result of recording this cumulative-effect adjustment on January 1, 2018.



Summary of ASU 2016-01 Transition Impacts on the Statement
of Financial Position upon Adoption on January 1, 2018
(in thousands)
	Increase / (Decrease)
Other invested assets	$	423
Total assets	$	423
Income taxes payable	89
Total liabilities	89
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(3		)
Retained earnings	337
Total equity	334
Total liabilities and equity	$	423

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

~~ASU issued but not yet adopted~~(3) Changes to Accounting Policies

The narrative description of our significant accounting policies at the beginning of this Note reflects our policies as of December 31, ~~2017~~2018, including policies associated with the adoption of ASU 2016-01.

Other ASU adopted during the twelve months ended December 31, 2018



Standard	Description	Effective date and method of adoption	Effect on the financial statements or other significant matters
ASU 2014-09 , Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)	The ASU is based on the core principle that revenue is recognized to depict the transfer of promised 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 standard also requires additional disclosures about the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, and assets recognized from the costs to obtain or fulfill a contract with a customer. Revenue recognition for insurance contracts and financial instruments is explicitly scoped out of the standard.	January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method which ~~will~~ ~~include~~included a cumulative-effect adjustment on the balance sheet as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption.	Adoption of the ASU ~~will~~did not have ~~a significant~~an impact on the Company’s Financial Statements and Notes to the Financial Statements.
ASU ~~2016-01,~~ 2016-15 ~~Financial~~ ~~Instruments -~~ ~~Overall (Subtopic 825-10):~~ ~~Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Liabilities~~	The ASU revises an entity’s accounting related to the recognition and measurement of certain equity investments and the presentation of certain fair value changes for financial liabilities measured at fair value. The ASU requires equity investments, except for those accounted for using the equity method, to be measured at fair value with changes in fair value recognized in net income. The standard also amends certain disclosure requirements associated with the fair value of financial instruments.	~~January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective method which will include a~~ ~~cumulative-effect~~ ~~adjustment to retained earnings.~~	Adoption of this guidance will result in 1) the reclassification of net unrealized gains on equity securities currently classified as available-for-sale from accumulated other comprehensive income to retained earnings and 2) adjustment of the basis of equity investments currently accounted for using the cost method to fair value with the embedded net unrealized gain included in retained earnings. The cumulative effect of adoption is expected to increase retained earnings by $0.3 million and total equity by $0.3 million after giving effect to offsetting items. See table below for the impact to the line items in the Statements of Financial Position. There will be no impact to net income on the adoption date. Subsequent to the adoption date, the change in fair value of these equity investments will be reported in net income.

Summary of ASU 2016-01 Transition Impacts on the Statements
of Financial Position upon Adoption on January 1, 2018
(in thousands)
Increase / (Decrease)
Other long-term investments $ 423
Total assets $ 423
Policyholders’ dividends $ 0
Income taxes 89
Total liabilities 89
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (3 )
Retained earnings 337
Total equity 334
Total liabilities and equity $ 423

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~~Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation~~

~~Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)~~



~~Standard~~	~~Description~~	~~Effective date and method of adoption~~	~~Effect on the financial statements or other significant matters~~
~~ASU 2016-13,~~ ~~Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326):~~ ~~Measurement of~~ ~~Credit Losses on~~ ~~Financial~~ ~~Instruments~~	~~This ASU provides a new current expected credit loss model to account for credit losses on certain financial assets and off-balance sheet exposures (e.g.~~, loans held for investment, debt securities held to maturity, reinsurance receivables, net investments in leases and loan commitments). The model requires an entity to estimate lifetime credit losses related to such financial assets and exposures based on relevant information about past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount. The standard also modifies the current OTTI standard for available-for-sale debt securities to require the use of an allowance rather than a direct write down of the investment, and replaces existing standard for purchased credit deteriorated loans and debt securities.	~~January 1, 2020 using the modified retrospective method which will~~ ~~include a cumulative-effect~~ ~~adjustment on the~~ ~~balance sheet as of~~ ~~the beginning of the fiscal year of~~ adoption. However, prospective application is required for purchased credit deteriorated assets previously accounted for under ASU 310-30 and for debt securities for which an OTTI was recognized prior to the date of adoption. Early adoption is permitted beginning January 1, 2019.	~~The Company is currently assessing the impact of the ASU on the Company’s Financial Statements and Notes to the Financial Statements.~~
~~ASU 2016-15,~~ Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments (a Consensus of the Emerging Issues Task Force)	This ASU addresses diversity in practice in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. The standard provides clarity on the treatment of eight specifically defined types of cash inflows and outflows.	January 1, 2018 using the retrospective method (with early adoption permitted provided that all amendments are adopted in the same period).	Adoption of the ASU ~~will~~did not have a significant impact on the Company’s Financial Statements and Notes to the Financial Statements.
~~Update~~ ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash	In November 2016, the FASB issued this ASU to address diversity in practice from entities classifying and presenting transfers between cash and restricted cash as operating, investing, or financing activities, or as a combination of those activities in the Statement of Cash Flows. The ASU requires entities to show the changes in the total of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, and restricted cash equivalents in the Statement of Cash Flows. As a result, transfers between such categories will no longer be presented in the Statement of Cash Flows.	January 1, 2018 using the retrospective method (with early adoption permitted).	Adoption of the ASU ~~will~~did not have a significant impact on the Company’s Financial Statements and Notes to the Financial Statements.

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)



~~Standard~~	~~Description~~	~~Effective date and method of adoption~~	~~Effect on the financial statements or other significant matters~~
~~ASU 2017-08,~~ ~~Receivables -~~ ~~Nonrefundable Fees~~ ~~and Other Costs~~ ~~(Subtopic 310-20)~~ ~~Premium~~ ~~Amortization on~~ ~~Purchased Callable~~ ~~Debt Securities~~	~~This ASU requires certain premiums on callable debt securities to be amortized to the earliest call date.~~	~~January 1, 2019 using the modified~~ ~~retrospective method (with early adoption~~ ~~permitted) which will include a~~ ~~cumulative-effect~~ ~~adjustment on the~~ ~~balance sheet as of~~ ~~the beginning of the fiscal year of~~ ~~adoption.~~	~~The Company is currently assessing the impact of the ASU on the Company’s~~ ~~Financial Statements and Notes to the Financial Statements.~~
~~ASU 2017-12,~~ ~~Derivatives and~~ ~~Hedging (Topic~~ ~~815): Targeted~~ ~~Improvements to~~ ~~Accounting for~~ ~~Hedging Activities~~	~~This ASU makes targeted changes to the existing hedge accounting model to better portray the economics of an entity’s risk management activities and to simplify the use of hedge accounting.~~	~~January 1, 2019 using the modified~~ ~~retrospective method (with early adoption~~ ~~permitted) which will include a cumulative-effect adjustment on the balance sheet as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption.~~	~~The Company is currently assessing the impact of the ASU on the Company’s~~ ~~Financial Statements and Notes to the Financial Statements.~~
ASU 2018-02, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	In February 2018, this ASU was issued following the enactment of the Tax Act of 2017. This ASU allows an entity to elect a reclassification from ~~accumulated other comprehensive income~~AOCI to retained earnings for stranded effects resulting from the Tax Act of 2017.	January 1, 2019 with early adoption permitted. The ASU should be applied either in the period of adoption or retrospectively to each period in which the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate in the Tax Act of 2017 is recognized.	The Company early adopted the ASU effective January 1, 2018 and elected to apply the ASU in the period of adoption subsequent to recording the adoption impacts of ASU 2016-01 as described above. As a result, the Company reclassified stranded effects resulting from the Tax Act of 2017 by decreasing AOCI and increasing retained earnings, each by$36.7 million. Stranded effects unrelated to the Tax Act of 2017 are generally released from AOCI when an entire portfolio of the type of item related to the stranded effect is liquidated, sold or extinguished (i.e., portfolio approach).

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

ASU issued but not yet adopted as of December 31, 2018 — ASU 2018-12

ASU 2018-12, Financial Services - Insurance (Topic 944): Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts, was issued by the FASB on August 15, 2018 and is expected to have a significant impact on the Company’s Financial Statements and Notes to the Financial Statements. The ASU is effective January 1, 2021 (with early adoption permitted), and will impact, at least to some extent, the accounting and disclosure requirements for all long-duration insurance and investment contracts issued by the Company. Outlined below are four key areas of change, although there are other changes not noted below. In addition to the impacts to the balance sheet upon adoption, the Company also expects an impact to how earnings emerge thereafter.



ASU 2018-12 Amended Topic	Description	Method of adoption	Effect on the financial statements or other significant matters
Cash flow assumptions used to measure the liability for future policy benefits for non-participating traditional and limited-pay insurance products	Requires an entity to review, and if necessary, update the cash flow assumptions used to measure the liability for future policy benefits, for both changes in future assumptions and actual experience, at least annually using a retrospective update method with a cumulative catch-up adjustment recorded in a separate line item in the Statements of Operations.	An entity may choose one of two adoption methods for the liability for future policy benefits: (1) a modified retrospective transition method whereby the entity will apply the amendments to contracts in force as of the beginning of the earliest period presented on the basis of their existing carrying amounts, adjusted for the removal of any related amounts in AOCI or (2) a full retrospective transition method.	The options for method of adoption and the impacts of such methods are under assessment.
Discount rate assumption used to measure the liability for future policy benefits for non-participating traditional and limited-pay insurance products	Requires discount rate assumptions to be based on an upper-medium grade fixed income instrument yield and will be required to be updated each quarter with the impact recorded through OCI.	As noted above, an entity may choose either a modified retrospective transition method or full retrospective transition method for the liability for future policy benefits. Under either method, for balance sheet remeasurement purposes, the liability for future policy benefits will be remeasured using current discount rates as of the beginning of the earliest period presented with the impact recorded as a cumulative effect adjustment to AOCI.	Upon adoption, under either transition method, there will be an adjustment to AOCI as a result of remeasuring in force contract liabilities using current upper-medium grade fixed income instrument yields. The adjustment upon adoption will largely reflect the difference between the discount rate locked-in at contract inception versus current discount rates at transition. The magnitude of such adjustment is currently being assessed.

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

Other ASU issued but not yet adopted as of December 31, 2018



Standard	Description	Effective date and method of adoption	Effect on the financial statements or other significant matters
ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments-Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments	This ASU provides a new current expected credit loss model to account for credit losses on certain financial assets and off-balance sheet exposures (e.g., loans held for investment, debt securities held to maturity, reinsurance receivables, net investments in leases and loan commitments). The model requires an entity to estimate lifetime credit losses related to such financial assets and exposures based on relevant information about past events, current conditions, and reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the collectability of the reported amount. The standard also modifies the current other-than-temporary impairment standard for available-for-sale debt securities to require the use of an allowance rather than a direct write down of the investment, and replaces existing standard for purchased credit deteriorated loans and debt securities.	January 1, 2020 using the modified retrospective method which will include a cumulative-effect adjustment on the balance sheet as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. However, prospective application is required for purchased credit deteriorated assets previously accounted for under ASU 310-30 and for debt securities for which an other-than-temporary impairment was recognized prior to the date of adoption. Early adoption is permitted beginning January 1, 2019.	The Company is currently assessing the impact of the ASU on the Company’s Financial Statements and Notes to the Financial Statements.
ASU 2017-08, Receivables - Nonrefundable Fees and Other Costs (Subtopic 310-20) Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities	This ASU requires certain premiums on callable debt securities to be amortized to the earliest call date.	January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective method (with early adoption permitted) which will include a cumulative-effect adjustment on the balance sheet as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption.	The Company does not expect the adoption of the ASU to have a significant impact on the Company’s Financial Statements and Notes to the Financial Statements.
ASU 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities	This ASU makes targeted changes to the existing hedge accounting model to better portray the economics of an entity’s risk management activities and to simplify the use of hedge accounting.	January 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective method (with early adoption permitted) which will include a cumulative-effect adjustment on the balance sheet as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption.	The Company does not expect the adoption of the ASU to have a significant impact on the Company’s Financial Statements and Notes to the Financial Statements.

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

3. INVESTMENTS

Fixed ~~Maturities and Equity~~Maturity Securities

The following tables set forth ~~information relating to~~the composition of fixed ~~maturities and equity~~maturity securities (excluding investments classified as trading), as of the dates indicated:

December 31, 2017

Amortized
Cost or 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 $ 5,059,168
$ 9,109
$ 236,627
$ 4,831,650
$ 0
Obligations of U.S. states and their political subdivisions 102,709
2,089
158
104,640
0
Foreign government bonds 133,859
6,878
432
140,305
0
Public utilities 567,829
31,414
2,058
597,185
0
Redeemable preferred stock 29,504
615
59
30,060
0
All other U.S. public corporate securities 1,473,761
77,379
3,416
1,547,724
0
All other U.S. private corporate securities 938,144
35,327
3,795
969,676
0
All other foreign public corporate securities 194,201
5,663
918
198,946
0
All other foreign private corporate securities 638,785
38,030
3,231
673,584
0
Asset-backed securities(1) 341,277
4,438
128
345,587
(17 )
Commercial mortgage-backed securities 502,695
7,334
4,345
505,684
0
Residential mortgage-backed securities(2) 163,334
2,950
539
165,745
(4 )
Total fixed maturities, available-for-sale $ 10,145,266
$ 221,226
$ 255,706
$ 10,110,786
$ (21 )
Equity securities, available-for-sale:
Common stocks:
Industrial, miscellaneous & other $ 0
$ 0
$ 0
$ 0

Mutual funds 14
4
0
18

Total equity securities, available-for-sale $ 14
$ 4
$ 0
$ 18



	December 31, 2018
	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	$	5,240,519	$	20,065	$	376,493	$	4,884,091	$	0
Obligations of U.S. states and their political subdivisions	133,670		621		3,127		131,164		0
Foreign government bonds	199,044		4,748		4,156		199,636		0
U.S. corporate public securities	1,498,130		26,425		50,582		1,473,973		0
U.S. corporate private securities	1,070,400		15,430		22,877		1,062,953		0
Foreign corporate public securities	296,029		1,888		6,831		291,086		0
Foreign corporate private securities	829,588		10,415		27,771		812,232		0
Asset-backed securities(1)	505,862		3,147		3,765		505,244		(16		)
Commercial mortgage-backed securities	364,601		2,770		5,491		361,880		0
Residential mortgage-backed securities(2)	48,622		1,290		498		49,414		0
Total fixed maturities, available-for-sale	$	10,186,465	$	86,799	$	501,591	$	9,771,673	$	(16	)


(1)	Includes credit-tranched securities collateralized by loan obligations, sub-prime mortgages, auto loans, equipment leases, education loans and other asset types.


(2)	Includes publicly-traded agency pass-through securities and collateralized mortgage obligations.


(3)	Represents the amount of unrealized losses remaining in AOCI, from the impairment measurement date. Amount excludes $3.3 million of net unrealized losses on impaired available-for-sale securities relating to changes in the value of such securities subsequent to the impairment measurement date.



	December 31, 2017(4)
	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	$	5,059,168	$	9,109	$	236,627	$	4,831,650	$	0
Obligations of U.S. states and their political subdivisions	102,709		2,089		158		104,640		0
Foreign government bonds	133,859		6,878		432		140,305		0
U.S. corporate public securities	1,721,186		90,953		3,689		1,808,450		0
U.S. corporate private securities	1,166,682		46,267		5,005		1,207,944		0
Foreign corporate public securities	223,907		6,291		977		229,221		0
Foreign corporate private securities	730,449		44,917		3,806		771,560		0
Asset-backed securities(1)	341,277		4,438		128		345,587		(17		)
Commercial mortgage-backed securities	502,695		7,334		4,345		505,684		0
Residential mortgage-backed securities(2)	163,334		2,950		539		165,745		(4		)
Total fixed maturities, available-for-sale	$	10,145,266	$	221,226	$	255,706	$	10,110,786	$	(21	)


(1)	Includes credit-tranched securities collateralized by loan obligations, sub-prime mortgages, auto loans, credit cards, education loans and other asset types.

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)


(2)	Includes publicly-traded agency pass-through securities and collateralized mortgage obligations.


(3)	Represents the amount of unrealized losses remaining in AOCI, from the impairment measurement date. Amount excludes $12.3 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.

~~Table of Contents~~

~~Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation~~

~~Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)~~

December 31, 2016

Amortized
Cost or 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 $ 4,998,652
$ 2,487
$ 536,114
$ 4,465,025
$ 0
Obligations of U.S. states and their political subdivisions 92,107
566
2,699
89,974
0
Foreign government bonds 64,352
5,404
370
69,386
0
Public utilities 448,349
13,155
10,348
451,156
0
Redeemable preferred stock 29,581
288
633
29,236
0
All other U.S. public corporate securities 1,619,814
73,819
10,153
1,683,480
(771 )
All other U.S. private corporate securities 951,324
27,234
13,810
964,748
(694 )
All other foreign public corporate securities 183,253
5,410
1,022
187,641
0
All other foreign private corporate securities 501,140
5,349
20,450
486,039
0
Asset-backed securities(1) 248,547
3,227
465
251,309
0
Commercial mortgage-backed securities 484,673
6,793
6,753
484,713
0
Residential mortgage-backed securities(2) 196,506
4,063
513
200,056
(5 )
Total fixed maturities, available-for-sale $ 9,818,298
$ 147,795
$ 603,330
$ 9,362,763
$ (1,470 )
Equity securities, available-for-sale:
Common stocks:
Industrial, miscellaneous & other $ 351
$ 0
$ 351
$ 0

Mutual funds 14
4
0
18

Total equity securities, available-for-sale $ 365
$ 4
$ 351
$ 18


~~(1)~~(4)	~~Includes credit-tranched securities collateralized by loan obligations, 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 unrealized losses remaining in AOCI, from the impairment measurement date. Amount excludes $0.2 million of net unrealized gains on impaired available-for-sale securities relatingPrior period amounts have been reclassified to ~~changes in the value of such securities subsequent~~conform to ~~the impairment measurement date.~~current period presentation.

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



	December 31, 2018
	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	$	367,796	$	4,844	$	3,304,663	$	371,649	$	3,672,459	$	376,493
Obligations of U.S. states and their political subdivisions	25,764		322		83,950		2,805		109,714		3,127
Foreign government bonds	98,437		2,346		58,975		1,810		157,412		4,156
U.S. corporate public securities	627,589		28,474		386,599		22,108		1,014,188		50,582
U.S. corporate private securities	269,545		7,755		422,498		15,122		692,043		22,877
Foreign corporate public securities	97,367		2,521		107,286		4,310		204,653		6,831
Foreign corporate private securities	373,891		19,217		116,743		8,554		490,634		27,771
Asset-backed securities	358,668		3,501		24,529		264		383,197		3,765
Commercial mortgage-backed securities	45,432		355		159,638		5,136		205,070		5,491
Residential mortgage-backed securities	34		1		13,775		497		13,809		498
Total fixed maturities, available-for-sale	$	2,264,523	$	69,336	$	4,678,656	$	432,255	$	6,943,179	$	501,591



	December 31, 2017(1)
	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	$	13,174	$	23	$	4,550,472	$	236,604	$	4,563,646	$	236,627
Obligations of U.S. states and their political subdivisions	6,669		26		13,311		132		19,980		158
Foreign government bonds	37,466		428		143		4		37,609		432
U.S. corporate public securities	234,798		1,181		126,339		2,508		361,137		3,689
U.S. corporate private securities	278,203		3,383		83,365		1,622		361,568		5,005
Foreign corporate public securities	76,526		637		23,186		340		99,712		977
Foreign corporate private securities	78,200		536		103,758		3,270		181,958		3,806
Asset-backed securities	30,234		128		0		0		30,234		128
Commercial mortgage-backed securities	113,423		1,225		129,458		3,120		242,881		4,345
Residential mortgage-backed securities	26,916		166		24,833		373		51,749		539
Total fixed maturities, available-for-sale	$	895,609	$	7,733	$	5,054,865	$	247,973	$	5,950,474	$	255,706


(1)	Prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation.

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

December 31, 2017
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 $ 13,174
$ 23
$ 4,550,472
$ 236,604
$ 4,563,646
$ 236,627
Obligations of U.S. states and their political subdivisions 6,669
26
13,311
132
19,980
158
Foreign government bonds 37,466
428
143
4
37,609
432
Public utilities 84,260
1,357
22,420
701
106,680
2,058
Redeemable preferred stock 10,522
59
0
0
10,522
59
All other U.S. public corporate securities 206,988
1,034
118,002
2,382
324,990
3,416
All other U.S. private corporate securities 221,753
2,173
83,365
1,622
305,118
3,795
All other foreign public corporate securities 66,004
578
23,186
340
89,190
918
All other foreign private corporate securities 78,200
536
89,675
2,695
167,875
3,231
Asset-backed securities 30,234
128
0
0
30,234
128
Commercial mortgage-backed securities 113,423
1,225
129,458
3,120
242,881
4,345
Residential mortgage-backed securities 26,916
166
24,833
373
51,749
539
Total fixed maturities, available-for-sale $ 895,609
$ 7,733
$ 5,054,865
$ 247,973
$ 5,950,474
$ 255,706
Equity securities, available-for-sale $ 0
$ 0
$ 0
$ 0
$ 0
$ 0

December 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 $ 4,254,477
$ 536,114
$ 0
$ 0
$ 4,254,477
$ 536,114
Obligations of U.S. states and their political subdivisions 73,885
2,699
0
0
73,885
2,699
Foreign government bonds 32,107
370
0
0
32,107
370
Public utilities 240,041
8,019
17,097
2,329
257,138
10,348
Redeemable preferred stock 12,948
633
0
0
12,948
633
All other U.S. public corporate securities 530,904
8,798
12,981
1,355
543,885
10,153
All other U.S. private corporate securities 453,976
13,632
12,304
178
466,280
13,810
All other foreign public corporate securities 89,962
1,016
9,994
6
99,956
1,022
All other foreign private corporate securities 247,111
11,661
58,214
8,789
305,325
20,450
Asset-backed securities 67,246
439
16,489
26
83,735
465
Commercial mortgage-backed securities 293,651
6,753
0
0
293,651
6,753
Residential mortgage-backed securities 68,283
513
0
0
68,283
513
Total fixed maturities, available-for-sale $ 6,364,591
$ 590,647
$ 127,079
$ 12,683
$ 6,491,670
$ 603,330
Equity securities, available-for-sale $ 0
$ 351
$ 0
$ 0
$ 0
$ 351

~~Table of Contents~~

~~Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation~~

~~Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)~~

As of December 31, ~~2017~~2018 and ~~2016,~~2017, the gross unrealized losses on fixed maturity securities were composed of ~~$253.0~~$485.7 million and ~~$594.9~~$253.0 million, respectively, related to “1” highest quality or “2” high quality securities based on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) or equivalent rating and ~~$2.7~~$15.9 million and ~~$8.4~~$2.7 million, respectively, related to other than high or highest quality securities based on NAIC or equivalent rating. As of December 31, 2018, the $432.3 million of gross unrealized losses of twelve months or more were concentrated in U.S. government bonds and in the Company's corporate securities within the finance, consumer non-cyclical and capital goods sectors. As of December 31, 2017, the $248.0 million of gross unrealized losses ~~on fixed maturities~~ of twelve months or more were concentrated in U.S. government bonds, commercial mortgage-backed securities and in the Company's corporate securities within the consumer non-cyclical and finance sectors. As of December 31, 2016, the $12.7 million of gross unrealized losses on fixed maturities of twelve months or more were concentrated in the Company's corporate securities within the consumer non-cyclical, finance and utility sectors. In accordance with its policy described in Note 2, the Company concluded that an adjustment to earnings for OTTI for these fixed maturity securities was not warranted at either December 31, ~~2017~~2018 or ~~2016.~~2017. These conclusions were based on a detailed analysis of the underlying credit and cash flows on each security. Gross unrealized losses are primarily attributable to general credit spread widening, increases in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rate movements. As of December 31, ~~2017,~~2018, the Company did not intend to sell these securities, and it was not more likely than not that the Company would be required to sell these securities before the anticipated recovery of the remaining amortized cost basis.

As of December 31, 2017, there were no gross unrealized losses on equity securities. As of December 31, 2016, $0 million of the gross unrealized losses on equity securities represented declines in value of 20% or more and had been in that position for less than six months. In accordance with its policy described in Note 2, the Company concluded that an adjustment to earnings for OTTI for these equity securities was not warranted at either December 31, 2017 or 2016.

The following table sets forth the amortized cost and fair value of fixed maturities by contractual maturities, as of the date indicated:


	December 31, 2017				December 31, 2018
	Amortized Cost		Fair Value		Amortized Cost		Fair Value
	(in thousands)				(in thousands)
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale:
Due in one year or less	$	253,164	$	253,552	$	175,825	$	176,018
Due after one year through five years	1,077,651		1,099,278		1,167,458		1,162,211
Due after five years through ten years	1,704,257		1,783,306		1,335,274		1,332,143
Due after ten years	6,102,888		5,957,634		6,588,823		6,184,763
Asset-backed securities	341,277		345,587		505,862		505,244
Commercial mortgage-backed securities	502,695		505,684		364,601		361,880
Residential mortgage-backed securities	163,334		165,745		48,622		49,414
Total fixed maturities, available-for-sale	$	10,145,266	$	10,110,786	$	10,186,465	$	9,771,673

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 do not have a single maturity date.

The following table sets forth 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,~~ for the periods indicated:


	Years Ended December 31,									Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015			2018			2017			2016
	(in thousands)									(in thousands)
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale:
Proceeds from sales(1)	$	517,743		$	3,577,346		$	33,604		$	2,126,886		$	517,743		$	3,577,346
Proceeds from maturities/prepayments	630,140			495,465			453,016			404,679			630,140			495,465
Gross investment gains from sales and maturities	8,992			98,095			5,788			21,129			8,992			98,095
Gross investment losses from sales and maturities	(3,047		)	(5,412		)	(937		)	(98,047		)	(3,047		)	(5,412		)
OTTI recognized in earnings(2)	(9,122		)	(6,499		)	(20		)	(6,813		)	(9,122		)	(6,499		)


(1)	Includes $(2.9) million, $2.5 million ~~$0.6 million~~ and ~~$(0.0)~~$0.6 million of non-cash related proceeds due to the timing of trade settlements for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 ~~2016~~ and ~~2015,~~2016, respectively.


(2)	Excludes the portion of OTTI ~~recorded~~amounts remaining in OCI, 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.

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

The following table sets forth ~~the amount~~a rollforward of pre-tax amounts remaining in OCI related to fixed maturity securities with credit loss impairments ~~on fixed maturity securities held by the Company for which a portion of the OTTI loss was~~ recognized in ~~OCI and the corresponding changes in such amounts,~~earnings, for the periods indicated:


	Years Ended December 31,						Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2018			2017
	(in thousands)						(in thousands)
Credit loss impairments:
Balance, beginning of period	$	1,325		$	86		$	792		$	1,325
New credit loss impairments	366			1,791			0			366
Additional credit loss impairments on securities previously impaired	606			0			0			606
Increases due to the passage of time on previously recorded credit losses	10			25			3			10
Reductions for securities which matured, paid down, prepaid or were sold during the period	(21		)	(1,170		)	(40		)	(21		)
Reductions for securities impaired to fair value during the period(1)	(1,481		)	0			(963		)	(1,481		)
Accretion of credit loss impairments previously recognized due to an increase in cash flows expected to be collected	(13		)	(14		)	(1		)	(13		)
Assets transferred to parent and affiliates	0			607
Balance, end of period	$	792		$	1,325		$	(209	)	$	792


(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.

~~Trading Account Assets~~

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

December 31, 2017 December 31, 2016
Amortized Cost or Cost Fair Value Amortized Cost or Cost Fair Value
(in thousands)
Fixed maturities $ 161,393
$ 166,360
$ 147,057
$ 139,513
Equity securities 11,600
15,357
7,551
10,358
Total trading account assets $ 172,993
$ 181,717
$ 154,608
$ 149,871

The net change in unrealized gains (losses) from ~~trading account assets~~equity securities, still held at period end, recorded within “Asset ~~administrative~~administration fees and other income (loss),” was ~~$13.5~~$(1.9) million ~~$(4.8)~~during the year ended December 31, 2018. The net change in unrealized gains (losses) from equity securities, still held at period end, recorded within “Other comprehensive income (loss),” was $0.4 million and ~~$(0.6)~~$(0.4) million during the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, ~~and 2015,~~ respectively.

~~Table of Contents~~

~~Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation~~

~~Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)~~

Commercial Mortgage and Other Loans

The following table sets forth the composition of “Commercial mortgage and other loans,” as of the dates indicated:


	December 31, 2017					December 31, 2016					December 31, 2018					December 31, 2017
	Amount (in thousands)			% of Total		Amount (in thousands)			% of Total		Amount (in thousands)			% of Total		Amount (in thousands)				% of Total
Commercial mortgage and agricultural property loans by property type:
Apartments/Multi-Family	$	348,718		25.0	%	$	277,296		22.5	%	$	304,644		22.4	%	$	348,718			25.0	%
Hospitality	3,782			0.3		3,925			0.3		3,633			0.3		3,782				0.3
Industrial	327,987			23.6		263,705			21.4		355,758			26.2		327,987				23.6
Office	294,072			21.2		294,304			23.8		305,537			22.5		294,072				21.2
Other	139,362			10.0		87,465			7.1		137,781			10.2		139,362				10.0
Retail	216,544			15.6		223,252			18.1		194,646			14.4		216,544			��	15.6
Total commercial mortgage loans	1,330,465			95.7		1,149,947			93.2		1,301,999			96.0		1,330,465				95.7
Agricultural property loans	59,197			4.3		84,235			6.8		54,375			4.0		59,197				4.3
Total commercial mortgage and agricultural property loans by property type	1,389,662			100.0	%	1,234,182			100.0	%	1,356,374			100.0	%	1,389,662				100.0	%
Valuation allowance	(2,650		)			(2,289		)
Allowance for credit losses											(2,896		)			(2,650		)
Total commercial mortgage and other loans	$	1,387,012				$	1,231,893				$	1,353,478				$	1,387,012

As of December 31, ~~2017,~~2018, the commercial mortgage and agricultural property loans were secured by properties geographically dispersed throughout the United States (with the largest concentrations in California ~~(30%~~(27%), Texas ~~(11%~~(14%) and New York (7%)) and included loans secured by properties in Europe (11%) and ~~Australia.~~Australia (3%).

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

The following ~~tables set~~table sets forth the activity in the allowance for credit losses for commercial mortgage and other loans, as of the dates indicated:

December 31, 2017
Commercial Mortgage Loans Agricultural Property Loans Total
(in thousands)
Allowance for credit losses:
Balance, beginning of year $ 2,267
$ 22
$ 2,289
Addition to (release of) allowance for losses 349
12
361
Charge-offs, net of recoveries 0
0
0
Total ending balance $ 2,616
$ 34
$ 2,650

December 31, 2016
Commercial Mortgage Loans Agricultural Property Loans Total
(in thousands)
Allowance for credit losses:
Balance, beginning of year $ 622
$ 21
$ 643
Addition to (release of) allowance for losses 1,645
1
1,646
Charge-offs, net of recoveries 0
0
0
Total ending balance $ 2,267
$ 22
$ 2,289

~~Table of Contents~~

~~Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation~~

~~Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)~~



	Commercial Mortgage Loans		Agricultural Property Loans		Total
	(in thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2015	$	622	$	21	$	643
Addition to (release of) allowance for credit losses	1,645		1		1,646
Charge-offs, net of recoveries	0		0		0
Balance at December 31, 2016	2,267		22		2,289
Addition to (release of) allowance for credit losses	349		12		361
Charge-offs, net of recoveries	0		0		0
Balance at December 31, 2017	2,616		34		2,650
Addition to (release of) allowance for credit losses	245		1		246
Charge-offs, net of recoveries	0		0		0
Balance at December 31, 2018	$	2,861	$	35	$	2,896

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:



	December 31, 2018
	Commercial Mortgage Loans		Agricultural Property Loans		Total
	(in thousands)
Allowance for credit losses:
Individually evaluated for impairment	$	0	$	0	$	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment	2,861		35		2,896
Total ending balance(1)	$	2,861	$	35	$	2,896
Recorded investment(2):
Individually evaluated for impairment	$	0	$	3,439	$	3,439
Collectively evaluated for impairment	1,301,999		50,936		1,352,935
Total ending balance(1)	$	1,301,999	$	54,375	$	1,356,374


(1)	As of December 31, 2018, there were no loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality.


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



	December 31, 2017
	Commercial Mortgage Loans		Agricultural Property Loans		Total
	(in thousands)
Allowance for credit losses:
Individually evaluated for impairment	$	0	$	0	$	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment	2,616		34		2,650
Total ending balance(1)	$	2,616	$	34	$	2,650
Recorded investment(2):
Individually evaluated for impairment	$	1,571	$	4,865	$	6,436
Collectively evaluated for impairment	1,328,894		54,332		1,383,226
Total ending balance(1)	$	1,330,465	$	59,197	$	1,389,662


(1)	As of December 31, 2017, there were no loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality.


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

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

December 31, 2016
Commercial Mortgage Loans Agricultural Property Loans Total
(in thousands)
Allowance for credit losses:
Individually evaluated for impairment $ 0
$ 0
$ 0
Collectively evaluated for impairment 2,267
22
2,289
Total ending balance(1) $ 2,267
$ 22
$ 2,289
Recorded investment(2):
Individually evaluated for impairment $ 1,715
$ 0
$ 1,715
Collectively evaluated for impairment 1,148,232
84,235
1,232,467
Total ending balance(1) $ 1,149,947
$ 84,235
$ 1,234,182


~~(1)~~	~~As of December 31, 2016, there were no loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality.~~


~~(2)~~	~~Recorded investment reflects the carrying value gross of related allowance.~~

The following tables set forth certain key credit quality indicators for commercial mortgage and agricultural property loans, based upon the recorded investment gross of allowance for credit losses, as of the dates indicated:

December 31, 2017
Debt Service Coverage Ratio

> 1.2X
1.0X to <1.2X < 1.0X Total
(in thousands)
Loan-to-Value Ratio:
0%-59.99% $ 667,338
$ 14,426
$ 4,566
$ 686,330
60%-69.99% 503,922
1,329
0
505,251
70%-79.99% 182,368
13,281
0
195,649
80% or greater 1,387
0
1,045
2,432
Total commercial mortgage and agricultural property loans $ 1,355,015
$ 29,036
$ 5,611
$ 1,389,662

~~Table of Contents~~

~~Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation~~

~~Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)~~



	December 31, 2018
	Debt Service Coverage Ratio
	> 1.2X		1.0X to <1.2X		< 1.0X		Total
			(in thousands)
Loan-to-Value Ratio:
0%-59.99%	$	709,342	$	14,814	$	345	$	724,501
60%-69.99%	442,308		23,260		0		465,568
70%-79.99%	156,049		7,236		0		163,285
80% or greater	2,000		1,020		0		3,020
Total commercial mortgage and agricultural property loans	$	1,309,699	$	46,330	$	345	$	1,356,374


	December 31, 2016								December 31, 2017
	Debt Service Coverage Ratio								Debt Service Coverage Ratio
	> 1.2X		1.0X to <1.2X		< 1.0X		Total		> 1.2X		1.0X to <1.2X		< 1.0X		Total
			(in thousands)								(in thousands)
Loan-to-Value Ratio:
0%-59.99%	$	667,051	$	16,921	$	4,610	$	688,582	$	667,338	$	14,426	$	4,566	$	686,330
60%-69.99%	406,728		0		3,817		410,545		503,922		1,329		0		505,251
70%-79.99%	108,770		15,493		0		124,263		182,368		13,281		0		195,649
80% or greater	9,725		0		1,067		10,792		1,387		0		1,045		2,432
Total commercial mortgage and agricultural property loans	$	1,192,274	$	32,414	$	9,494	$	1,234,182	$	1,355,015	$	29,036	$	5,611	$	1,389,662

The following tables set forth an aging of past due commercial mortgage and other loans based upon the recorded investment gross of allowance for credit losses, as well as the amount of commercial mortgage and other loans on non-accrual status, as of the dates indicated:



	December 31, 2018
	Current		30-59 Days Past Due		60-89 Days Past Due		90 Days or More Past Due(1)		Total Loans		Non-Accrual Status(2)
	(in thousands)
Commercial mortgage loans	$	1,301,999	$	0	$	0	$	0	$	1,301,999	$	0
Agricultural property loans	54,375		0		0		0		54,375		0
Total	$	1,356,374	$	0	$	0	$	0	$	1,356,374	$	0


(1)	As of December 31, 2018, there were no loans in this category accruing interest.


(2)	For additional information regarding the Company's policies for accruing interest on loans, see Note 2.



	December 31, 2017
	Current		30-59 Days Past Due		60-89 Days Past Due		90 Days or More Past Due(1)		Total Loans		Non-Accrual Status(2)
	(in thousands)
Commercial mortgage loans	$	1,330,465	$	0	$	0	$	0	$	1,330,465	$	0
Agricultural property loans	59,197		0		0		0		59,197		0
Total	$	1,389,662	$	0	$	0	$	0	$	1,389,662	$	0


(1)	As of December 31, 2017, there were no loans in this category accruing interest.


(2)	For additional information regarding the Company's policies for accruing interest on loans, see Note 2.

December 31, 2016
Current 30-59 Days Past Due 60-89 Days Past Due 90 Days or More Past Due(1) Total Loans Non-Accrual Status(2)
(in thousands)
Commercial mortgage loans $ 1,149,947
$ 0
$ 0
$ 0
$ 1,149,947
$ 0
Agricultural property loans 84,235
0
0
0
84,235
0
Total $ 1,234,182
$ 0
$ 0
$ 0
$ 1,234,182
$ 0


~~(1)~~	~~As of December 31, 2016, there were no loans in this category accruing interest.~~


~~(2)~~	~~For additional information regarding the Company's policies for accruing interest on loans, see Note 2.~~

For the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, there were no commercial mortgage and other loans acquired, other than those through direct origination. For the year ended December 31, 2017, there were $129 million of commercial mortgage and other loans sold. For the year ended December 31, 2016, there were no commercial mortgage and other loans sold. For the year ended December 31, 2017, there were no transfers of commercial mortgage and other loans to related parties. For the year ended December 31, 2016, the Company received $580 million of commercial mortgage and other loans from related parties.

The Company’s commercial mortgage and other loans may occasionally be involved in a troubled debt restructuring. As of both December 31, 2017 and 2016, there were no new troubled debt restructurings related to commercial mortgage or other loans and no payment defaults on commercial mortgage or other loans that were modified as a troubled debt restructuring within the twelve months preceding. As of both December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company had no significant commitments to borrowers that have been involved in a troubled debt restructuring. For additional information relating to the accounting for troubled debt restructurings, see Note 2.

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

For the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017, there were no commercial mortgage and other loans acquired, other than those through direct origination, and there were $96 million and $129 million, respectively, of commercial mortgage and other loans sold.

Other ~~Long-Term Investments~~Invested Assets

The following table sets forth the composition of “Other ~~long-term investments,~~invested assets,” as of the dates indicated:

December 31,
2017 2016
(in thousands)
Joint ventures and limited partnerships:
Private equity $ 29,301
$ 30,513
Hedge funds 106,776
98,554
Real estate-related 48,555
109,043
Total joint ventures and limited partnerships 184,632
238,110
Derivatives 151,179
313,821
Total other long-term investments $ 335,811
$ 551,931



	December 31,
	2018		2017
	(in thousands)
LPs/LLCs:
Equity method:
Private equity	$	23,844	$	25,801
Hedge funds	179,014		106,474
Real estate-related	94,738		46,043
Subtotal equity method	297,596		178,318
Fair value:
Private equity	4,142		3,500
Hedge funds	263		302
Real estate-related	3,562		2,512
Subtotal fair value(1)	7,967		6,314
Total LPs/LLCs	305,563		184,632
Derivative instruments	42,978		151,179
Total other invested assets(2)	$	348,541	$	335,811


(1)	As of December 31, 2017, $6.0 million was accounted for using the cost method.


(2)	Prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation. For additional information, see Note 2.

As of both December 31, ~~2017~~2018 and ~~2016,~~2017, the Company had no significant equity method investments.

Net Investment Income

The following table sets forth “Net investment income” by investment type, for the periods indicated:


	Years Ended December 31,									Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015			2018			2017			2016
	(in thousands)									(in thousands)
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale	$	332,148		$	249,496		$	115,998		$	317,726		$	332,148		$	249,496
Trading account assets	4,927			3,473			349
Fixed maturities, trading										5,184			4,360			3,143
Equity securities, at fair value										678			567			330
Commercial mortgage and other loans	48,598			40,258			22,696			51,040			48,598			40,258
Policy loans	1,069			444			794			737			1,069			444
Short-term investments and cash equivalents	31,505			26,831			396			28,645			31,505			26,831
Other long-term investments	20,626			29,160			4,638
Other invested assets										13,733			20,626			29,160
Gross investment income	438,873			349,662			144,871			417,743			438,873			349,662
Less: investment expenses	(16,064		)	(11,292		)	(5,441		)	(14,935		)	(16,064		)	(11,292		)
Net investment income	$	422,809		$	338,370		$	139,430
Net investment income(1)										$	402,808		$	422,809		$	338,370


(1)	Prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation.

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

The carrying value of non-income producing assets included ~~$1.9~~$5.2 million in available-for-sale fixed maturities as of December 31, ~~2017.~~2018. Non-income producing assets represent investments that had not produced income for the twelve months preceding December 31, ~~2017.~~2018.

Realized Investment Gains (Losses), Net

The following table sets forth “Realized investment gains (losses), net” by investment type, for the periods indicated:


	Years Ended December 31,									Years Ended December 31,
	2017			2016			2015			2018			2017			2016
	(in thousands)									(in thousands)
Fixed maturities(1)	$	(3,177	)	$	86,184		$	4,831		$	(83,731	)	$	(3,177	)	$	86,184
Commercial mortgage and other loans	(840		)	(2,326		)	(161		)	128			(840		)	(2,326		)
Derivatives(1)	(801,429		)	(3,526,514		)	1,381
Other long-term investments	(39		)	(648		)	1
LPs/LLCs										0			(39		)	(648		)
Derivatives										967,503			(801,429		)	(3,526,514		)
Other invested assets										123			0			0
Short-term investments and cash equivalents	85			544			0			50			85			544
Realized investment gains (losses), net	$	(805,400	)	$	(3,442,760	)	$	6,052		$	884,073		$	(805,400	)	$	(3,442,760	)


(1)	Includes ~~the hedged items offset in qualifying fair value hedge accounting relationships.~~fixed maturity securities classified as available-for-sale and excludes fixed maturity securities classified as trading.

Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Investments within AOCI

The following table sets forth net unrealized gains (losses) on investments, as of the dates indicated:



	December 31,
	2018			2017			2016
	(in thousands)
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale — with OTTI	$	(3,334	)	$	12,311		$	(1,261	)
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale — all other	(411,458		)	(46,791		)	(454,274		)
Equity securities, available-for-sale(1)	0			4			(347		)
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges(2)	(3,849		)	(25,851		)	11,745
Affiliated notes	658			829			1,181
Other investments	1,074			86			(619		)
Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments	$	(416,909	)	$	(59,412	)	$	(443,575	)


(1)	Effective January 1, 2018, unrealized gains (losses) on equity securities are recorded within “Asset administration fees and other income (loss).”


(2)	For more information on cash flow hedges, see Note 4.

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

~~Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Investments~~

~~The following table sets forth net unrealized gains (losses) on investments, as of the dates indicated:~~

December 31,
2017 2016 2015
(in thousands)
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale—with OTTI $ 12,311
$ (1,261 ) $ 9
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale—all other (46,791 ) (454,274 ) 90,637
Equity securities, available-for-sale 4
(347 ) 3
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges(1) (25,851 ) 11,745
14,847
Affiliated notes 829
1,181
1,660
Other investments 86
(619 ) 304
Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments $ (59,412 ) $ (443,575 ) $ 107,460


~~(1)~~	~~See Note 11 for more information on cash flow hedges.~~

Repurchase Agreements and Securities Lending

In the normal course of business, the Company sells securities under agreements to repurchase and enters into securities lending transactions. As of both December 31, ~~2017~~2018 and ~~2016,~~2017, the Company had no repurchase agreements.

The following table sets forth the composition of “Cash collateral for loaned securities,” which represents the liability to return cash collateral received for the following types of securities loaned, as of the dates indicated:


	December 31, 2017						December 31, 2016						December 31, 2018						December 31, 2017
	Remaining Contractual Maturities of the Agreements						Remaining Contractual Maturities of the Agreements						Remaining Contractual Maturities of the Agreements						Remaining Contractual Maturities of the Agreements
	Overnight & Continuous		Up to 30 Days		Total		Overnight & Continuous		Up to 30 Days		Total		Overnight & Continuous		Up to 30 Days		Total		Overnight & Continuous		Up to 30 Days		Total
	(in thousands)						(in thousands)						(in thousands)
Foreign government bonds	$	10,505	$	0	$	10,505	$	10,712	$	0	$	10,712	$	0	$	0	$	0	$	10,505	$	0	$	10,505
U.S. public corporate securities	6,878		0		6,878		12,638		0		12,638		384		0		384		6,878		0		6,878
Total cash collateral for loaned securities(1)	$	17,383	$	0	$	17,383	$	23,350	$	0	$	23,350	$	384	$	0	$	384	$	17,383	$	0	$	17,383


(1)	The Company did not have agreements with remaining contractual maturities of thirty days or greater, as of the dates indicated.

Securities Pledged, Restricted Assets and Special Deposits

The Company pledges as collateral investment securities it owns to unaffiliated parties through certain transactions, including securities lending, securities sold under agreements to repurchase, collateralized borrowings and postings of collateral with derivative counterparties. The following table sets forth the carrying value of investments pledged to third parties and the carrying amount of the associated liabilities supported by the pledged collateral, as of the dates indicated:


	December 31,				December 31,
	2017		2016		2018		2017
	(in thousands)				(in thousands)
Pledged collateral:
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale	$	16,825	$	21,908	$	365	$	16,825
Total securities pledged	$	16,825	$	21,908	$	365	$	16,825
Liabilities supported by pledged collateral:
Liabilities supported by the pledged collateral:
Cash collateral for loaned securities	$	17,383	$	23,350	$	384	$	17,383
Total liabilities supported by pledged collateral	$	17,383	$	23,350
Total liabilities supported by the pledged collateral					$	384	$	17,383

In the normal course of its business activities, the Company accepts collateral that can be sold or repledged. The primary sources of this collateral ~~were~~are securities purchased under agreements to resell. As of December 31, 2018 and 2017, there was no$675 million and $0 million, respectively, of such collateral.

As of December 31, ~~2016,~~2018 and 2017, there were available-for-sale fixed maturities of $8.4 million and $8.3 million, respectively, on deposit with governmental authorities or trustees as required by certain insurance laws.

4. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

Types of Derivative Instruments and Derivative Strategies

Interest Rate Contracts

Interest rate swaps, options and futures are used by the ~~fair value~~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 ~~this collateral was $255 million, noneof which had either been sold~~assets or ~~repledged.~~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.

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

~~As of December 31, 2017~~The Company also uses interest rate swaptions, caps and ~~2016, there were fixed maturities of $8.3 million~~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 ~~$7.5 million, respectively, on deposit with governmental authorities or trustees as required by certain insurance laws.~~

~~4. DEFERRED POLICY ACQUISITION COSTS~~

~~The balances of and changes in DAC as of and~~receives a premium for ~~the years ended December 31, are as follows:~~

2017 2016 2015
(in thousands)
Balance, beginning of year $ 4,344,361
$ 749,302
$ 1,114,431
Capitalization of commissions, sales and issue expenses 277,586
269,679
1,535
Amortization-Impact of assumption and experience unlocking and true-ups 288,974
226,204
33,113
Amortization-All other (275,028 ) (46,388 ) (342,265 )
Changes in unrealized investment gains and losses (39,328 ) 18,772
16,352
Ceded DAC upon reinsurance agreement with Prudential Insurance(1)(2) 0
(7,480 ) (73,864 )
Assumed DAC upon reinsurance agreement with Pruco Life(1) 0
3,134,272
0
Balance, end of year $ 4,596,565
$ 4,344,361
$ 749,302


~~(1)~~	~~See Note 1 and Note 13 for additional information.~~


~~(2)~~	~~Represents a $7.5 million true-up in 2016 to the ceded DAC upon reinsurance agreement with Prudential Insurance in 2015.~~

~~5. VALUE OF BUSINESS ACQUIRED~~

~~The balances of and changes in VOBA as of and for the years ended December 31, are as follows:~~

2017 2016 2015

(in thousands)
Balance, beginning of year $ 30,287
$ 33,640
$ 39,738
Amortization-Impact of assumption and experience unlocking and true-ups (1) 10,035
2,372
3,412
Amortization-All other (1) (7,422 ) (8,176 ) (10,477 )
Interest (2) 2,001
1,939
2,436
Change in unrealized investment gains and losses 208
512
1,163
Ceded VOBA upon reinsurance agreement with Prudential Insurance (3) 0
0
(2,632 )
Balance, end of year $ 35,109
$ 30,287
$ 33,640


~~(1)~~	~~The weighted average remaining expected life of VOBA was approximately 5.47 years as of December 31, 2017.~~


~~(2)~~	~~The interest accrual rate for the VOBA related to the businesses acquired was 5.96%, 6.00% and 6.05% for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015.~~


~~(3)~~	~~See Note 1 for additional information.~~

~~The following table provides estimated future amortization, net of interest, for the periods indicated:~~

2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

(in thousands)
Estimated future VOBA amortization $ 5,867
$ 4,997
$ 4,258
$ 3,620
$ 3,077

~~Table of Contents~~

~~Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation~~

~~Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)~~


6.	~~POLICYHOLDERS’ LIABILITIES~~

~~Future Policy Benefits~~

~~Future policy benefits at December 31 for the years indicated are as follows:~~

2017 2016

(in thousands)
Life insurance – domestic $ 800
$ 964
Individual and group annuities and supplementary contracts(2) 970,936
446,318
Other contract liabilities(2) 8,160,833
1,267,739
Individual and group annuities assumed upon reinsurance agreement with Pruco Life(1) 0
528,210
Other contract liabilities assumed upon reinsurance agreement with Pruco Life(1) 0
6,442,965
Total future policy benefits $ 9,132,569
$ 8,686,196


~~(1)~~	~~See Note 1 for additional information.~~


~~(2)~~	~~Includes assumed reinsurance business from Pruco Life.~~

Life insurance liabilities include reserves for death benefits. Individual and group annuities and supplementary contract liabilities include reserves for life contingent immediate annuities and life contingent group annuities. Other contract liabilities include unearned premiums and certain other reserves for annuities and individual life products.

Future policy benefits for domestic individual non-participating traditional life insurance policies are generally equal to the present value of future benefit payments and related expenses, less the present value of future net premiums. Assumptions as to mortality, morbidity and persistency are based on the Company’s experience, industry data, and/or other factors, when the basis of the reserve is established. Interest rates used in the determination of the present values range from 0.0% to 0.0% for setting domestic insurance reserves.

Future policy benefits for individual and group annuities and supplementary contracts with life contingencies are generally equal to the present value of expected future payments. Assumptions as to mortality are based on the Company’s experience, industry data, and/or other factors, when the basis of the reserve is established. The interest rates used in the determination of the present values generally range from 0.0% to 8.3%, with less than 0.5% of the reserves based onwritten swaptions. In an interest rate cap, the buyer receives payments at the end of each period in ~~excess~~which the interest rate exceeds the agreed strike price. Similarly, in an interest rate floor, the buyer receives payments at the end of ~~8.0%.~~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) andLondon 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’s liability for future policy benefits are primarily liabilities for guaranteed benefits related~~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 ~~long-duration life~~index reference, and ~~annuity contracts. Liabilities for guaranteed benefits with embedded derivative features are primarily~~ in ~~"Other contract liabilities"~~return receives a quarterly premium. This premium or credit spread generally corresponds to the difference between the yield on the referenced names (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 ~~table above. The remaining liabilities for guaranteed benefits are primarily reflected with~~index, as defined by the ~~underlying contract. The interest rates used~~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 ~~determination of~~Company’s investment portfolio.

Embedded Derivatives

The Company sells certain products (for example, variable annuities) which may include guaranteed benefit features that are accounted for as embedded derivatives. Related to these embedded derivatives, the ~~present values range~~Company had previously entered into reinsurance agreements with Pruco Re and Prudential Insurance through March 31, 2016; effective April 1, 2016, the Company recaptured these reinsurances. Also, effective April 1, 2016, the Company assumed variable annuities living benefit guarantees from ~~2.0% to 3.6%.~~Pruco Life, excluding PLNJ business. See Note 71 for additional information ~~regarding liabilities for guaranteed benefits related~~on the change to ~~certain long-duration contracts.~~

~~Premium deficiency reserves included in “Future policy benefits” are established, if necessary, when~~ the liability for future policy benefits plus the present value of expected future gross premiums are determined to be insufficient to provide for expected future policy benefits and expenses. Premium deficiency reserves have been recorded for the individual annuity business, which consists of limited-payment, long-duration; and single premium immediate annuities with life contingencies.reinsurance agreements.

~~Policyholders’ Account Balances~~

~~Policyholders’ account balances at December 31 for the years indicated are as follows:~~

2017 2016

(in thousands)
Interest-sensitive life contracts $ 15,301
$ 15,666
Individual annuities(2) 4,162,138
1,441,126
Guaranteed interest accounts 668,713
893,419
Assumed policyholders' liabilities upon reinsurance agreement with Pruco Life(1) 0
2,386,678
Total policyholders’ account balances $ 4,846,152
$ 4,736,889


~~(1)~~	~~See Note 1 for additional information.~~


~~(2)~~	~~Includes assumed reinsurance business from Pruco Life.~~

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

Policyholders’ account balances represent an accumulation of account deposits plus credited interest less withdrawals, expenses and mortality charges, if applicable. These policyholders’ account balances also include provisions for benefits under non-life contingent payout annuities. Interest crediting rates range from 3.5% to 6.0% for interest-sensitive life contracts. Interest crediting rates for individual annuities range from 0.0% to 6.5%. Interest crediting rates for guaranteed interest accounts range from 0.0% to 5.8%.

~~7. CERTAIN LONG-DURATION CONTRACTS WITH GUARANTEES~~

The Company issued variable annuity contracts through its separate accounts for which investment income and investment gains and losses accrue directly to, and investment risk is borne by, the contractholder. The Company also issued variable annuity contracts with general and separate account options whereAdditionally, the Company ~~contractually guarantees~~reinsured the majority of its New York business to ~~the contractholder~~an affiliate, Prudential Insurance, as a ~~return~~result of ~~no less than total deposits made to the contract adjusted~~surrendering its New York license, effective December 31, 2015. See Note 1 for ~~any partial withdrawals ("return of net deposits"). In certain of~~additional information on these ~~variable annuity contracts, the Company~~reinsurance agreements.

These embedded derivatives and reinsurance agreements, also ~~contractually guarantees to the contractholder a return of no less than (1) total deposits made to the contract adjusted~~accounted for any partial withdrawals plus a minimum return ('minimum return"), and/or (2) the highest contract value on a specified date adjusted for any withdrawals (“contract value”). These guarantees include benefits that are payable in the event of death, annuitization or at specified dates during the accumulation period and withdrawal and income benefits payable during specified periods. The Company also issued annuity contracts with market value adjusted investment options (“MVAs”), which provide for a return of principal plus a fixed-rate of return if held to maturity, or, alternatively, a “market adjusted value” if surrendered prior to maturity or if funds are reallocated to other investment options. The market value adjustment may result in a gain or loss to the Company, depending on crediting rates or an indexed rate at surrender, as ~~applicable. The Company also issued fixed deferred annuity contracts without MVA that have a guaranteed credited rate and annuity benefit.~~

~~The assets supporting the variable portion of all variable annuities~~derivatives, are carried at fair value and reported as “Separate account assets” with an equivalent amount reported as “Separate account liabilities.” Amounts assessed against the contractholders for mortality, administration, and other services are included within revenue in “Policy charges and fee income” and changes in liabilities for minimum guarantees are generally included in “Policyholders’ benefits” or "Realizedmarked to market through “Realized investment gains (losses), ~~net."~~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 gross fair value of derivative contracts prior to taking into account the netting effects of master netting agreements, cash collateral and NPR.



	December 31, 2018							December 31, 2017
			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	$	768,075	$	33,348	$	(21,794	)	$	677,257	$	13,348	$	(47,209	)
Total Qualifying Hedges	$	768,075	$	33,348	$	(21,794	)	$	677,257	$	13,348	$	(47,209	)
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments:
Interest Rate
Interest Rate Futures	$	908,100	$	4,380	$	(664	)	$	1,964,000	$	8,296	$	0
Interest Rate Swaps	82,172,825		3,344,033		(1,395,270		)	87,939,425		4,374,658		(1,065,549		)
Interest Rate Options	19,255,000		139,765		(245,523		)	15,775,000		175,156		(160,181		)
Interest Rate Forwards	1,713,947		56,562		(1,976		)	975,929		19,870		(2		)
Foreign Currency
Foreign Currency Forwards	19,467		287		(27		)	12,455		1		(319		)
Currency/Interest Rate
Foreign Currency Swaps	231,245		11,659		(2,850		)	151,400		7,779		(7,488		)
Equity
Equity Futures	860,718		0		(6,629		)	672,055		2,442		0
Total Return Swaps	14,456,836		986,130		(53,235		)	13,841,333		8,517		(341,700		)
Equity Options	26,861,807		271,630		(412,821		)	31,702,334		460,597		(318,955		)
Total Non-Qualifying Hedges	$	146,479,945	$	4,814,446	$	(2,118,995	)	$	153,033,931	$	5,057,316	$	(1,894,194	)
Total Derivatives (1)	$	147,248,020	$	4,847,794	$	(2,140,789	)	$	153,711,188	$	5,070,664	$	(1,941,403	)

(1) Excludes embedded derivatives and associated reinsurance recoverables which contain multiple underlying risks.

The fair value of the embedded derivatives, included in "Future policy benefits", was a net liability of $8,332 million and $8,152 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The fair value of the related reinsurance recoverables to Prudential Insurance was an asset of $234 million and $232 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, included in "Reinsurance recoverables". See Note 10 for additional information on these reinsurance agreements.

The fair value of the embedded derivatives pertaining to the variable annuity products with a market value adjustment option assumed from Pruco Life as part of the Variable Annuities Recapture, included in "Reinsurance recoverables" or "Reinsurance payables", was a net asset of $6 million and $12 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

The fair value of the embedded derivatives, included in "Policyholders' account balances", was a net liability of $42 million as of December 31, 2018 with no related reinsurance recoverables.

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

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 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 Statements of Financial Position.



	December 31, 2018
	Gross Amounts of Recognized Financial Instruments		Gross Amounts Offset in the Statement of Financial Position			Net Amounts Presented in the Statement of Financial Position		Financial Instruments/ Collateral(1)			Net Amount

	(in thousands)
Offsetting of Financial Assets:
Derivatives(1)	$	4,847,794	$	(4,804,816	)	$	42,978	$	0		$	42,978
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	675,000		0			675,000		(675,000		)	0
Total Assets	$	5,522,794	$	(4,804,816	)	$	717,978	$	(675,000	)	$	42,978
Offsetting of Financial Liabilities:
Derivatives(1)	$	2,140,789	$	(2,134,160	)	$	6,629	$	(6,629	)	$	0
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	0		0			0		0			0
Total Liabilities	$	2,140,789	$	(2,134,160	)	$	6,629	$	(6,629	)	$	0

	December 31, 2017
	Gross Amounts of Recognized Financial Instruments		Gross Amounts Offset in the Statement of Financial Position			Net Amounts Presented in the Statement of Financial Position		Financial Instruments/ Collateral(1)			Net Amount

	(in thousands)
Offsetting of Financial Assets:
Derivatives(1)	$	5,070,517	$	(4,919,486	)	$	151,031	$	0		$	151,031
Securities purchased under agreements to resell	0		0			0		0			0
Total Assets	$	5,070,517	$	(4,919,486	)	$	151,031	$	0		$	151,031
Offsetting of Financial Liabilities:
Derivatives(1)	$	1,941,403	$	(1,941,403	)	$	0	$	0		$	0
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase	0		0			0		0			0
Total Liabilities	$	1,941,403	$	(1,941,403	)	$	0	$	0		$	0


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

For ~~those guarantees~~information regarding the rights of ~~benefits that are payable~~offset associated with the derivative assets and liabilities in the table above see “Credit Risk” below and Note 14. 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 ~~death,~~default, the ~~net amount at risk is~~Company would generally ~~defined as~~be permitted to exercise rights of offset. For additional information on the ~~current guaranteed minimum death benefit~~Company’s accounting policy for securities repurchase and resale agreements, see Note 2 to the Financial Statements.

Cash Flow Hedges

The primary derivative instruments used by the Company in ~~excess~~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.

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to 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 ~~current account balance at the balance sheet date. The Company’s primary risk exposures for these contracts relates to actual deviations from, or changes to, the assumptions used~~hedged item in ~~the original pricing of these products, including fixed income and equity market returns, contract lapses and contractholder mortality.~~an effective hedge relationship.

For guarantees of benefits that are payable at annuitization, the net amount at risk is generally defined as the present value of the minimum guaranteed annuity payments available to the contractholder determined in accordance with the terms of the contract in excess of the current account balance. The Company’s primary risk exposures for these contracts relates to actual deviations from, or changes to, the assumptions used in the original pricing of these products, including fixed income and equity market returns, timing of annuitization, contract lapses and contractholder mortality.

For guarantees of benefits that are payable at withdrawal, the net amount at risk is generally defined as the present value of the minimum guaranteed withdrawal payments available to the contractholder determined in accordance with the terms of the contract in excess of the current account balance. For guarantees of accumulation balances, the net amount at risk is generally defined as the guaranteed minimum accumulation balance minus the current account balance. The Company’s primary risk exposures for these contracts relates 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 and contractholder behavior.

The Company’s contracts with guarantees may offer more than one type of guarantee in each contract; therefore, the amounts listed may not be mutually exclusive. The liabilities related to the net amount at risk are reflected within “Future policy benefits.” As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company had the following guarantees associated with these contracts, by product and guarantee type:



	Year Ended December 31, 2018
	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		$	8,285	$	13,321		$	22,002
Total cash flow hedges	0			8,285		13,321			22,002
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments:
Interest Rate	(1,021,687		)	0		0			0
Currency	1,022			0		0			0
Currency/Interest Rate	21,043			0		91			0
Credit	0			0		0			0
Equity	995,958			0		0			0
Embedded Derivatives	971,167			0		0			0
Total non-qualifying hedges	967,503			0		91			0
Total	$	967,503		$	8,285	$	13,412		$	22,002

	Year Ended December 31, 2017
	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		$	6,152	$	(11,043	)	$	(37,596	)
Total cash flow hedges	0			6,152		(11,043		)	(37,596		)
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments:
Interest Rate	550,797			0		0			0
Currency	(454		)	0		0			0
Currency/Interest Rate	(30,173		)	0		(183		)	0
Credit	0			0		0			0
Equity	(2,000,297		)	0		0			0
Embedded Derivatives	678,698			0		0			0
Total non-qualifying hedges	(801,429		)	0		(183		)	0
Total	$	(801,429	)	$	6,152	$	(11,226	)	$	(37,596	)

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

December 31, 2017 December 31, 2016

In the Event of
Death(2)

At Annuitization/
Accumulation(1)(2)

In the Event of
Death(2)

At Annuitization/
Accumulation (1)(2)

Annuity Contracts (in thousands)
Return of net deposits
Account value $ 119,182,143
N/A
$ 110,194,439
N/A
Net amount at risk $ 274,617
N/A
$ 463,423
N/A
Average attained age of contractholders 66 years
N/A
66 years
N/A
Minimum return or contract value
Account value $ 25,835,100
$ 129,630,456
$ 24,725,084
$ 120,237,955
Net amount at risk $ 2,161,133
$ 3,225,700
$ 3,098,018
$ 5,041,214
Average attained age of contractholders 69 years
67 years
69 years
66 years
Average period remaining until earliest expected annuitization N/A
0 years
N/A
0 years



	Year Ended December 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		$	3,006	$	9,648	$	(3,102	)
Total cash flow hedges	0			3,006		9,648		(3,102		)
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments:
Interest Rate	(2,219,894		)	0		0		0
Currency	361			0		0		0
Currency/Interest Rate	11,642			0		516		0
Credit	0			0		0		0
Equity	(1,755,946		)	0		0		0
Embedded Derivatives	437,323			0		0		0
Total non-qualifying hedges	(3,526,514		)	0		516		0
Total	$	(3,526,514	)	$	3,006	$	10,164	$	(3,102	)


(1)	~~Includes income and withdrawal benefits.~~


~~(2)~~	~~Includes assumed reinsurance business from Pruco Life.~~Amounts deferred in AOCI.

~~Account balances of variable annuity contracts with guarantees were invested in separate account investment options as follows:~~

December 31, 2017(1) December 31, 2016(1)

(in thousands)
Equity funds $ 83,556,771
$ 77,133,820
Bond funds 53,027,241
44,025,867
Money market funds 3,726,553
9,099,337
Total $ 140,310,565
$ 130,259,024


~~(1)~~	~~Amounts include assumed reinsurance business from Pruco Life.~~

In addition to the amounts invested in separate account investment options above, $4.7 billion at December 31, 2017 and $4.7 billion at December 31, 2016 of account balances of variable annuity contracts with guarantees, inclusive of contracts with MVA features, were invested in general account investment options. The 2016 amount includes the impact of the Variable Annuities Recapture effective April 1, 2016, as described in Note 1. For the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, ~~and 2015,~~the ineffective portion of derivatives accounted for using hedge accounting was de minimis to the Company’s results of operations. Also, there were no ~~transfers of assets, other than~~material amounts reclassified into earnings relating to instances in which the Company discontinued cash ~~from~~flow hedge accounting because the ~~general account to any separate account, and accordingly no gains~~forecasted transaction did not occur by the anticipated date or ~~losses recorded.~~

~~Liabilities~~within the additional time period permitted by the authoritative guidance for ~~Guarantee Benefits~~

~~The table below summarizes~~ the ~~changes in general account liabilities~~accounting for guarantees. The liabilities for guaranteed minimum death benefits (“GMDB”) and guaranteed minimum income benefits (“GMIB”) are included in “Future policy benefits” and the related changes in the liabilities are included in “Policyholders’ benefits.” Guaranteed minimum accumulation benefits (“GMAB”), guaranteed minimum withdrawal benefits (“GMWB”) and guaranteed minimum income and withdrawal benefits (“GMIWB”) are accounted for as embedded derivatives and ~~are recorded at fair value within “Future policy benefits.” Changes~~hedging.

Presented below is a rollforward of current period cash flow hedges in the fair value of these derivatives, including changes in the Company’s own risk of non-performance, along with any fees attributed or payments made relating to the derivative are recorded in “Realized investment gains (losses), net.” See Note 10 for additional information regarding the methodology used in determining the fair value of these embedded derivatives. AOCI before taxes:



	(in thousands)
Balance, December 31, 2015	$	14,847
Net deferred gains (losses) on cash flow hedges from January 1 to December 31, 2016	9,698
Amount reclassified into current period earnings	(12,800		)
Balance, December 31, 2016	11,745
Net deferred gains (losses) on cash flow hedges from January 1 to December 31, 2017	(39,434		)
Amount reclassified into current period earnings	1,838
Balance, December 31, 2017	(25,851		)
Net deferred gains (losses) on cash flow hedges from January 1 to December 31, 2018	42,763
Amount reclassified into current period earnings	(20,761		)
Balance, December 31, 2018	$	(3,849	)

The ~~Company maintains a portfolio of derivative investments that serve as a partial hedge of the risks associated with these products, for which the~~ changes in fair value of cash flow hedges are ~~also recorded~~deferred in ~~“Realized~~AOCI and are included in “Net unrealized investment gains (losses)~~, net.~~” ~~This portfolio~~in the Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income; these amounts are then reclassified to earnings when the hedged item affects earnings. Using December 31, 2018 values, it is estimated that a pre-tax gain of approximately $10 million will be reclassified from AOCI to earnings during the subsequent twelve months ending December 31, 2019, offset by amounts pertaining to the hedged items.

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.

Credit Derivatives

The Company has no exposure from credit derivative ~~investments does not qualify for hedge accounting treatment under U.S. GAAP.~~positions where it has written or purchased credit protection as of December 31, 2018 and 2017.

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

GMDB
GMAB/GMWB/
GMIWB
GMIB Totals
Variable Annuity (in thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2014 $ 255,613
$ 3,112,411
$ 19,104
$ 3,387,128
Incurred guarantee benefits(1) 43,167
21,666
(4,616 ) 60,217
Paid guarantee benefits (29,240 ) 0
(511 ) (29,751 )
Change in unrealized investment gains and losses (3,663 ) 0
(113 ) (3,776 )
Balance at December 31, 2015 265,877
3,134,077
13,864
3,413,818
Incurred guarantee benefits(1)(2) 43,185
(1,979,215 ) (3,683 ) (1,939,713 )
Paid guarantee benefits(2) (55,604 ) 0
(2,209 ) (57,813 )
Change in unrealized investment gains and losses(2) (5,206 ) 0
(209 ) (5,415 )
Assumed guarantees upon reinsurance agreement with Pruco Life 389,067
6,552,471
30,130
6,971,668
Balance at December 31, 2016 637,319
7,707,333
37,893
8,382,545
Incurred guarantee benefits(1)(2) 29,605
444,569
(11,686 ) 462,488
Paid guarantee benefits(2) (57,053 ) 0
(3,798 ) (60,851 )
Change in unrealized investment gains and losses(2) 12,931
0
117
13,048
Balance at December 31, 2017 $ 622,802
$ 8,151,902
$ 22,526
$ 8,797,230


~~(1)~~	Incurred guarantee benefits include the portion of assessments established as additions to reserves as well as changes in estimates affecting the reserves. Also includes changes in the fair value of features considered to be derivatives.


~~(2)~~	~~Amounts include assumed reinsurance business from Pruco Life.~~

The GMDB liability is determined each period end by estimating the accumulated value of a portion of the total assessments to date less the accumulated value of the guaranteed death benefits in excess of the account balance. The GMIB liability associated with variable annuities is determined each period by estimating the accumulated value of a portion of the total assessments to date less the accumulated value of the projected income benefits in excess of the account balance. The portion of assessments used is chosen such that, at issue the present value of expected death benefits or expected income benefits in excess of the projected account balance and the portion of the present value of total expected assessments over the lifetime of the contracts are equal. The GMIB liability associated with fixed annuities is determined each period by estimating the present value of projected income benefits in excess of the account balance. The Company regularly evaluates the estimates used and adjusts the GMDB and GMIB liability balances with an associated charge or credit to earnings, if actual experience or other evidence suggests that earlier estimates should be revised.

The GMAB features provide the contractholder with a guaranteed return of initial account value or an enhanced value if applicable. The most significant of the Company’s GMAB features are the guaranteed return option features, which includes an automatic rebalancing element that reduces the Company’s exposure to these guarantees. The GMAB liability is calculated as the present value of future expected payments in excess of the account balance less the present value of future expected rider fees attributable to the embedded derivative feature.

The GMWB features provide the contractholder with access to a guaranteed remaining balance if the account value is reduced to zero through a combination of market declines and withdrawals. The guaranteed remaining balance is generally equal to the protected value under the contract, which is initially established as the greater of the account value or cumulative deposits when withdrawals commence, less cumulative withdrawals. The contractholder also has the option, after a specified time period, to reset the guaranteed remaining balance to the then-current account value, if greater. The contractholder accesses the guaranteed remaining balance through payments over time, subject to maximum annual limits. The GMWB liability is calculated as the present value of future expected payments to customers less the present value of future expected rider fees attributable to the embedded derivative feature.

~~Table of Contents~~

~~Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation~~

~~Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)~~

The GMIWB features, taken collectively, provide a contractholder two optional methods to receive guaranteed minimum payments over time, a “withdrawal” option or an “income” option. The withdrawal option (which was available under only one of the GMIWBs and is no longer offered) guarantees that a contractholder can withdraw an amount each year until the cumulative withdrawals reach a total guaranteed balance. The income option (which varies among the Company’s GMIWBs) in general guarantees the contractholder the ability to withdraw an amount each year for life (or for joint lives, in the case of any spousal version of the benefit) where such amount is equal to a percentage of a protected value under the benefit. The contractholder also has the potential to increase this annual amount, based on certain subsequent increases in account value that may occur. The GMIWB can be elected by the contractholder upon issuance of an appropriate deferred variable annuity contract or at any time following contract issue prior to annuitization. Certain GMIWB features include an automatic rebalancing element that reduces the Company’s exposure to these guarantees. The GMIWB liability is calculated as the present value of future expected payments to customers less the present value of future expected rider fees attributable to the embedded derivative feature.

~~Sales Inducements~~

The Company defers sales inducements and amortizes them over the anticipated life of the policy using the same methodology and assumptions used to amortize DAC. DSI is included in “Deferred sales inducements” in the Company’s Statements of Financial Position. The Company has offered various types of sales inducements, including: (1) a bonus whereby the policyholder’s initial account balance is increased by an amount equal to a specified percentage of the customer’s initial deposit and (2) additional credits after a certain number of years a contract is held. Changes in DSI, reported as “Interest credited to policyholders’account balances,” are as follows:

Sales Inducements
(in thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2014 $ 665,207
Capitalization 873
Amortization - Impact of assumption and experience unlocking and true-ups 21,125
Amortization - All other (206,263 )
Change in unrealized investment gains and losses 11,063
Ceded DSI upon reinsurance agreement with Prudential Insurance(1)

(39,253 )
Balance at December 31, 2015 452,752
Capitalization 1,805
Amortization - Impact of assumption and experience unlocking and true-ups 101,424
Amortization - All other (81,603 )
Change in unrealized investment gains and losses 4,915
Assumed DSI upon reinsurance agreement with Pruco Life(1)

499,530
Balance at December 31, 2016 978,823
Capitalization 1,551
Amortization - Impact of assumption and experience unlocking and true-ups 145,141
Amortization - All other (94,014 )
Change in unrealized investment gains and losses (10,715 )
Balance at December 31, 2017 $ 1,020,786


~~(1)~~	~~See Note 1 for additional information.~~

~~8. STATUTORY NET INCOME AND SURPLUS AND DIVIDEND RESTRICTIONS~~Credit Risk

The Company is ~~required~~exposed to ~~prepare statutory~~credit-related losses in the event of non-performance by counterparty to financial ~~statements~~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 ~~accordance~~turn, manages its credit risk by: (i) entering into derivative transactions with ~~accounting practices prescribed or permitted~~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 State of Arizona Insurance Department. Prescribed statutory accounting practices include publications of the NAIC, as well as state laws, regulations and general administrative rules. Statutory accounting practices ("SAP") primarily differ from U.S. GAAP by charging policy acquisition costs to expense as incurred, establishing future policy benefit liabilities using different actuarial assumptions and valuing investments, deferred taxes and certain assets onparty in a ~~different basis.~~

Statutory net income (loss) of the Company amounted to $3,911 million, $(2,018) million and $340 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Statutory surplus of the Company amounted to $8,059 million and $5,718 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

~~Table of Contents~~

~~Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation~~

~~Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)~~

~~The Company does not utilize prescribed or permitted practices that vary materially from the statutory accounting practices prescribed by the NAIC.~~

The Company is subject to Arizona law, which limits the amount of dividends that insurance companies can pay to stockholders. The maximum dividend, which may be paid in any twelve month period without notification or approval, is limited to the lesser of 10% of statutory surplus, as of December 31 of the preceding year, or the net gain from operations of the preceding calendar year. Cash dividends may only be paid out of surplus derived from realized net profits. Based on these limitations, the Company is not permitted to pay a dividend in 2018 without prior notification.

On December 21, September 28 and June 28, 2017, the Company paid an extra-ordinary dividend of $650 million, $200 million and $100 million, respectively, to its parent, PAI, which was recorded as a return of capital. On December 21, 2016, the Company paid an extra-ordinary dividend of $1,140 million to PAI, which was recorded as a return of capital. On December 22, 2015 and June 29, 2015, the Company paid dividends of $180 million and $270 million, respectively, to PAI.liability position.

~~9. INCOME TAXES~~

~~The following schedule discloses significant components of income tax expense (benefit) for each year presented:~~

Year Ended December 31,
2017 2016 2015
(in thousands)
Current tax expense (benefit):
U.S. federal $ 501,088
$ 2,524,458
$ 76,175
State and local 1,349
0
0
Total 502,437
2,524,458
76,175
Deferred tax expense (benefit):
U.S. federal 698,662
(3,204,951 ) (84,460 )
State and local 0
0
0
Total 698,662
(3,204,951 ) (84,460 )
Total income tax expense (benefit) 1,201,099
(680,493 ) (8,285 )
Total income tax expense (benefit) reported in equity related to:
Other comprehensive income (loss) 98,644
(194,446 ) (20,708 )
Additional paid-in capital 0
(9,531 ) 0
Total income tax expense (benefit) $ 1,299,743
$ (884,470 ) $ (28,993 )

~~Reconciliation of Expected Tax at Statutory Rates to Reported Income Tax Expense (Benefit)~~

~~The differences between income taxes expected at the U.S. federal statutory income tax rate of 35% and the reported income tax expense (benefit) are summarized as follows:~~

Year Ended December 31,
2017 2016 2015
(in thousands)
Expected federal income tax expense (benefit) $ 391,158
$ (619,704 ) $ 57,727
Non-taxable investment income (46,625 ) (49,630 ) (56,614 )
Tax credits (10,358 ) (10,507 ) (9,389 )
Changes in tax law 882,175
0
0
Other (15,251 ) (652 ) (9 )
Reported income tax expense (benefit) $ 1,201,099
$ (680,493 ) $ (8,285 )
Effective tax rate 107.5 % 38.4 % (5.0 )%

The effective tax rate is the ratio of “Total income tax expense (benefit)” divided by “Income (loss) from operations before income taxes.” The Company’s effective tax rate for fiscal years 2017, 2016 and 2015 was 107.5%, 38.4% and (5.0)%, respectively. The following is a description of items that had the most significant impact on the difference between the Company’s statutory U.S. federal income tax rate of 35% and the Company’s effective tax rate during the periods presented:

~~Table of Contents~~

~~Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation~~

~~Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)~~

~~Changes in Tax Law.~~ ~~The following is a list of notable changes in tax law that impacted the Company’s effective tax rate for the periods presented:~~

~~U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“Tax Act of 2017”).~~ On December 22, 2017, the Tax Act of 2017 was enacted into U.S. law. This law includes a broad range of tax reform changes that will affect U.S. businesses, including changes to corporate tax rates, business deductions and international tax provisions. Under U.S. GAAP, changes in tax rates and tax law are accounted for in the period of enactment (the date the President signed the bill into law).

In December 2017, the SEC staff issued SAB 118 to address the application of U.S. GAAP in situations when a registrant does not have necessary information available, prepared, or analyzed (including computations) in reasonable detail to complete the accounting for certain income tax effects of the Tax Act of 2017. SAB 118 provides guidance for registrants under three scenarios: (1) measurement of certain income tax effects is complete, (2) measurement of certain income tax effects can be reasonably estimated and (3) measurement of certain income tax effects cannot be reasonably estimated. SAB 118 provides that the measurement period is complete when a company’s accounting is complete and in no circumstances should the measurement period extend beyond one year from the enactment date. SAB 118 acknowledges that a company may be able to complete the accounting for some provisions earlier than others. As a result, it may need to apply all three scenarios in determining the accounting for the Tax Act of 2017 based on information that is available.

The Company has not fully completed its accounting for the tax effects of the Tax Act of 2017. However, we have recorded the effects of the Tax Act of 2017 as reasonable estimates due to the need for further analysis of the provisions within the Tax Act of 2017 and collection, preparation and analysis of relevant data necessary to complete the accounting. As a result, upon enactment of the Tax Act of 2017, the Company recognized a $882 million tax expense in “Total income tax expense (benefit)” in the Company’s Statements of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2017. This net tax expense was comprised of the following component:

~~$882 million tax expense from the reduction in net deferred tax assets to reflect the reduction in the U.S. tax rate from 35% to 21%~~

As we complete the collection, preparation and analysis of data relevant to the Tax Act of 2017, interpret any additional guidance issued by the IRS, U.S. Department of the Treasury, or other standard-setting organizations, we may make adjustments to these provisional amounts. These adjustments may materially impact our provision for income taxes in the period in which the adjustments are made.

~~Non-Taxable Investment Income.~~ The U.S. Dividends Received Deduction (“DRD”) reduces the amount of dividend income subject to U.S. tax and accounts for most of the non-taxable investment income shown in the table above. More specifically, the U.S. DRD constitutes $46 million of the total $47 million of 2017 non-taxable investment income, $50 million of the total $50 million of 2016 non-taxable investment income, and $57 million of the total $57 million of 2015 non-taxable investment income. The DRD for the current period was estimated using information from 2016, current year investment results, and current year’s equity market performance. The actual current year DRD can vary 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 fund investments, changes in the account balances of variable life and annuity contracts, and the Company’s taxable income before the DRD.

~~Other.~~ This line item represents insignificant reconciling items that are individually less than 5% of the computed expected federal income tax expense (benefit) and have therefore been aggregated for purposes of this reconciliation in accordance with relevant disclosure guidance.

~~Table of Contents~~

~~Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation~~

~~Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)~~

~~Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Deferred Tax Liabilities~~

As of December 31,
2017 2016
(in thousands)
Deferred tax assets:
Insurance reserves $ 2,064,659
$ 3,369,384
Investments 404,703
418,128
Net unrealized loss on securities 7,048
159,362
Other 205
440
Deferred tax assets 2,476,615
3,947,314
Deferred tax liabilities:
VOBA and deferred policy acquisition cost 960,841
1,506,010
Deferred sales inducements 214,365
342,588
Deferred tax liabilities 1,175,206
1,848,598
Net deferred tax asset (liability) $ 1,301,409
$ 2,098,716

The application of U.S. GAAP requires the Company to evaluate the recoverability of deferred tax assets and establish a valuation allowance if necessary to reduce the deferred tax asset to an amount that is more likely than not expected to be realized. Considerable judgment is required in determining whether a valuation allowance is necessary, and if so, the amount of such valuation allowance. In evaluating the need for a valuation allowance, the Company considers many factors, including: (1) the nature of the deferred tax assets and liabilities; (2) whether they are ordinary or capital; (3) in which tax jurisdictions they were generated and the timing of their reversal; (4) taxable income in prior carryback years as well as projected taxable earnings exclusive of reversing temporary differences and carryforwards; (5) the length of time that carryovers can be utilized in the various taxing jurisdictions; (6) any unique tax rules that would impact the utilization of the deferred tax assets; and (7) any tax planning strategies that the Company would employ to avoid a tax benefit from expiring unused. Although realization is not assured, management believes it is more likely than not that the deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowances, will be realized.

The company had no valuation allowance as of December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015. Adjustments to the valuation allowance will be made if there is a change in management’s assessment of the amount of deferred tax asset that is realizable.

The Company’s income (loss) from operations before income taxes includes income (loss) from domestic operations of $1,118 million, $(1,771) million, and $165 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

~~Tax Audit and Unrecognized Tax Benefits~~

The Company’s liability for income taxes includes the liability for unrecognized tax benefits and interest that relate to tax years still subject to review by the IRS or other taxing authorities. The completion of review or the expiration of the Federal statute of limitations for a given audit period could result in an adjustment to the liability for income taxes.

The Company had no unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015. The Company does not anticipate any significant changes within the next twelve months to its total unrecognized tax benefits related to tax years for which the statute of limitations has not expired.

~~At December 31, 2017, the Company remains subject to examination in the U.S. for tax years 2014 through 2016.~~

The Company is participating in the IRS’s Compliance Assurance Program. Under this program, 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.

~~Table of Contents~~

~~Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation~~

~~Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)~~

~~10.~~5. 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, equity securities, short-term investments, ~~equity securities~~ and derivative contracts 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, certain cash equivalents and certain 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 fixed maturities, certain ~~short-term investments, certain cash equivalents, certain~~ highly structured OTC derivative contracts and embedded derivatives resulting from reinsurance or certain products with guaranteed benefits.

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to 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.


	As of December 31, 2017											As of December 31, 2018
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Netting(1)			Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Netting(1)			Total
	(in thousands)											(in thousands)
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale:
U.S Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government authorities and agencies	$	0	$	4,826,413	$	5,237	$	0		$	4,831,650	$	0	$	4,875,959	$	8,132	$	0		$	4,884,091
Obligations of U.S. states and their political subdivisions	0		104,640		0		0			104,640		0		131,164		0		0			131,164
Foreign government bonds	0		140,305		0		0			140,305		0		199,636		0		0			199,636
U.S. corporate public securities	0		1,806,888		1,562		0			1,808,450		0		1,473,973		0		0			1,473,973
U.S. corporate private securities	0		1,148,536		59,408		0			1,207,944		0		1,008,632		54,321		0			1,062,953
Foreign corporate public securities	0		229,006		215		0			229,221		0		291,086		0		0			291,086
Foreign corporate private securities	0		737,539		34,021		0			771,560		0		781,101		31,131		0			812,232
Asset-backed securities~~(4)~~(2)	0		160,229		185,358		0			345,587		0		495,908		9,336		0			505,244
Commercial mortgage-backed securities	0		505,684		0		0			505,684		0		361,880		0		0			361,880
Residential mortgage-backed securities	0		165,745		0		0			165,745		0		49,414		0		0			49,414
Subtotal	0		9,824,985		285,801		0			10,110,786		0		9,668,753		102,920		0			9,771,673
Trading account assets:
U.S Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government authorities and agencies	0		123,820		0		0			123,820
Corporate securities	0		42,540		0		0			42,540
Asset-backed securities(4)	0		0		0		0			0
Fixed maturities, trading												0		289,752		0		0			289,752
Equity securities	5,599		0		9,758		0			15,357		4,896		12		5,705		0			10,613
Subtotal	5,599		166,360		9,758		0			181,717
Equity securities, available-for-sale	0		18		0		0			18
Short-term investments	448,712		262,272		87		0			711,071		0		29,818		0		0			29,818
Cash equivalents	0		1,146,466		0		0			1,146,466		1,098,903		2,593,456		0		0			3,692,359
Other long-term investments(5)	10,738		5,059,779		147		(4,919,486		)	151,178
Other invested assets(3)												4,380		4,843,414		0		(4,804,816		)	42,978
Reinsurance recoverables	0		0		244,006		0			244,006		0		0		239,911		0			239,911
Receivables from parent and affiliates	0		38,145		0		0			38,145		0		37,193		0		0			37,193
Subtotal excluding separate account assets	465,049		16,498,025		539,799		(4,919,486		)	12,583,387		1,108,179		17,462,398		348,536		(4,804,816		)	14,114,297
Separate account assets(2)	0		37,990,547		0		0			37,990,547
Separate account assets(4)												0		31,210,346		0		0			31,210,346
Total assets	$	465,049	$	54,488,572	$	539,799	$	(4,919,486	)	$	50,573,934	$	1,108,179	$	48,672,744	$	348,536	$	(4,804,816	)	$	45,324,643
Future policy benefits(3)	$	0	$	0	$	8,151,902	$	0		$	8,151,902
Future policy benefits(5)												$	0	$	0	$	8,332,474	$	0		$	8,332,474
Policyholders' account balances												0		0		42,350		0			42,350
Payables to parent and affiliates	0		1,941,403		0		(1,941,403		)	0		0		2,133,496		0		(2,133,496		)	0
Other liabilities	0		0		0		0			0		7,293		0		0		(664		)	6,629
Total liabilities	$	0	$	1,941,403	$	8,151,902	$	(1,941,403	)	$	8,151,902	$	7,293	$	2,133,496	$	8,374,824	$	(2,134,160	)	$	8,381,453

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)


	As of December 31, 2016											As of December 31, 2017
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Netting (1)			Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Netting (1)			Total

	(in thousands)											(in thousands)
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale:
U.S Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government authorities and agencies	$	0	$	4,465,025	$	0	$	0		$	4,465,025	$	0	$	4,826,413	$	5,237	$	0		$	4,831,650
Obligations of U.S. states and their political subdivisions	0		89,974		0		0			89,974		0		104,640		0		0			104,640
Foreign government bonds	0		69,299		87		0			69,386		0		140,305		0		0			140,305
U.S. corporate public securities	0		1,909,440		15,598		0			1,925,038		0		1,806,888		1,562		0			1,808,450
U.S. corporate private securities	0		997,004		124,864		0			1,121,868		0		1,148,536		59,408		0			1,207,944
Foreign corporate public securities	0		217,363		0		0			217,363		0		229,006		215		0			229,221
Foreign corporate private securities	0		526,504		11,527		0			538,031		0		737,539		34,021		0			771,560
Asset-backed securities~~(4)~~(2)	0		219,574		31,735		0			251,309		0		160,229		185,358		0			345,587
Commercial mortgage-backed securities	0		484,713		0		0			484,713		0		505,684		0		0			505,684
Residential mortgage-backed securities	0		200,056		0		0			200,056		0		165,745		0		0			165,745
Subtotal	0		9,178,952		183,811		0			9,362,763		0		9,824,985		285,801		0			10,110,786
Trading account assets:
U.S Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government authorities and agencies	0		116,184		0		0			116,184
Corporate securities	0		21,632		0		0			21,632
Asset-backed securities(4)	0		1,697		0		0			1,697
Equity securities	5,494		0		4,864		0			10,358
Subtotal	5,494		139,513		4,864		0			149,871
Equity securities, available-for-sale	0		18		0		0			18
Fixed maturities, trading(6)												0		166,360		0		0			166,360
Equity securities(6)												5,599		18		9,758		0			15,375
Short-term investments	519,000		392,700		450		0			912,150		448,712		262,272		87		0			711,071
Cash equivalents	738,449		847,329		375		0			1,586,153		0		1,146,466		0		0			1,146,466
Other long-term investments(5)	23,967		4,872,392		0		(4,582,540		)	313,819
Other invested assets(3)(6)												10,738		5,059,779		147		(4,919,486		)	151,178
Reinsurance recoverables	0		0		240,091		0			240,091		0		0		244,006		0			244,006
Receivables from parent and affiliates	0		6,962		33,962		0			40,924		0		38,145		0		0			38,145
Subtotal excluding separate account assets	1,286,910		15,437,866		463,553		(4,582,540		)	12,605,789		465,049		16,498,025		539,799		(4,919,486		)	12,583,387
Separate account assets(2)	0		37,429,739		0		0			37,429,739
Separate account assets(4)												0		37,990,547		0		0			37,990,547
Total assets	$	1,286,910	$	52,867,605	$	463,553	$	(4,582,540	)	$	50,035,528	$	465,049	$	54,488,572	$	539,799	$	(4,919,486	)	$	50,573,934
Future policy benefits(3)	$	0	$	0	$	7,707,333	$	0		$	7,707,333
Future policy benefits(5)												$	0	$	0	$	8,151,902	$	0		$	8,151,902
Payables to parent and affiliates	0		1,654,360		0		(1,654,360		)	0		0		1,941,403		0		(1,941,403		)	0
Other liabilities	$	5,051	$	0	$	0	$	0		$	5,051	0		0		0		0			0
Total liabilities	$	5,051	$	1,654,360	$	7,707,333	$	(1,654,360	)	$	7,712,384	$	0	$	1,941,403	$	8,151,902	$	(1,941,403	)	$	8,151,902


(1)	“Netting” amounts represent cash collateral of ~~$2,978~~$2,671 million and ~~$2,928~~$2,978 million as of December 31, ~~2017~~2018 and ~~2016,~~2017, respectively, and the impact of offsetting asset and liability positions held with the same counterparty, subject to master netting arrangements.


(2)	Includes credit tranched securities collateralized by syndicated bank loans, sub-prime mortgages, auto loans, credit cards, education loans and other asset types.


(3)	Other invested assets excluded from the fair value hierarchy include certain hedge funds, private equity funds and other funds for which fair value is measured at net asset value ("NAV") per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient. At December 31, 2018 and 2017, the fair values of such investments were $8 million and $0.3 million, respectively.

(4)

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~~ Statements of Financial Position.

~~(3)~~(5)

As of December 31, 2018, the net embedded derivative liability position of $8,332 million includes $625 million of embedded derivatives in an asset position and $8,957 million of embedded derivatives in a liability position. As of December 31, 2017, the net embedded derivative liability position of $8,152 million includes $819 million of embedded derivatives in an asset position and $8,971 million of embedded derivatives in a liability position. As of December 31, 2016, the net embedded derivative liability position of $7,707 million includes $1,060 million of embedded derivatives in an asset position and $8,767 million of embedded derivatives in a liability position.


~~(4)~~(6)	~~Includes credit-tranched securities collateralized by syndicated bank loans, sub-prime mortgages, auto loans, credit cards, education loans and other asset types.~~Prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation. See Note 2 for details.

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)


~~(5)~~	Other long-term investments excluded from the fair value hierarchy include certain hedge funds, private funds and other funds for which fair value is measured at net asset value ("NAV") per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, the fair values of these investments were $0.3 million and $0.4 million.

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

Fixed Maturity Securities – The fair values of the Company’s public fixed maturity securities are generally based on prices obtained from independent pricing services. Prices for each security are generally sourced from multiple pricing vendors, and a vendor hierarchy is maintained by asset type based on historical pricing experience and vendor expertise. The Company ultimately uses the price from the pricing service highest in the vendor hierarchy based on the respective asset type. 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~~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 the 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 December 31, ~~2017~~2018 and ~~2016~~2017 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 values of private fixed maturities, which are 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 the reduced liquidity associated with private placements. Internal adjustments are made to reflect variation in observed sector spreads. Since most private placements are valued using standard market observable inputs and inputs derived from, or corroborated by, market observable data including, but not limited to observed prices and spreads for similar publicly 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 fixed maturity securities and equity securities 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 of publicly traded companies, 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.

Derivative Instruments – Derivatives are recorded at fair value either as assets, within ~~“Other long-term investments,”~~"Other invested assets", or as liabilities, within “Payables to parent and affiliates” or "Other liabilities", except for embedded derivatives which are recorded with the associated host contract. The fair values of derivative contracts can be affected by changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates, credit spreads, market volatility, expected returns, 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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~~Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation~~

~~Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)~~

The Company's exchange-traded futures and options include treasury and equity futures. Exchange-traded futures and options are valued using quoted prices in active markets and are classified within Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy.

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to 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 and ~~cross currency~~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.

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 ~~classified within Level 2 and Level 3. Level 2 instruments are~~ generally fair valued based on market observable ~~inputs.~~inputs and these investments have primarily been classified within Level ~~3 instruments are internally valued based on internal asset manager valuations.~~2.

Separate Account Assets – Separate account assets include fixed maturity securities, treasuries, equity securities, mutual funds, and commercial mortgage loans for which values are determined consistent with similar instruments described above under “Fixed Maturity Securities” and “Equity Securities”.

Receivables from Parent and Affiliates – Receivables from parent and affiliates carried at fair value include affiliated bonds within the Company’s legal entity where fair value is 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”~~recoverables” or “Reinsurance ~~Payables”~~payables” 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”~~policy benefits”. The reinsurance agreements covering these guarantees are derivatives with fair value determined in the same manner as the living benefit guarantee.

Future Policy Benefits – The liability for future policy benefits is related to guarantees primarily associated with the living benefit features of certain variable annuity contracts, including ~~GMAB, GMWB~~guaranteed minimum accumulation benefits ("GMAB"), guaranteed withdrawal benefits ("GMWB") and ~~GMIWB,~~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 customers less the present value of future expected rider fees attributable to the embedded derivative 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 policyholders’ 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 policyholders’ 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.

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

~~Transfers between Levels 1 and 2~~Policyholders' Account Balances ~~– Transfers between levels are made~~-The liability for policyholders' account balances is related to reflect changes in observability of inputs and market activity. Transfers into or out of any level are generally reported at 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.certain embedded derivative instruments associated with certain policyholders' account balances. The fair value of foreign common stock held in the Company's Separate Account may reflect differences in market levels between the close of foreign trading markets and the close of U.S. trading markets for the respective day. Dependent on the existence of such a timing difference, the assets may move between Level 1 and Level 2. During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, there were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2.values are determined consistent with similar derivative instruments described above under "Derivative Instruments".

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


	As of December 31, 2017											As of December 31, 2018
	Fair Value		Primary Valuation Techniques	Unobservable Inputs	Minimum		Maximum		Weighted Average		Impact of Increase in Input on Fair Value(1)	Fair Value		Valuation Techniques	Unobservable Inputs	Minimum		Maximum		Weighted Average		Impact of Increase in Input on Fair Value(1)

	(in thousands)											(in thousands)
Assets:
Corporate securities(2)	$	22,215	Discounted cash flow	Discount rate	5.06	%	22.23	%	8.57	%	Decrease	$	18,609	Discounted cash flow	Discount rate	7.00	%	20.00	%	11.30	%	Decrease
														Market Comparables(3)	EBITDA multiples	6.7X		6.7X		6.7X		Increase
														Liquidation	Liquidation	41	%	41	%	41	%	Increase
Reinsurance recoverables	$	244,006	Fair values are determined in the same manner as future policy benefits									$	239,911	Fair values are determined using the same unobservable inputs as future policy benefits.
Liabilities:
Future policy benefits(2)	$	8,151,902	Discounted cash flow	Lapse rate(3)	1	%	12	%			Decrease
Future policy benefits(4)												$	8,332,474	Discounted cash flow	Lapse rate(5)	1	%	13	%			Decrease
				Spread over LIBOR(4)	0.12	%	1.10	%			Decrease				Spread over LIBOR(6)	0.36	%	1.60	%			Decrease
				Utilization rate(5)	52	%	97	%			Increase				Utilization rate(7)	50	%	97	%			Increase
				Withdrawal rate	See table footnote (6) below										Withdrawal rate	See table footnote (8) below
				Mortality rate(7)	0	%	14	%			Decrease				Mortality rate(9)	0	%	15	%			Decrease
				Equity volatility curve	13	%	24	%			Increase				Equity volatility curve	18	%	22	%			Increase


	As of December 31, 2016											As of December 31, 2017
	Fair Value		Primary Valuation Techniques	Unobservable Inputs	Minimum		Maximum		Weighted Average		Impact of Increase in Input on Fair Value (1)	Fair Value		Valuation Techniques	Unobservable Inputs	Minimum		Maximum		Weighted Average		Impact of Increase in Input on Fair Value (1)

	(in thousands)											(in thousands)
Assets:
Corporate securities(2)	$	136,391	Discounted cash flow	Discount rate	3.24	%	17.12	%	4.71	%	Decrease	$	22,215	Discounted cash flow	Discount rate	5.06	%	22.23	%	8.57	%	Decrease
			Liquidation	Liquidation Value	98.21	%	98.68	%	98.64	%	Increase
Reinsurance recoverables	$	240,091	Fair values are determined in the same manner as future policy benefits									$	244,006	Fair values are determined using the same unobservable inputs as future policy benefits.
Liabilities:
Future policy benefits(2)	$	7,707,333	Discounted cash flow	Lapse rate(3)	0	%	13	%			Decrease
Future policy benefits(4)												$	8,151,902	Discounted cash flow	Lapse rate(5)	1	%	12	%			Decrease
				Spread over LIBOR(4)	0.25	%	1.50	%			Decrease				Spread over LIBOR(6)	0.12	%	1.10	%			Decrease
				Utilization rate(5)	52	%	96	%			Increase				Utilization rate(7)	52	%	97	%			Increase
				Withdrawal rate	See table footnote (6) below										Withdrawal rate	See table footnote (8) below
				Mortality rate(7)	0	%	14	%			Decrease				Mortality rate(9)	0	%	14	%			Decrease
				Equity volatility curve	16	%	25	%			Increase				Equity volatility curve	13	%	24	%			Increase


(1)	Conversely, the impact of a decrease in input would have the opposite impact on fair value as that presented in the table.


(2)	Includes assets classified as fixed maturities, available-for-sale.


(3)	Represents multiples of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA"), and are amounts used when the Company has determined that market participants would use such multiples when valuing the investments.

(4)

Future policy benefits primarily represent general account liabilities for the living benefit ~~guarantees~~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.

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)


~~(3)~~(5)	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.

~~(4)~~(6)

The spread over the LIBOR swap curve represents the premium added to the proxy for the risk-free ~~discount~~ rate ~~(i.e., LIBOR)~~(LIBOR) to reflect our estimates of rates that a market participant would use to value the living benefit contracts in both the accumulation and payout phases. This spread includes an estimate of NPR, which is the risk that the obligation will not be fulfilled by the Company. NPR is primarily estimated by utilizing the credit spreads associated with issuing funding agreements, adjusted for any illiquidity risk premium. In order to reflect the financial strength ratings of the Company, credit spreads associated with funding agreements, as opposed to credit spread associated with debt, are utilized in developing this estimate because both funding agreements and living benefit contracts are insurance liabilities and are therefore senior to debt.

~~(5)~~(7)

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.

~~(6)~~(8)

The withdrawal rate assumption estimates the magnitude of annual contractholder withdrawals relative to the maximum allowable amount under the contract. These assumptions vary based on the age of the contractholder, the tax status of the contract and the duration since the contractholder began lifetime withdrawals.As of December 31, ~~2017~~2018 and ~~2016,~~2017, the minimum withdrawal rate assumption is 78% and the maximum withdrawal rate assumption may be greater than 100%. The fair value of the liability will generally increase the closer the withdrawal rate is to 100% and decrease as the withdrawal rate moves further away from 100%.

~~(7)~~(9)

Range reflects the mortality rate for the vast majority of business with living benefits, with policyholders ranging from 3550 to 90 years old. While the majority of living benefits have a minimum age requirement, certain benefits do not have an age restriction. This results in contractholders for certain benefits with mortality rates approaching 0%. Based on historical experience, the Company applies a set of age and duration specific mortality rate adjustments compared to standard industry tables. A mortality improvement assumption is also incorporated into the overall mortality table.

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

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

Future Policy Benefits – The 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.

~~Table of Contents~~

~~Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation~~

~~Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)~~

Changes in Level 3 Assets and Liabilities – The following tables describe 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.

Year Ended December 31, 2017
Fixed Maturities Available-For-Sale
U.S. Government Foreign Government Corporate Securities(5)
Asset-Backed
Securities(4)
(in thousands)
Fair value, beginning of period $ 0
$ 87
$ 151,989
$ 31,735
Total gains (losses) (realized/unrealized):
Included in earnings:
Realized investment gains (losses), net 0
0
(6,877 ) 576
Asset management fees and other income 0
0
0
0
Included in other comprehensive income (loss) 0
0
(3,627 ) 217
Net investment income 0
0
7,874
183
Purchases 4,264
0
17,920
237,469
Sales 0
0
(15,283 ) (5,613 )
Issuances 0
0
0
0
Settlements 0
0
(111,675 ) (55,184 )
Transfers into Level 3(1) 0
0
64,412
106,034
Transfers out of Level 3(1) 0
(87 ) (5,370 ) (130,059 )
Other(3) 973
0
(4,157 ) 0
Fair Value, end of period $ 5,237
$ 0
$ 95,206
$ 185,358
Unrealized gains (losses) for assets still held(2):
Included in earnings:
Realized investment gains (losses), net $ 0
$ 0
$ (6,498 ) $ (8 )
Asset management fees and other income $ 0
$ 0
$ 0
$ 0

~~Table of Contents~~

~~Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation~~

~~Notes~~ When a determination is made to ~~Financial Statements - (Continued)~~

Year Ended December 31, 2017
Trading Account Assets
Asset-Backed Securities(4) Equity Securities
Equity
Securities,
Available-
for-Sale
Short-term Investments
Cash
Equivalents
(in thousands)
Fair value, beginning of period $ 0
$ 4,864
$ 0
$ 450
$ 375
Total gains (losses) (realized/unrealized):

Included in earnings:

Realized investment gains (losses), net 0
0
0
0
0
Asset management fees and other income 0
689
0
0
0
Included in other comprehensive income (loss) 0
0
351
0
0
Net investment income 0
0
0
0
0
Purchases 0
0
0
94
0
Sales 0
0
0
(5 ) 0
Issuances 0
0
0
0
0
Settlements 0
0
0
(2 ) 0
Transfers into Level 3(1) 0
0
0
0
0
Transfers out of Level 3(1) 0
0
0
0
0
Other(3) 0
4,205
(351 ) (450 ) (375 )
Fair Value, end of period $ 0
$ 9,758
$ 0
$ 87
$ 0
Unrealized gains (losses) for assets still held(2):

Included in earnings:

Realized investment gains (losses), net $ 0
$ 0
$ 0
$ 0
$ 0
Asset management fees and other income $ 0
$ 338
$ 0
$ 0
$ 0

~~Table of Contents~~

~~Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation~~

~~Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)~~

Year Ended December 31, 2017

Other Long-term
Investments

Reinsurance
Recoverables

Receivables
from
Parent and
Affiliates

Future
Policy
Benefits
(in thousands)
Fair value, beginning of period $ 0
$ 240,091
$ 33,962
$ (7,707,333 )
Total gains (losses) (realized/unrealized):
Included in earnings:
Realized investment gains (losses), net(6) (7 ) (18,240 ) 0
552,047
Asset management fees and other income 0
0
0
0
Included in other comprehensive income (loss) 0
0
0
0
Net investment income 0
0
0
0
Purchases 0
19,416
0
0
Sales 0
0
0
0
Issuances 0
0
0
(996,616 )
Settlements 0
0
0
0
Transfers into Level 3(1) 0
0
0
0
Transfers out of Level 3(1) 0
0
(33,962 ) 0
Other(3) 154
2,739
0
0
Fair value, end of period $ 147
$ 244,006
$ 0
$ (8,151,902 )
Unrealized gains (losses) for assets/liabilities still held(2):
Included in earnings:
Realized investment gains (losses), net $ (7 ) $ (10,303 ) $ 0
$ 307,529
Asset management fees and other income $ 0
$ 0
$ 0
$ 0

~~Table of Contents~~

~~Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation~~

~~Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)~~

Year Ended December 31, 2016
Fixed Maturities Available-For-Sale
Foreign Government Corporate Securities(5)
Asset-Backed
Securities(4)
(in thousands)
Fair value, beginning of period $ 0
$ 127,308
$ 46,493
Total gains (losses) (realized/unrealized):
Included in earnings:
Realized investment gains (losses), net 0
(3,988 ) (26 )
Asset management fees and other income 0
0
0
Included in other comprehensive income (loss) (8 ) 2,313
161
Net investment income 0
5,835
139
Purchases 0
22,871
72,939
Sales 0
(105 ) (6,739 )
Issuances 0
0
0
Settlements 0
(9,085 ) (540 )
Transfers into Level 3(1) 95
19,694
34,984
Transfers out of Level 3(1) 0
(12,854 ) (115,676 )
Other 0
0
0
Fair value, end of period $ 87
$ 151,989
$ 31,735
Unrealized gains (losses) for assets still held(2):
Included in earnings:
Realized investment gains (losses), net $ 0
$ (4,917 ) $ (26 )
Asset management fees and other income $ 0
$ 0
$ 0

~~Table of Contents~~

~~Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation~~

~~Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)~~

Year Ended December 31, 2016
Trading Account Assets
Asset-Backed Securities(4) Equity Securities Equity Securities, Available-For-Sale Short-Term Investments Cash Equivalents
(in thousands)
Fair value, beginning of period $ 0
$ 0
$ 0
$ 450
$ 225
Total gains (losses) (realized/unrealized):
Included in earnings:
Realized investment gains (losses), net 0
0
0
0
0
Asset management fees and other income (161 ) (123 ) 0
0
0
Included in other comprehensive income (loss) 0
0
(351 ) 0
0
Net investment income 0
0
0
0
0
Purchases 0
3,422
351
0
150
Sales 0
0
0
0
0
Issuances 0
0
0
0
0
Settlements (2,634 ) 0
0
0
0
Transfers into Level 3(1) 0
0
0
0
0
Transfers out of Level 3(1) 0
0
0
0
0
Other(3) 2,795
1,565
0
0
0
Fair value, end of period $ 0
$ 4,864
$ 0
$ 450
$ 375
Unrealized gains (losses) for assets still held(2):
Included in earnings:
Realized investment gains (losses), net $ 0
$ 0
$ 0
$ 0
$ 0
Asset management fees and other income $ 0
$ (123 ) $ 0
$ 0
$ 0

~~Table of Contents~~

~~Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation~~

~~Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)~~

Year Ended December 31, 2016

Other Long-term
Investments

Reinsurance
Recoverables

Receivables
from
Parent and
Affiliates

Future Policy
Benefits
(in thousands)
Fair value, beginning of period $ 1,565
$ 3,012,653
$ 7,664
$ (3,134,077 )
Total gains (losses) (realized/unrealized):
Included in earnings:
Realized investment gains (losses), net(6) 0
(2,852,588 ) (13 ) (3,791,759 )
Asset management fees and other income 0
0
0
0
Included in other comprehensive income (loss) 0
0
50
0
Net investment income 0
0
0
0
Purchases 0
70,448
34,000
0
Sales 0
0
(1,987 ) 0
Issuances 0
0
0
(781,497 )
Settlements 0
0
0
0
Transfers into Level 3(1) 0
0
0
0
Transfers out of Level 3(1) 0
0
(2,957 ) 0
Other(3) (1,565 ) 9,578
(2,795 ) 0
Fair value, end of period $ 0
$ 240,091
$ 33,962
$ (7,707,333 )
Unrealized gains (losses) for assets/liabilities still held(2):
Included in earnings:
Realized investment gains (losses), net $ 0
$ 59,501
$ 0
$ (3,740,535 )
Asset management fees and other income $ 0
$ 0
$ 0
$ 0

~~The following tables summarize the portion of changes in fair values of Level 3~~classify assets and liabilities ~~included~~within Level 3, the determination is based on significance of the unobservable inputs in ~~earnings and other comprehensive income for~~ the ~~year ended December 31, 2015, as well as~~overall fair value measurement. All transfers are based on changes in the ~~portion~~observability of ~~gains or losses included in income attributable to unrealized gains or losses related to those assets and liabilities still held as~~the valuation inputs, including the availability of ~~December 31, 2015.~~

Year Ended December 31, 2015
Fixed Maturities Available-For-Sale
Foreign Government Corporate Securities(5)
Asset-Backed
Securities(4)
(in thousands)
Total gains (losses) (realized/unrealized):
Included in earnings:
Realized investment gains (losses), net $ 0
$ 46
$ 9
Asset management fees and other income $ 0
$ 0
$ 0
Included in other comprehensive income (loss) $ 0
$ (3,039 ) $ (170 )
Net investment income $ 0
$ 5,274
$ 49
Unrealized gains (losses) for assets still held(2):
Included in earnings:
Realized investment gains (losses), net $ 0
$ 0
$ 0
Asset management fees and other income $ 0
$ 0
$ 0

~~Table of Contents~~

~~Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation~~

~~Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)~~

Year Ended December 31, 2015
Trading Account Assets
Asset-Backed Securities(4) Equity Securities Equity Securities, Available-For-Sale Short-term Investments Cash Equivalents
(in thousands)
Total gains or (losses) (realized/unrealized):
Included in earnings:
Realized investment gains (losses), net $ 0
$ 0
$ 0
$ 0
$ 0
Asset management fees and other income $ 0
$ 0
$ 0
$ 0
$ 0
Included in other comprehensive income (loss) $ 0
$ 0
$ 0
$ 0
$ 0
Net investment income $ 0
$ 0
$ 0
$ 0
$ 0
Unrealized gains (losses) for assets/liabilities still held(2):
Included in earnings:
Realized investment gains (losses), net $ 0
$ 0
$ 0
$ 0
$ 0
Asset management fees and other income $ 0
$ 0
$ 0
$ 0
$ 0

Year Ended December 31, 2015
Other Long-term Investments
Reinsurance
Recoverables

Receivables
from
Parent and
Affiliates

Future Policy
Benefits
(in thousands)
Total gains(losses) (realized/unrealized):
Included in earnings:
Realized investment gains (losses), net(6) $ 1,405
$ (212,035 ) $ 0
$ 217,101
Asset management fees and other income $ 0
$ 0
$ 0
$ 0
Included in other comprehensive income (loss) $ 0
$ 0
$ (264 ) $ 0
Net investment income $ 0
$ 0
$ 1
$ 0
Unrealized gains (losses) for assets/liabilities still held(2):
Included in earnings:
Realized investment gains (losses), net $ 1,405
$ (117,840 ) $ 0
$ 119,609
Asset management fees and other income $ 0
$ 0
$ 0
$ 0


~~(1)~~	~~Transfers into or out of any level are generally reported at 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 and liabilities between reporting categories.~~


~~(4)~~	~~Includes credit-tranched securities collateralized by syndicated bank loans, sub-prime mortgages, auto loans, credit cards, education loans and other asset types.~~


~~(5)~~	Includes U.S. corporate public, U.S. corporate private, foreign corporate public and foreign corporate private securities. Prior period amounts were aggregated to conform to current period presentation.


~~(6)~~	Realized investment gains (losses) on Future Policy Benefits and Reinsurance Recoverables primarily represent the change in the fair value of the Company's living benefit guarantees on certain of its variable annuity contracts. Refer to Note 1 for impacts to Realized investment gains (losses) related to the Variable Annuities Recapture.

~~Transfers~~ –pricing service information that the Company can validate. 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~~can validate. During the second quarter of 2018, $213 million of investments in collateralized loan obligations (“CLOs”) reported as “Asset-backed securities” were transferred from Level 3 to ~~validate.~~Level 2 as market activity, liquidity and overall observability of valuation inputs of CLOs have increased.

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)



	Year Ended December 31, 2018
	Fair Value, beginning of period			Total realized and unrealized gains (losses)(1)			Purchases		Sales			Issuances			Settlements			Other(2)			Transfers into Level 3		Transfers out of Level 3			Fair Value, end of period			Unrealized gains (losses) for assets still held(3)
	(in thousands)
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale:
U.S. Government	$	5,237		$	0		$	2,895	$	0		$	0		$	0		$	0		$	0	$	0		$	8,132		$	0
Foreign Government	0			0			0		0			0			0			0			0		0			0			0
Corporate Securities(4)	95,206			(10,922		)	15,268		(275		)	0			(22,332		)	24			9,969		(1,486		)	85,452			(6,627		)
Structured Securities(5)	185,358			(724		)	84,810		(14,236		)	0			(37,672		)	0			51,979		(260,179		)	9,336			0
Other assets:
Equity securities	9,758			(591		)	0		(3,609		)	0			0			147			0		0			5,705			(1,208		)
Other invested assets	147			0			0		0			0			0			(147		)	0		0			0			0
Short-term investments	87			(20		)	0		0			0			(43		)	(24		)	0		0			0			(55		)
Cash equivalents	0			13			0		0			0			(13		)	0			0		0			0			0
Reinsurance recoverables	244,006			(28,757		)	19,061		0			0			0			5,601			0		0			239,911			(19,962		)
Receivables from parent and affiliates	0			0			0		0			0			0			0			0		0			0			0
Liabilities:
Future policy benefits	(8,151,902		)	843,914			0		0			(1,024,486		)	0			0			0		0			(8,332,474		)	529,804
Policyholders' account balances	0			6,051			0		0			(48,401		)	0			0			0		0			(42,350		)	6,051



	Year Ended December 31, 2018
	Total realized and unrealized gains (losses)											Unrealized gains (losses) for assets still held(3)
	Realized investment gains (losses), net(1)			Asset administration fees and other income			Included in other comprehensive income (losses)			Net investment income		Realized investment gains (losses), net			Asset administration fees and other income
	(in thousands)
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale	$	(6,693	)	$	0		$	(5,194	)	$	241	$	(6,627	)	$	0
Other assets:
Equity securities	0			(591		)	0			0		0			(1,208		)
Other invested assets	0			0			0			0		0			0
Short-term investments	(20		)	0			0			0		(55		)	0
Cash equivalents	13			0			0			0		0			0
Reinsurance recoverables	(28,757		)	0			0			0		(19,962		)	0
Receivables from parent and affiliates	0			0			0			0		0			0
Liabilities:
Future policy benefits	843,914			0			0			0		529,804			0
Policyholders' account balances	6,051			0			0			0		6,051			0

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)



	Year Ended December 31, 2017(7)
	Fair Value, beginning of period			Total realized and unrealized gains (losses)(1)			Purchases		Sales			Issuances			Settlements			Other(2)			Transfers into Level 3		Transfers out of Level 3			Fair Value, end of period			Unrealized gains (losses) for assets still held(3)
	(in thousands)
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale:
U.S. Government	$	0		$	0		$	4,264	$	0		$	0		$	0		$	973		$	0	$	0		$	5,237		$	0
Foreign Government	87			0			0		0			0			0			0			0		(87		)	0			0
Corporate Securities(4)	151,989			(2,630		)	17,920		(15,283		)	0			(111,675		)	(4,157		)	64,412		(5,370		)	95,206			(6,498		)
Structured Securities(5)	31,735			976			237,469		(5,613		)	0			(55,184		)	0			106,034		(130,059		)	185,358			(8		)
Other assets:
Equity securities(6)	4,864			1,040			0		0			0			0			3,854			0		0			9,758			338
Other invested assets(6)	0			(7		)	0		0			0			0			154			0		0			147			(7		)
Short-term investments	450			0			94		(5		)	0			(2		)	(450		)	0		0			87			0
Cash equivalents	375			0			0		0			0			0			(375		)	0		0			0			0
Reinsurance recoverables	240,091			(18,240		)	19,416		0			0			0			2,739			0		0			244,006			(10,303		)
Receivables from parent and affiliates	33,962			0			0		0			0			0			0			0		(33,962		)	0			0
Liabilities:
Future policy benefits	(7,707,333		)	552,047			0		0			(996,616		)	0			0			0		0			(8,151,902		)	307,529
Policyholders' account balances	0			0			0		0			0			0			0			0		0			0			0



	Year Ended December 31, 2017(7)
	Total realized and unrealized gains (losses)										Unrealized gains (losses) for assets still held(3)
	Realized investment gains (losses), net(1)			Asset administration fees and other income		Included in other comprehensive income (losses)			Net investment income		Realized investment gains (losses), net			Asset administration fees and other income
	(in thousands)
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale	$	(6,301	)	$	0	$	(3,410	)	$	8,057	$	(6,506	)	$	0
Other assets:
Equity securities(6)	0			689		351			0		0			338
Other invested assets(6)	(7		)	0		0			0		(7		)	0
Short-term investments	0			0		0			0		0			0
Cash equivalents	0			0		0			0		0			0
Reinsurance recoverables	(18,240		)	0		0			0		(10,303		)	0
Receivables from parent and affiliates	0			0		0			0		0			0
Liabilities:
Future policy benefits	552,047			0		0			0		307,529			0
Policyholders' account balances	0			0		0			0		0			0

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

The following tables summarize the portion of changes in fair values of Level 3 assets and liabilities included in earnings and OCI for the year ended December 31, 2016, 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 as of December 31, 2016.



	Year Ended December 31, 2016(7)
	Total realized and unrealized gains (losses)											Unrealized gains (losses) for assets still held(3)
	Realized investment gains (losses), net(1)			Asset administration fees and other income			Included in other comprehensive income (losses)			Net investment income		Realized investment gains (losses), net			Asset administration fees and other income
	(in thousands)
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale	$	(4,014	)	$	(161	)	$	2,466		$	5,974	$	(4,943	)	$	0
Other assets:
Equity securities(6)	0			(123		)	(351		)	0		0			(123		)
Other invested assets(6)	0			0			0			0		0			0
Short-term investments	0			0			0			0		0			0
Cash equivalents	0			0			0			0		0			0
Reinsurance recoverables	(2,852,588		)	0			0			0		59,501			0
Receivables from parent and affiliates	(13		)	0			50			0		0			0
Liabilities:
Future policy benefits	(3,791,759		)	0			0			0		(3,740,535		)	0
Policyholders' account balances	0			0			0			0		0			0


(1)	Realized investment gains (losses) on future policy benefits and reinsurance recoverables primarily represent the change in the fair value of the Company's living benefit guarantees on certain of its variable annuity contracts.


(2)	Other, primarily represents reclassifications of certain assets and liabilities between reporting categories.


(3)	Unrealized gains or losses related to assets still held at the end of the period do not include amortization or accretion of premiums and discounts.


(4)	Includes U.S. corporate public, U.S. corporate private, foreign corporate public and foreign corporate private securities. Prior period amounts were aggregated to conform to current period presentation.


(5)	Includes asset-backed, commercial mortgage-backed and residential mortgage-backed securities. Prior period amounts were aggregated to conform to current period presentation.


(6)	Prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation. See Note 2 for details.


(7)	Prior period amounts have been updated to conform to current period presentation.

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to 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 Statements of Financial Position. In some cases, as described below, the carrying amount equals or approximates fair value.


	December 31, 2017(1)										December 31, 2018(1)
	Fair Value								Carrying Amount(2)		Fair Value								Carrying Amount(2)
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Total

	(in thousands)										(in thousands)
Assets:
Commercial mortgage and other loans	$	0	$	0	$	1,396,167	$	1,396,167	$	1,387,012	$	0	$	0	$	1,339,707	$	1,339,707	$	1,353,478
Policy loans	0		0		12,558		12,558		12,558		0		0		12,805		12,805		12,805
Short-term investments	0		0		0		0		0		7,750		0		0		7,750		7,750
Cash and cash equivalents	493,473		0		0		493,473		493,473		136,175		675,000		0		811,175		811,175
Accrued investment income	0		88,331		0		88,331		88,331		0		90,895		0		90,895		90,895
Reinsurance recoverables	0		0		59,588		59,588		59,588		0		0		55,236		55,236		55,236
Receivables from parent and affiliates	0		11,206		0		11,206		11,206		0		9,188		0		9,188		9,188
Other assets	0		13,802		0		13,802		13,802		0		3,735		0		3,735		3,735
Total assets	$	493,473	$	113,339	$	1,468,313	$	2,075,125	$	2,065,970	$	143,925	$	778,818	$	1,407,748	$	2,330,491	$	2,344,262
Liabilities:
Policyholders’ account balances - investment contracts	$	0	$	0	$	281,582	$	281,582	$	281,051	$	0	$	0	$	560,548	$	560,548	$	565,903
Cash collateral for loaned securities	0		17,383		0		17,383		17,383		0		384		0		384		384
Short-term debt	0		43,734		0		43,734		43,734		0		139,843		0		139,843		140,569
Long-term debt	0		1,003,251		0		1,003,251		928,165		0		791,670		0		791,670		787,596
Reinsurance Payables	0		0		59,588		59,588		59,588		0		0		55,236		55,236		55,236
Payables to parent and affiliates	0		36,026		0		36,026		36,026		0		30,846		0		30,846		30,846
Other liabilities	0		135,556		0		135,556		135,556		0		554,162		0		554,162		554,162
Separate account liabilities - investment contracts	0		102		0		102		102		0		71		0		71		71
Total liabilities	$	0	$	1,236,052	$	341,170	$	1,577,222	$	1,501,605	$	0	$	1,516,976	$	615,784	$	2,132,760	$	2,134,767

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)


	December 31, 2016(1)										December 31, 2017(1)
	Fair Value								Carrying Amount(2)		Fair Value								Carrying Amount(2)
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Total		Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Total		Total

	(in thousands)										(in thousands)
Assets:
Commercial mortgage and other loans	$	0	$	0	$	1,235,842	$	1,235,842	$	1,231,893	$	0	$	0	$	1,396,167	$	1,396,167	$	1,387,012
Policy loans	0		0		12,719		12,719		12,719		0		0		12,558		12,558		12,558
Short-term investments	0		35,000		0		35,000		35,000		0		0		0		0		0
Cash and cash equivalents	6,886		255,000		0		261,886		261,886		493,473		0		0		493,473		493,473
Accrued investment income	0		86,004		0		86,004		86,004		0		88,331		0		88,331		88,331
Reinsurance recoverables	0		0		63,775		63,775		63,775		0		0		59,588		59,588		59,588
Receivables from parent and affiliates	0		70,779		0		70,779		70,779		0		11,206		0		11,206		11,206
Other assets	0		53,858		0		53,858		53,858		0		13,802		0		13,802		13,802
Total assets	$	6,886	$	500,641	$	1,312,336	$	1,819,863	$	1,815,914	$	493,473	$	113,339	$	1,468,313	$	2,075,125	$	2,065,970
Liabilities:
Policyholders’ account balances - investment contracts	$	0	$	0	$	247,986	$	247,986	$	250,493	$	0	$	0	$	281,582	$	281,582	$	281,051
Cash collateral for loaned securities	0		23,350		0		23,350		23,350		0		17,383		0		17,383		17,383
Short-term debt	0		28,146		0		28,146		28,101		0		43,734		0		43,734		43,734
Long-term debt	0		994,198		0		994,198		971,899		0		1,003,251		0		1,003,251		928,165
Reinsurance payables	0		0		63,775		63,775		63,775		0		0		59,588		59,588		59,588
Payables to parent and affiliates	0		91,432		0		91,432		91,432		0		36,026		0		36,026		36,026
Other liabilities	0		189,366		0		189,366		189,366		0		135,556		0		135,556		135,556
Separate account liabilities - investment contracts	0		187		0		187		187		0		102		0		102		102
Total liabilities	$	0	$	1,326,679	$	311,761	$	1,638,440	$	1,618,603	$	0	$	1,236,052	$	341,170	$	1,577,222	$	1,501,605

(1)

~~Other long-term investments excluded from the fair value hierarchy include~~The information presented as of December 31, 2017, excludes certain hedge funds, private equity funds and other funds that were accounted for using the cost method and for which the fair value iswas measured at NAV per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient. ~~At December 31, 2017~~The fair value and ~~December 31, 2016,~~ the ~~fair values~~carrying value of these cost method investments were $6.4 million and ~~$3.4~~$6.0 million, respectively. ~~The carrying values~~Due to the adoption of ASU 2016-01 effective January 1, 2018, these ~~investments were $6.0 million~~assets are carried at fair value at each reporting date with changes in fair value reported in “Asset administration fees and ~~$3.1 million~~other income.” Therefore, as of December 31, ~~2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.~~2018, these assets are excluded from this table but are reported in the fair value recurring measurement table.

(2)

Carrying values presented herein differ from those in the Company’s Statements of Financial Position because certain items within the respective financial statement captions are not considered financial instruments or are 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 or foreign government bond rate (for non-U.S. dollar-denominated loans) plus an appropriate credit spread for loans of similar quality, average life and currency. 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. Certain commercial mortgage loans are valued incorporating other factors, including the terms of the loans, the principal exit strategies for the loans, prevailing interest rates and credit risk.

Policy Loans

Policy loans carrying value approximates fair value.

Short-Term Investments, 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: certain short-term investments which are not securities, are recorded at amortized cost; 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.

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

Reinsurance Recoverables and Reinsurance Payables

Reinsurance recoverables and reinsurance payables include corresponding receivables and payables associated with reinsurance arrangements between the Company and related parties. See Note 1310 for additional information about the Company's reinsurance arrangements.

Policyholders’ Account Balances - Investment Contracts

Only the portion of policyholders’ account balances related to products that are investment contracts (those without significant mortality or morbidity risk) are reflected in the table above. For fixed deferred annuities, payout annuities and other similar contracts without life contingencies, fair values are 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. Due to the short-term nature of these transactions, the carrying value ~~of the related asset or liability~~ approximates fair ~~value as they equal the amount of cash collateral received or paid.~~value.

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. 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.

Separate Account Liabilities - Investment Contracts

Only the portion of separate account liabilities related to products that are investment contracts are reflected in the table above. Separate account liabilities are recorded at the amount credited to the contractholder, which reflects the change in fair value of the corresponding separate account assets including contractholder deposits less withdrawals and fees; therefore, carrying value approximates fair value.

~~11. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS~~6. DEFERRED POLICY ACQUISITION COSTS

~~Types~~The balances 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 DAC as of and for the years ended December 31, are as follows:



	2018			2017			2016
	(in thousands)
Balance, beginning of year	$	4,596,565		$	4,344,361		$	749,302
Capitalization of commissions, sales and issue expenses	372,996			277,586			269,679
Amortization-Impact of assumption and experience unlocking and true-ups	(113,534		)	288,974			226,204
Amortization-All other	(476,261		)	(275,028		)	(46,388		)
Changes in unrealized investment gains and losses	67,739			(39,328		)	18,772
Ceded DAC upon reinsurance agreement with Prudential Insurance(1)(2)	0			0			(7,480		)
Assumed DAC upon reinsurance agreement with Pruco Life(1)	0			0			3,134,272
Balance, end of year	$	4,447,505		$	4,596,565		$	4,344,361


(1)	See Note 1 and Note 10 for additional information.


(2)	Represents a $7.5 million true-up in 2016 to the ceded DAC upon reinsurance agreement with Prudential Insurance in 2015.

Table of Contents

7. VALUE OF BUSINESS ACQUIRED

The balances of and changes in VOBA as of and for the years ended December 31, are as follows:



	2018			2017			2016

	(in thousands)
Balance, beginning of year	$	35,109		$	30,287		$	33,640
Amortization-Impact of assumption and experience unlocking and true-ups (1)	1,485			10,035			2,372
Amortization-All other (1)	(7,348		)	(7,422		)	(8,176		)
Interest (2)	1,983			2,001			1,939
Change in unrealized investment gains and losses	1,993			208			512
Balance, end of year	$	33,222		$	35,109		$	30,287


(1)	The weighted average remaining expected life of VOBA was approximately 5.62 years as of December 31, 2018.


(2)	The interest accrual rate for the VOBA related to the businesses acquired was 5.96%, 5.96% and 6.00% for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016.

The following table provides estimated future amortization, net of interest, for the periods indicated:



	2019		2020		2021		2022		2023

	(in thousands)
Estimated future VOBA amortization	$	4,531	$	4,039	$	3,626	$	3,247	$	2,909


8.	POLICYHOLDERS’ LIABILITIES

Future Policy Benefits

Future policy benefits at December 31 for the years indicated are as follows:



	2018		2017

	(in thousands)
Life insurance – domestic	$	74	$	800
Individual and group annuities and supplementary contracts(1)	1,021,854		970,936
Other contract liabilities(1)	8,347,058		8,160,833
Total future policy benefits	$	9,368,986	$	9,132,569


(1)	Includes assumed reinsurance business.

Individual and group annuities and supplementary contract liabilities include reserves for life contingent immediate annuities and life contingent group annuities. Other contract liabilities include unearned premiums and certain other reserves for annuities and individual life products.

Future policy benefits for domestic life insurance policies reflect in course of settlement amounts.

~~Swaps may be attributed to specific assets or liabilities or to a portfolio~~8.3%, with less than 1.0% 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. Inreserves based on an interest rate ~~cap,~~in excess of 8.0%.

The Company’s liability for future policy benefits are primarily liabilities for guaranteed benefits related to certain long-duration life and annuity contracts. Liabilities for guaranteed benefits with embedded derivative features are primarily in "Other contract liabilities" in the ~~buyer receives payments at~~table above. The remaining liabilities for guaranteed benefits are primarily reflected with the ~~end~~underlying contract. The interest rates used in the determination 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 arepresent values range from 3.1% to 4.4%. See Note 9 for additional information regarding liabilities for guaranteed benefits related to certain long-duration contracts.

Premium deficiency reserves included in ~~interest rate options.~~

~~In standardized exchange-traded interest rate futures transactions,~~“Future policy benefits” are established, if necessary, when the ~~Company purchases or sells a specified number~~liability for future policy benefits plus the present value of ~~contracts, the values of which~~expected future gross premiums are determined byto be insufficient to provide for expected future policy benefits and expenses. Premium deficiency reserves have been recorded for the ~~daily market values~~individual annuity business, which consists of ~~underlying referenced investments. The Company enters into exchange-traded futures~~limited-payment, long-duration; and single premium immediate annuities with ~~regulated futures commission's merchants who are members of a trading exchange.~~life contingencies.

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

~~Equity Contracts~~Policyholders’ Account Balances

~~Equity options, total return swaps,~~Policyholders’ account balances at December 31 for the years indicated are as follows:



	2018		2017

	(in thousands)
Interest-sensitive life contracts	$	15,049	$	15,301
Individual annuities(1)	4,729,973		4,162,138
Guaranteed interest accounts	608,574		668,713
Total policyholders’ account balances	$	5,353,596	$	4,846,152


(1)	Includes assumed reinsurance business from Pruco Life.

Policyholders’ account balances represent an accumulation of account deposits plus credited interest less withdrawals, expenses and ~~futures are used by the Company~~mortality charges, if applicable. These policyholders’ account balances also include provisions for benefits under non-life contingent payout annuities. Interest crediting rates range from 3.5% to ~~manage its exposure~~6.0% for interest-sensitive life contracts. Interest crediting rates for individual annuities range from 0.0% to ~~the equity markets which impacts the value of assets and liabilities it owns or anticipates acquiring or selling.~~6.5%. Interest crediting rates for guaranteed interest accounts range from 0.1% to 5.8%.

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.9. CERTAIN LONG-DURATION CONTRACTS WITH GUARANTEES

~~Foreign Exchange Contracts~~

~~Credit Contracts~~

The Company ~~writes credit protection~~issued variable annuity contracts through its separate accounts for which investment income and investment gains and losses accrue directly to, ~~gain exposure similar to~~and investment ~~in public fixed maturity cash instruments. With these credit derivatives~~risk is borne by, the contractholder. The Company also issued variable annuity contracts with general and separate account options where the Company ~~sells credit protection~~contractually guarantees to the contractholder a return of no less than total deposits made to the contract adjusted for any partial withdrawals ("return of net deposits"). In certain of these variable annuity contracts, the Company also contractually guarantees to the contractholder a return of no less than (1) total deposits made to the contract adjusted for any partial withdrawals plus a minimum return ('minimum return"), and/or (2) the highest contract value on a ~~single name reference,~~specified date adjusted for any withdrawals (“contract value”). These guarantees include benefits that are payable in the event of death, annuitization or ~~certain index reference,~~at specified dates during the accumulation period and withdrawal and income benefits payable during specified periods. The Company also issued annuity contracts with market value adjusted investment options (“MVAs”), which provide for a return of principal plus a fixed-rate of return if held to maturity, or, alternatively, a “market adjusted value” if surrendered prior to maturity or if funds are reallocated to other investment options. The market value adjustment may result in ~~return receives~~ a ~~quarterly premium. This premium~~gain or ~~credit spread generally corresponds~~loss to the ~~difference between the yield~~Company, depending on ~~the referenced names (or~~crediting rates or an ~~index's referenced names) public~~indexed rate at surrender, as applicable. The Company also issued fixed ~~maturity cash instruments~~deferred annuity contracts without MVA that have a guaranteed credited rate 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~~annuity benefit.

The ~~Company sold~~assets supporting the variable annuity products, which may include guaranteed benefit features that are accounted for as embedded derivatives. Related to these embedded derivatives, the Company had previously entered into reinsurance agreements with Pruco Re and Prudential Insurance through March 31, 2016; effective April 1, 2016, the Company recaptured these reinsurances. Also, effective April 1, 2016, the Company assumedportion of all variable annuities ~~living benefit guarantees from Pruco Life, excluding PLNJ business. See Note 1 for additional information on the change to the reinsurance agreements.~~

Additionally, the Company reinsured the majority of its New York business to an affiliate, Prudential Insurance, as a result of surrendering its New York license, effective December 31, 2015. See Note 1 for additional information on these reinsurance agreements.

~~These embedded derivatives and reinsurance agreements, also accounted for as derivatives,~~ are carried at fair value and ~~marked to market through “Realized~~reported as “Separate account assets” with an equivalent amount reported as “Separate account liabilities.” Amounts assessed against the contractholders for mortality, administration, and other services are included within revenue in “Policy charges and fee income” and changes in liabilities for minimum guarantees are generally included in “Policyholders’ benefits” or "Realized investment gains (losses), ~~net” based on~~net".

For those guarantees of benefits that are payable in the ~~change~~event of death, the net amount at risk is generally defined as the current guaranteed minimum death benefit in excess of the current account balance at the balance sheet date. The Company’s primary risk exposures for these contracts relates to actual deviations from, or changes to, the assumptions used in the original pricing of these products, including fixed income and equity market returns, contract lapses and contractholder mortality.

For guarantees of benefits that are payable at annuitization, the net amount at risk is generally defined as the present value of the ~~underlying contractual~~minimum guaranteed annuity payments available to the contractholder determined in accordance with the terms of the contract in excess of the current account balance. The Company’s primary risk exposures for these contracts relates to actual deviations from, or changes to, the assumptions used in the original pricing of these products, including fixed income and equity market returns, timing of annuitization, contract lapses and contractholder mortality.

For guarantees ~~which~~of benefits that are payable at withdrawal, the net amount at risk is generally defined as the present value of the minimum guaranteed withdrawal payments available to the contractholder determined ~~using valuation models,~~in accordance with the terms of the contract in excess of the current account balance. For guarantees of accumulation balances, the net amount at risk is generally defined as ~~described~~the guaranteed minimum accumulation balance minus the current account balance. The Company’s primary risk exposures for these contracts relates to actual deviations from, or changes to, the assumptions used in ~~Note 10.~~the original pricing of these products, including equity market returns, interest rates, market volatility and contractholder behavior.

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

~~Primary Risks Managed by Derivatives~~

The ~~table below provides a summary~~Company’s contracts with guarantees may offer more than one type of guarantee in each contract; therefore, the ~~gross notional~~amounts listed may not be mutually exclusive. The liabilities related to the net amount at risk are reflected within “Future policy benefits.” As of December 31, 2018 and ~~fair value of derivatives~~2017, the Company had the following guarantees associated with these contracts, by ~~the primary underlying risks, excluding embedded derivatives which are recorded with the associated host~~product and related reinsurance recoverables. 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.guarantee type:

December 31, 2017 December 31, 2016
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 $ 677,257
$ 13,348
$ (47,209 ) $ 472,701
$ 38,249
$ (2,776 )
Total Qualifying Hedges $ 677,257
$ 13,348
$ (47,209 ) $ 472,701
$ 38,249
$ (2,776 )
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments:
Interest Rate
Interest Rate Futures $ 1,964,000
$ 8,296
$ 0
$ 2,474,000
$ 23,967
$ 0
Interest Rate Swaps 87,939,425
4,374,658
(1,065,549 ) 81,872,695
4,439,270
(1,163,388 )
Interest Rate Options 15,775,000
175,156
(160,181 ) 10,825,000
278,763
(135,554 )
Interest Rate Forwards 975,929
19,870
(2 ) 498,311
0
(25,082 )
Foreign Currency
Foreign Currency Forwards 12,455
1
(319 ) 1,491
6
0
Currency/Interest Rate
Foreign Currency Swaps 151,400
7,779
(7,488 ) 130,470
16,627
(635 )
Equity
Equity Futures 672,055
2,442
0
1,269,044
0
(5,051 )
Total Return Swaps 13,841,333
8,517
(341,700 ) 12,784,166
69,827
(281,193 )
Equity Options 31,702,334
460,597
(318,955 ) 4,610,001
29,650
(45,732 )
Total Non-Qualifying Hedges $ 153,033,931
$ 5,057,316
$ (1,894,194 ) $ 114,465,178
$ 4,858,110
$ (1,656,635 )
Total Derivatives (1)
$ 153,711,188
$ 5,070,664
$ (1,941,403 ) $ 114,937,879
$ 4,896,359
$ (1,659,411 )


~~(1)~~	~~Excludes embedded derivatives and the related reinsurance recoverables which contain multiple underlyings.~~

The fair value of the embedded derivatives, included in "Future policy benefits," was a net liability of $8,152 million and $7,707 million as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The fair value of the related reinsurance recoverables to Prudential Insurance was an asset of $232 million and $231 million as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, included in "Reinsurance recoverables". See Note 13 for additional information on these reinsurance agreements.

The fair value of the embedded derivatives pertaining to the variable annuity products with a market value adjustment option assumed from Pruco Life as part of the Variable Annuities Recapture, included in "Reinsurance recoverables", was a net asset of $12 million and $10 million as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

~~Table of Contents~~

~~Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation~~

~~Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)~~

~~Offsetting Assets and Liabilities~~

December 31, 2017

Gross
Amounts of
Recognized
Financial
Instruments

Gross Amounts
Offset in the
Statement of
Financial
Position

Net
Amounts
Presented in
the Statement
of Financial
Position

Financial
Instruments/
Collateral(1)

Net
Amount

(in thousands)
Offsetting of Financial Assets:
Derivatives(1) $ 5,070,517
$ (4,919,486 ) $ 151,031
$ 0
$ 151,031
Securities purchased under agreements to resell 0
0
0
0
0
Total Assets $ 5,070,517
$ (4,919,486 ) $ 151,031
$ 0
$ 151,031
Offsetting of Financial Liabilities:
Derivatives(1) $ 1,941,403
$ (1,941,403 ) $ 0
$ 0
$ 0
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase 0
0
0
0
0
Total Liabilities $ 1,941,403
$ (1,941,403 ) $ 0
$ 0
$ 0

December 31, 2016

Gross
Amounts of
Recognized
Financial
Instruments

Gross Amounts
Offset in the
Statement of
Financial
Position

Net
Amounts
Presented in
the Statement
of Financial
Position

Financial
Instruments/
Collateral(1)

Net
Amount

(in thousands)
Offsetting of Financial Assets:
Derivatives(1) $ 4,872,392
$ (4,582,540 ) $ 289,852
$ 0
$ 289,852
Securities purchased under agreements to resell 255,000
0
255,000
(255,000 ) 0
Total Assets $ 5,127,392
$ (4,582,540 ) $ 544,852
$ (255,000 ) $ 289,852
Offsetting of Financial Liabilities:
Derivatives(1) $ 1,654,360
$ (1,654,360 ) $ 0
$ 0
$ 0
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase 0
0
0
0
0
Total Liabilities $ 1,654,360
$ (1,654,360 ) $ 0
$ 0
$ 0



	December 31, 2018				December 31, 2017
	In the Event of Death(1)		At Annuitization/ Accumulation(1)(2)		In the Event of Death(1)		At Annuitization/ Accumulation (1)(2)

Annuity Contracts	(in thousands)
Return of net deposits
Account value	$	106,779,202	N/A		$	119,182,143	N/A
Net amount at risk	$	843,419	N/A		$	274,617	N/A
Average attained age of contractholders	67 years		N/A		66 years		N/A
Minimum return or contract value
Account value	$	22,184,537	$	115,822,894	$	25,835,100	$	129,630,456
Net amount at risk	$	4,322,406	$	7,252,486	$	2,161,133	$	3,225,700
Average attained age of contractholders	70 years		68 years		69 years		67 years
Average period remaining until earliest expected annuitization	N/A		0 years		N/A		0 years


(1)	Amounts ~~exclude the excess of collateral received/pledged from/to the counterparty.~~include assumed reinsurance business.


(2)	Includes income and withdrawal benefits.

Account balances of variable annuity contracts with guarantees were invested in separate account investment options as follows:



	December 31, 2018(1)		December 31, 2017(1)

	(in thousands)
Equity funds	$	69,686,791	$	83,556,771
Bond funds	51,855,361		53,027,241
Money market funds	2,542,219		3,726,553
Total	$	124,084,371	$	140,310,565


(1)	Amounts include assumed reinsurance business.

In addition to the amounts invested in separate account investment options above, $4.9 billion at December 31, 2018 and $4.7 billion at December 31, 2017 of account balances of variable annuity contracts with guarantees, inclusive of contracts with MVA features, were invested in general account investment options. For the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, there were no transfers of assets, other than cash, from the general account to any separate account, and accordingly no gains or losses recorded.

Liabilities for Guarantee Benefits

The table below summarizes the changes in general account liabilities for guarantees. The liabilities for GMDB and GMIB are included in “Future policy benefits” and the related changes in the liabilities are included in “Policyholders’ benefits.” GMAB, GMWB and GMIWB are accounted for as embedded derivatives and are recorded at fair value within “Future policy benefits.” Changes in the fair value of these derivatives, including changes in the Company’s own risk of non-performance, along with any fees attributed or payments made relating to the derivative are recorded in “Realized investment gains (losses), net.” See Note 5 for additional information regarding the ~~rights~~methodology used in determining the fair value of ~~offset~~these embedded derivatives. The Company maintains a portfolio of derivative investments that serve as a partial hedge of the risks associated with these products, for which the changes in fair value are also recorded in “Realized investment gains (losses), net.” This portfolio of derivative assets and liabilities in the table above see “Credit Risk” below and Note 15. 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 Financial Statements.

~~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~~investments does not qualify 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.~~

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

Year Ended December 31, 2017

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
$ 6,152
$ (11,043 ) $ (37,596 )
Total cash flow hedges 0
6,152
(11,043 ) (37,596 )
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments:
Interest Rate 550,797
0
0
0
Currency (454 ) 0
0
0
Currency/Interest Rate (30,173 ) 0
(183 ) 0
Credit 0
0
0
0
Equity (2,000,297 ) 0
0
0
Embedded Derivatives 678,698
0
0
0
Total non-qualifying hedges (801,429 ) 0
(183 ) 0
Total $ (801,429 ) $ 6,152
$ (11,226 ) $ (37,596 )

Year Ended December 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
$ 3,006
$ 9,648
$ (3,102 )
Total cash flow hedges 0
3,006
9,648
(3,102 )
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments:
Interest Rate (2,219,894 ) 0
0
0
Currency 361
0
0
0
Currency/Interest Rate 11,642
0
516
0
Credit 0
0
0
0
Equity (1,755,946 ) 0
0
0
Embedded Derivatives 437,323
0
0
0
Total non-qualifying hedges (3,526,514 ) 0
516
0
Total $ (3,526,514 ) $ 3,006
$ 10,164
$ (3,102 )



	GMDB			GMAB/GMWB/ GMIWB			GMIB			Totals
Variable Annuity	(in thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2015	$	265,877		$	3,134,077		$	13,864		$	3,413,818
Incurred guarantee benefits(1)	43,185			(1,979,215		)	(3,683		)	(1,939,713		)
Paid guarantee benefits	(55,604		)	0			(2,209		)	(57,813		)
Change in unrealized investment gains and losses	(5,206		)	0			(209		)	(5,415		)
Assumed guarantees upon reinsurance agreement with Pruco Life	389,067			6,552,471			30,130			6,971,668
Balance at December 31, 2016	637,319			7,707,333			37,893			8,382,545
Incurred guarantee benefits(1)(2)	29,605			444,569			(11,686		)	462,488
Paid guarantee benefits(2)	(57,053		)	0			(3,798		)	(60,851		)
Change in unrealized investment gains and losses(2)	12,931			0			117			13,048
Balance at December 31, 2017	622,802			8,151,902			22,526			8,797,230
Incurred guarantee benefits(1)(2)	103,596			180,572			2,679			286,847
Paid guarantee benefits(2)	(67,887		)	0			(2,915		)	(70,802		)
Change in unrealized investment gains and losses(2)	(20,108		)	0			(230		)	(20,338		)
Balance at December 31, 2018	$	638,403		$	8,332,474		$	22,060		$	8,992,937


(1)	Incurred guarantee benefits include the portion of assessments established as additions to reserves as well as changes in estimates affecting the reserves. Also includes changes in the fair value of features considered to be derivatives.


(2)	Amounts include assumed reinsurance business.

The GMDB liability is determined each period end by estimating the accumulated value of a portion of the total assessments to date less the accumulated value of the guaranteed death benefits in excess of the account balance. The GMIB liability associated with variable annuities is determined each period by estimating the accumulated value of a portion of the total assessments to date less the accumulated value of the projected income benefits in excess of the account balance. The portion of assessments used is chosen such that, at issue the present value of expected death benefits or expected income benefits in excess of the projected account balance and the portion of the present value of total expected assessments over the lifetime of the contracts are equal. The Company regularly evaluates the estimates used and adjusts the GMDB and GMIB liability balances with an associated charge or credit to earnings, if actual experience or other evidence suggests that earlier estimates should be revised.

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

Sales Inducements

Year Ended December 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
$ 608
$ 1,116
$ 10,008
Total cash flow hedges 0
608
1,116
10,008
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments:
Interest Rate 20,536
0
0
0
Currency 115
0
0
0
Currency/Interest Rate 8,337
0
202
0
Credit (3 ) 0
0
0
Equity (3,233 ) 0
0
0
Embedded Derivatives (24,371 ) 0
0
0
Total non-qualifying hedges 1,381
0
202
0
Total $ 1,381
$ 608
$ 1,318
$ 10,008



	Sales Inducements
	(in thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2015	$	452,752
Capitalization	1,805
Amortization - Impact of assumption and experience unlocking and true-ups	101,424
Amortization - All other	(81,603		)
Change in unrealized investment gains and losses	4,915
Assumed DSI upon reinsurance agreement with Pruco Life(1)	499,530
Balance at December 31, 2016	978,823
Capitalization	1,551
Amortization - Impact of assumption and experience unlocking and true-ups	145,141
Amortization - All other	(94,014		)
Change in unrealized investment gains and losses	(10,715		)
Balance at December 31, 2017	1,020,786
Capitalization	2,888
Amortization - Impact of assumption and experience unlocking and true-ups	(5,713		)
Amortization - All other	(149,236		)
Change in unrealized investment gains and losses	20,873
Balance at December 31, 2018	$	889,598


(1)	See Note 1 for additional information.

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

10. REINSURANCE

The Company uses reinsurance as part of its risk management and capital management strategies for certain of its living benefit guarantees and variable annuity base contracts. Through March 31, 2016, the Company reinsured its living benefit guarantees on certain variable annuity products to Pruco Re and Prudential Insurance, which are the legal entities in which the Company previously executed its living benefit hedging program. Effective April 1, 2016 the Company recaptured the risks related to its variable annuity living benefit guarantees that were previously reinsured to Pruco Re and Prudential Insurance, as discussed further in Note 1. In addition, the Company reinsured variable annuity base contracts, along with the living benefit guarantees, from Pruco Life, excluding the PLNJ business which was reinsured to Prudential Insurance. This reinsurance covers new and in force business and excludes business reinsured externally.

In the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company surrendered its New York license. The Company recaptured the New York living benefits previously ceded to Pruco Re, and reinsured the majority of its New York business, both the living benefit guarantees and base contracts, to Prudential Insurance. See Note 1 for additional information. 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.

Realized investment gains and losses include the impact of reinsurance agreements, particularly reinsurance agreements involving living benefit guarantees. 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 Statements of Financial Position as of December 31, were as follows:



	2018			2017
	(in thousands)
Reinsurance recoverables	$	572,102		$	563,428
Deferred policy acquisition costs	3,703,166			3,766,066
Deferred sales inducements	476,608			540,389
Value of business acquired	(2,431		)	(2,702		)
Other assets	79,992			105,167
Policyholders’ account balances	3,098,537			2,825,030
Future policy benefits	5,680,939			5,511,496
Reinsurance payables(1)	232,937			262,588
Other liabilities	290,330			329,019


(1)	~~Amounts deferred in AOCI.~~"Reinsurance payables" includes $0.1 million of unaffiliated activity as of both December 31, 2018 and 2017.

For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, the ineffective portion of derivatives accounted for using hedge accounting were de minimis 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 occurThe reinsurance recoverables by ~~the anticipated date or within the additional time period permitted by the authoritative guidance for the accounting for derivatives and hedging.~~

~~Presented below is a rollforward of current period cash flow hedges in “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” before taxes:~~counterparty are broken out below:

(in thousands)
Balance, December 31, 2014 $ 4,839
Net deferred gains (losses) on cash flow hedges from January 1 to December 31, 2015 12,078
Amount reclassified into current period earnings (2,070 )
Balance, December 31, 2015 14,847
Net deferred gains (losses) on cash flow hedges from January 1 to December 31, 2016 9,698
Amount reclassified into current period earnings (12,800 )
Balance, December 31, 2016 11,745
Net deferred gains (losses) on cash flow hedges from January 1 to December 31, 2017 (39,434 )
Amounts reclassified into current period earnings 1,838
Balance, December 31, 2017 $ (25,851 )

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 Comprehensive Income; these amounts are then reclassified to earnings when the hedged item affects earnings. Using December 31, 2017 values, it is estimated that a pre-tax gain of approximately $7 million will be reclassified from AOCI to earnings during the subsequent twelve months ending December 31, 2018, offset by amounts pertaining to the hedged item.

As of December 31, 2017, 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 18 years.



	December 31, 2018		December 31, 2017
	(in thousands)
Prudential Insurance	$	335,349	$	310,758
Pruco Life	236,716		252,383
Unaffiliated	37		287
Total reinsurance recoverables	$	572,102	$	563,428

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

~~Credit Derivatives~~Reinsurance amounts, included in the Company’s Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, were as follows:



	2018			2017			2016
	(in thousands)
Premiums:
Direct	$	37,895		$	33,908		$	39,326
Assumed	31,989			32,890			860,831
Ceded	(2,619		)	(3,225		)	(3,318		)
Net premiums	67,265			63,573			896,839
Policy charges and fee income:
Direct	549,500			622,099			647,226
Assumed	1,661,484			1,632,132			1,153,752
Ceded(1)	(39,706		)	(44,652		)	(45,754		)
Net policy charges and fee income	2,171,278			2,209,579			1,755,224
Asset administration fees and other income:
Direct	96,743			129,847			103,892
Assumed	301,549			293,275			205,221
Ceded	(9,136		)	(9,747		)	(9,729		)
Net asset administration fees and other income	389,156			413,375			299,384
Realized investment gains (losses), net:
Direct	81,120			(1,335,253		)	(3,612,578		)
Assumed	823,129			554,686			(81,510		)
Ceded	(20,176		)	(24,833		)	251,328
Realized investment gains (losses), net	884,073			(805,400		)	(3,442,760		)
Policyholders' benefits (including change in reserves):
Direct	81,045			52,477			74,438
Assumed	110,358			46,375			553,280
Ceded(2)	(4,315		)	15,216			(23,661		)
Net policyholders' benefits (including change in reserves)	187,088			114,068			604,057
Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances:
Direct	127,018			9,834			74,389
Assumed	132,324			24,708			(1,551		)
Ceded	(10,167		)	(4,262		)	(3,949		)
Net interest credited to policyholders’ account balances	249,175			30,280			68,889
Reinsurance expense allowances and general and administrative expenses, net of capitalization and amortization	1,131,351			725,749			563,027


(1)	"Policy charges and fee income ceded" includes $(1) million, $(2) million and $(2) million of unaffiliated activity for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.


(2)	"Policyholders' benefits (including change in reserves) ceded" includes $(0.3) million, $(0.1) million and $(0.3) million of unaffiliated activity for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

11. INCOME TAXES

The following schedule discloses significant components of income tax expense (benefit) for each year presented:



	Year Ended December 31,
	2018			2017		2016
				(in thousands)
Current tax expense (benefit):
U.S. federal	$	(422,999	)	$	501,088	$	2,524,458
State and local	0			1,349		0
Total	(422,999		)	502,437		2,524,458
Deferred tax expense (benefit):
U.S. federal	584,503			698,662		(3,204,951		)
State and local	0			0		0
Total	584,503			698,662		(3,204,951		)
Total income tax expense (benefit)	161,504			1,201,099		(680,493		)
Total income tax expense (benefit) reported in equity related to:
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(52,510		)	98,644		(194,446		)
Additional paid-in capital	0			0		(9,531		)
Total income tax expense (benefit)	$	108,994		$	1,299,743	$	(884,470	)

Reconciliation of Expected Tax at Statutory Rates to Reported Income Tax Expense (Benefit)



	Year Ended December 31,
	2018			2017			2016
	(in thousands)
Expected federal income tax expense (benefit)	$	387,286		$	391,158		$	(619,704	)
Non-taxable investment income	(18,954		)	(46,625		)	(49,630		)
Tax credits	(13,694		)	(10,358		)	(10,507		)
Changes in tax law	(193,306		)	882,175			0
Other	172			(15,251		)	(652		)
Reported income tax expense (benefit)	$	161,504		$	1,201,099		$	(680,493	)
Effective tax rate	8.8		%	107.5		%	38.4		%

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

The effective tax rate is the ratio of “Total income tax expense (benefit)” divided by “Income (loss) from operations before income taxes”. The Company’s effective tax rate for fiscal years 2018, 2017 and 2016 was 8.8%, 107.5% and 38.4%, respectively. The following is a description of items that had the most significant impact on the difference between the Company’s statutory U.S. federal income tax rate of 21% applicable for 2018 and 35% applicable for the periods prior to 2018, and the Company’s effective tax rate during the periods presented:

Changes in Tax Law. The following is a list of notable changes in tax law that impacted the Company’s effective tax rate for the periods presented:

Tax Act of 2017 - On December 22, 2017, the Tax Act of 2017 was enacted into U.S. law. As a result, the Company recognized a $882 million tax expense in “Total income tax expense (benefit)” in the Company’s Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2017. In accordance with SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin 118, in 2017 the Company recorded the effects of the Tax Act of 2017 using reasonable estimates due to the need for further analysis of the provisions within the Tax Act of 2017 and collection, preparation and analysis of relevant data necessary to complete the accounting. During 2018, the Company completed the collection, preparation and analysis of data relevant to the Tax Act of 2017, and interpreted any additional guidance issued by the IRS, U.S. Department of the Treasury, or other standard-setting organizations, and recognized a $0.2 million increase in income tax expense for a total of $882.3 million recognized from the reduction in net deferred tax assets to reflect the reduction in the U.S. tax rate from 35% to 21%.

2018 Industry Issue Resolution (IIR) - In August 2018, the IRS released a Directive to provide guidance on the tax reserving for guaranteed benefits within variable annuity contracts and principle-based reserves on certain life insurance contracts. Adopting the methodology specified in the Directive resulted in an accelerated deduction for the Company’s 2017 tax return that would have otherwise been deductible in future years. Prior to the adoption of this Directive, the Company accounted for these future deductions as deferred tax assets measured using the current 21% corporate income tax rate. Upon adoption of the Directive, the tax benefits were revalued using the 35% tax rate applicable for the 2017 tax year in which they will now be recognized, resulting in a reduction in income tax expense of $193 million.

Non-Taxable Investment Income. The U.S. Dividends Received Deduction (“DRD”) reduces the amount of dividend income subject to U.S. tax and accounts for most of the non-taxable investment income shown in the table above. More specifically, the U.S. DRD constitutes $15 million of the total $19 million of 2018 non-taxable investment income, $46 million of the total $47 million of 2017 non-taxable investment income, and $50 million of the total $50 million of 2016 non-taxable investment income. The DRD for the current period was estimated using information from 2017, current year investment results, and current year’s equity market performance. The actual current year DRD can vary 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 fund investments, changes in the account balances of variable life and annuity contracts, and the Company’s taxable income before the DRD.

Other. This line item represents insignificant reconciling items that are individually less than 5% of the computed expected federal income tax expense (benefit) and have therefore been aggregated for purposes of this reconciliation in accordance with relevant disclosure guidance.

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

Schedule of Deferred Tax Assets and Deferred Tax Liabilities



	As of December 31,
	2018		2017
	(in thousands)
Deferred tax assets:
Insurance reserves	$	1,521,729	$	2,064,659
Investments	276,880		404,703
Net unrealized loss on securities	86,742		7,048
Other	638		205
Deferred tax assets	1,885,989		2,476,615
Deferred tax liabilities:
VOBA and deferred policy acquisition cost	929,849		960,841
Deferred sales inducements	186,816		214,365
Deferred tax liabilities	1,116,665		1,175,206
Net deferred tax asset (liability)	$	769,324	$	1,301,409

The company had no valuation allowance as of December 31, 2018 and 2017. Adjustments to the valuation allowance will be made if there is a change in management’s assessment of the amount of deferred tax asset that is realizable.

The Company’s income (loss) from operations before income taxes includes income (loss) from domestic operations of $1,844 million, $1,118 million, and $(1,771) million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Tax Audit and Unrecognized Tax Benefits

The Company had no unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016. The Company does not anticipate any significant changes within the next twelve months to its total unrecognized tax benefits related to tax years for which the statute of limitations has not expired.

At December 31, 2018, the Company remains subject to examination in the U.S. for tax years 2015 through 2017.

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

12. EQUITY

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

AOCI represents the cumulative OCI items that are reported separate from net income and detailed on the Statements of Comprehensive Income. Each of the components that comprise OCI are described in further detail in Note 2 (Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment and Net Unrealized Investment Gains (Losses)). The balance of and changes in each component of AOCI as of and for the years ended December 31, 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	$	(65	)	$	46,231		$	46,166
Change in OCI before reclassifications	(20		)	(469,356		)	(469,376		)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	0			(86,184		)	(86,184		)
Income tax benefit (expense)	7			194,439			194,446
Balance, December 31, 2016	(78		)	(314,870		)	(314,948		)
Change in OCI before reclassifications	109			320,182			320,291
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	0			3,177			3,177
Income tax benefit (expense)	(38		)	(98,606		)	(98,644		)
Balance, December 31, 2017	(7		)	(90,117		)	(90,124		)
Change in OCI before reclassifications	(1,354		)	(311,658		)	(313,012		)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI	0			62,970			62,970
Income tax benefit (expense)	285			52,225			52,510
Cumulative effect of adoption of ASU 2016-01	0			(3		)	(3		)
Cumulative effect of adoption of ASU 2018-02	(2		)	(36,712		)	(36,714		)
Balance, December 31, 2018	$	(1,078	)	$	(323,295	)	$	(324,373	)


(1)	Includes cash flow hedges of $(4) million, $(26) million and $12 millionas of December 31, 2018, 2017, and 2016, respectively.

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

Reclassifications out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)



	Year Ended December 31, 2018			Year Ended December 31, 2017			Year Ended December 31, 2016

	(in thousands)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI(1)(2):
Net unrealized investment gains (losses):
Cash flow hedges - Currency/Interest rate(3)	$	20,761		$	(1,838	)	$	12,800
Net unrealized investment gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities	(83,731		)	(1,339		)	73,384
Total net unrealized investment gains (losses)(4)	(62,970		)	(3,177		)	86,184
Total reclassifications for the period	$	(62,970	)	$	(3,177	)	$	86,184


(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 4 for additional information on cash flow hedges.


(4)	See table below for additional information on unrealized investment gains (losses), including the impact on deferred policy acquisition and other costs and future policy benefits.

Net Unrealized Investment Gains (Losses)

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

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

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



	Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Investments			Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Other Costs(2)			Future Policy Benefits and Other Liabilities(3)			Deferred Income Tax (Liability) Benefit			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Related To Net Unrealized Investment Gains (Losses)

	(in thousands)
Balance, December 31, 2015	$	9		$	(3	)	$	0		$	14		$	20
Net investment gains (losses) on investments arising during the period	378			0			0			(132		)	246
Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income	556			0			0			(195		)	361
Reclassification adjustment for OTTI losses excluded from net income	(2,204		)	0			0			771			(1,433		)
Impact of net unrealized investment (gains) losses on deferred policy acquisition costs and other costs	0			(2,130		)	0			746			(1,384		)
Impact of net unrealized investment (gains) losses on future policy benefits	0			0			(522		)	183			(339		)
Balance, December 31, 2016	(1,261		)	(2,133		)	(522		)	1,387			(2,529		)
Net investment gains (losses) on investments arising during the period	11,328			0			0			(3,481		)	7,847
Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income	2,172			0			0			(667		)	1,505
Reclassification adjustment for OTTI losses excluded from net income	72			0			0			(22		)	50
Impact of net unrealized investment (gains) losses on deferred policy acquisition costs and other costs	0			1,125			0			(352		)	773
Impact of net unrealized investment (gains) losses on future policy benefits	0			0			365			(128		)	237
Balance, December 31, 2017	12,311			(1,008		)	(157		)	(3,263		)	7,883
Net investment gains (losses) on investments arising during the period	(15,199		)	0			0			3,192			(12,007		)
Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income	(205		)	0			0			43			(162		)
Reclassification adjustment for OTTI losses excluded from net income(1)	(241		)	0			0			51			(190		)
Impact of net unrealized investment (gains) losses on deferred policy acquisition costs and other costs	0			(111		)	0			23			(88		)
Impact of net unrealized investment (gains) losses on future policy benefits and other liabilities	0			0			89			(19		)	70
Balance, December 31, 2018	$	(3,334	)	$	(1,119	)	$	(68	)	$	27		$	(4,494	)


(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)	"Other costs" primarily includes reinsurance recoverables, DSI and VOBA.


(3)	"Other liabilities" primarily includes reinsurance payables and deferred reinsurance gains.

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

All Other Net Unrealized Investment Gains (Losses) in AOCI



	Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Investments (1)			Deferred Policy Acquisition Costs and Other Costs(3)			Future Policy Benefits and Other Liabilities(4)			Deferred Income Tax (Liability) Benefit			Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Related To Net Unrealized Investment Gains (Losses)

	(in thousands)
Balance, December 31, 2015	$	107,451		$	(30,465	)	$	(4,596	)	$	(26,179	)	$	46,211
Net investment gains (losses) on investments arising during the period	(637,597		)	0			0			223,159			(414,438		)
Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income	85,628			0			0			(29,970		)	55,658
Reclassification adjustment for OTTI losses excluded from net income	2,204			0			0			(771		)	1,433
Impact of net unrealized investment (gains) losses on deferred policy acquisition costs and other costs	0			(786		)	0			275			(511		)
Impact of net unrealized investment (gains) losses on future policy benefits	0			0			(1,068		)	374			(694		)
Balance, December 31, 2016	(442,314		)	(31,251		)	(5,664		)	166,888			(312,341		)
Net investment gains (losses) on investments arising during the period	376,012			0			0			(115,538		)	260,474
Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income	(5,349		)	0			0			1,644			(3,705		)
Reclassification adjustment for OTTI losses excluded from net income	(72		)	0			0			22			(50		)
Impact of net unrealized investment (gains) losses on deferred policy acquisition costs and other costs	0			(50,961		)	0			15,949			(35,012		)
Impact of net unrealized investment (gains) losses on future policy benefits	0			0			(11,333		)	3,967			(7,366		)
Balance, December 31, 2017	(71,723		)	(82,212		)	(16,997		)	72,932			(98,000		)
Net investment gains (losses) on investments arising during the period	(405,264		)	0			0			85,105			(320,159		)
Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income	63,175			0			0			(13,267		)	49,908
Reclassification adjustment for OTTI losses excluded from net income(2)	241			0			0			(51		)	190
Impact of net unrealized investment (gains) losses on deferred policy acquisition costs and other costs	0			90,717			0			(19,049		)	71,668
Impact of net unrealized investment (gains) losses on future policy benefits and other liabilities	0			0			18,110			(3,803		)	14,307
Cumulative effect of adoption of ASU 2016-01	(4		)	0			0			1			(3		)
Cumulative effect of adoption of ASU 2018-02	0			0			0			(36,712		)	(36,712		)
Balance, December 31, 2018	$	(413,575	)	$	8,505		$	1,113		$	85,156		$	(318,801	)


(1)	Includes cash flow hedges. See Note 4 for information on cash flow hedges.


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


(3)	"Other costs" primarily includes reinsurance recoverables, DSI and VOBA.


(4)	"Other liabilities" primarily includes reinsurance payables and deferred reinsurance gains.

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

13. STATUTORY NET INCOME AND SURPLUS AND DIVIDEND RESTRICTIONS

The Company is required to prepare statutory financial statements in accordance with accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the AZDOI. Prescribed statutory accounting practices include publications of the NAIC, as well as state laws, regulations and general administrative rules. Statutory accounting practices ("SAP") primarily differ from U.S. GAAP by charging policy acquisition costs to expense as incurred, establishing future policy benefit liabilities using different actuarial assumptions and valuing investments, deferred taxes and certain assets on a different basis.

Statutory net income (loss) of the Company amounted to $(852) million, $3,911 million and $(2,018) million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Statutory surplus of the Company amounted to $6,396 million and $8,059 million at December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

The Company does not utilize prescribed or permitted practices that vary materially from the statutory accounting practices prescribed by the NAIC.

The Company is subject to Arizona law, which limits the amount of dividends that insurance companies can pay to stockholders. The maximum dividend, which may be paid in any twelve-month period without notification or approval, is limited to the lesser of 10% of statutory surplus, as of December 31 of the preceding year, or the net gain from operations of the preceding calendar year. Cash dividends may only be paid out of surplus derived from realized net profits. Based on these limitations, the Company is not permitted to pay a dividend in 2019 without prior notification.

In December, September, June and March, 2018, the Company paid an extra-ordinary dividend of $225 million, $250 million, $250 million and $300 million, respectively, to its parent, PAI, which was recorded as a return of capital. In December, September, and June, 2017, the Company paid an extra-ordinary dividend of $650 million, $200 million and $100 million, respectively to PAI, which was recorded as a return of capital. In December, 2016, the Company paid an extra-ordinary dividend of $1,140 million to PAI, which was recorded as a return of capital.

14. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The Company has ~~no exposure~~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 ~~credit~~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-based awards program and a deferred compensation program issued by Prudential Financial. The expense charged to the Company for the stock-based awards program was $0.1 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016. The expense charged to the Company for the deferred compensation program was $0.5 million, $0.9 million and $0.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

The Company is charged for its share of employee benefit 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 earnings and length of service while others are based on an account balance, which takes into consideration age, service and earnings during a career. The Company’s share of net expense for the pension plans was $2 million, $1 million and $1 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

The Company is also charged for its share of the costs associated with welfare plans issued by Prudential Insurance. These expenses include costs related to medical, dental, life insurance and disability. The Company's share of net expense for the welfare plans was $2 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016.

Prudential Insurance sponsors voluntary savings plans for its employee 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 $0.7 million, $0.5 million and $0.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

The Company pays commissions and certain other fees to 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 $122 million, $109 million and $108 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

The Company is charged for its share of corporate expenses incurred by Prudential Financial to benefit its businesses, such as advertising, executive oversight, external affairs and philanthropic activity. The Company’s share of corporate expenses was $15 million, $14 million and $10 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

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 $12 million, $13 million and $11 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. These expenses are recorded as “Net investment income” in the Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).

Derivative Trades

In its ordinary course of business, the Company enters into OTC derivative ~~positions where it~~contracts with an affiliate, PGF. For these OTC derivative contracts, PGF has ~~written or purchased credit protection~~a substantially equal and offsetting position with an external counterparty. See Note 4 for additional information.

Joint Ventures

Affiliated Asset Administration Fee Income

The Company has a revenue sharing agreement with AST Investment Services, Inc. (“ASTISI”) and PGIM Investments LLC (“PGIM Investments”) whereby the Company receives fee income based on policyholders' separate account balances invested in the Advanced Series Trust and the Prudential Series Fund. Income received from ASTISI and PGIM Investments related to this agreement was $105 million, $111 million and $112 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. These revenues are recorded as “Asset administration fees and other income” in the Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).

Affiliated Notes Receivable

Affiliated notes receivable included in "Receivables from parent and affiliates" at December 31, were as follows:



	Maturity Dates			Interest Rates				2018		2017
								(in thousands)
U.S. dollar floating rate notes			2028	3.83%	-	4.25	%	$	34,008	$	34,268
U.S. dollar fixed rate notes	2027	-	2027	8.15%	-	14.85	%	3,184		3,877
Total long-term notes receivable - affiliated(1)								$	37,192	$	38,145


(1)	All long-term notes receivable may be called for prepayment prior to the respective maturity dates under specified circumstances.

The affiliated notes receivable shown above are classified as available-for-sale securities and other trading assets carried at fair value. The Company monitors the internal and external credit ratings of these loans and loan performance. The Company also considers any guarantees made by Prudential Insurance for loans due from affiliates.

Accrued interest receivable related to these loans was $0.3 million and $0.2 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and is included in “Other assets”. Revenues related to these loans were $0.4 million, $0.7 million and $0.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and are included in “Asset administration fees and other income”.

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~~Credit Risk~~Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

Affiliated Asset Transfers

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 APIC and "Realized investment gains (losses), net", respectively. The table below shows affiliated asset trades for the years ended December 31, 2018 and 2017:



Affiliate	Date	Transaction	Security Type	Fair Value		Book Value		APIC, Net of Tax Increase/ (Decrease)		Realized Investment Gain/ (Loss), Net of Tax
				(in thousands)
Pruco Life	January 2017	Sale	Fixed Maturities	$	29	$	29	$	0	$	0
Prudential Insurance	October 2017	Sale	Commercial Mortgages	$	131,953	$	128,529	$	0	$	2,226
Gibraltar Universal Life Reinsurance Company	October 2017	Purchase	Fixed Maturities	$	113,686	$	96,583	$	0	$	(11,117	)
Prudential Insurance	December 2017	Purchase	Other long-term investments - Derivatives	$	171,363	$	171,363	$	0	$	0
Prudential Insurance	December 2017	Sale	Fixed Maturities	$	13,793	$	7,113	$	0	$	4,342
Prudential Insurance	February 2018	Purchase	Fixed Maturities	$	136,963	$	136,963	$	0	$	0
Pruco Life Insurance Company of Arizona	April 2018	Sale	Fixed Maturities	$	64,313	$	64,514	$	0	$	(159	)
Prudential Insurance	April 2018	Sale	Fixed Maturities	$	57,747	$	43,434	$	0	$	11,308
Prudential Insurance	May 2018	Sale	Fixed Maturity & Commercial Mortgages	$	162,111	$	159,237	$	0	$	2,271
Passaic Fund LLC	June 2018	Transfer Out	Other Invested Assets - Privates	$	15,281	$	15,281	$	0	$	0
Prudential Insurance	July 2018	Sale	Fixed Maturities	$	11,160	$	9,277	$	0	$	1,488
Prudential Insurance	August 2018	Sale	Commercial Mortgages	$	13,414	$	13,165	$	0	$	196
Prudential Insurance	December 2018	Purchase	Fixed Maturities	$	33,256	$	33,166	$	0	$	(71	)
Prudential Agricultural Investors LP	December 2018	Transfer Out	Other Invested Assets - Privates	$	7,324	$	7,324	$	0	$	0

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

Debt Agreements

The Company is ~~exposed~~authorized to ~~credit-related losses~~borrow funds up to $9 billion from Prudential Financial and its affiliates to meet its capital and other funding needs. The debt issued during the second quarter of 2016 in the ~~event~~table below was assigned from affiliates as part of ~~non-performance by counterparty~~the Variable Annuities Recapture, as described further in Note 1. The following table provides the breakout of the Company's short and long-term debt to ~~financial derivative~~affiliates:



Affiliate	Date Issued	Amount of Notes - December 31, 2018		Amount of Notes - December 31, 2017		Interest Rate			Date of Maturity
		(in thousands)
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	0		18,734			2.60	%		12/15/2018
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	0		25,000			2.60	%		12/15/2018
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	46,835		46,835			2.80	%		6/20/2019
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	18,734		18,734			2.80	%		6/20/2019
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	37,468		37,468			3.64	%		12/6/2020
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	93,671		93,671			3.64	%		12/15/2020
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	103,039		103,039			3.64	%		12/15/2020
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	93,671		93,671			3.47	%		6/20/2021
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	93,671		93,671			4.39	%		12/15/2023
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	28,102		28,102			4.39	%		12/15/2023
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	37,468		37,468			3.95	%		6/20/2024
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	93,671		93,671			3.95	%		6/20/2024
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	46,835		46,835			3.95	%		6/20/2024
Prudential Insurance	6/28/2016	30,000		30,000			2.08	%		6/28/2019
Prudential Insurance	6/28/2016	50,000		50,000			3.49	%		6/28/2026
Prudential Insurance	6/28/2016	25,000		25,000			3.49	%		6/28/2026
Prudential Insurance	6/28/2016	26,000		26,000			2.59	%		6/28/2021
Prudential Insurance	6/28/2016	25,000		25,000			2.08	%		6/28/2019
Prudential Insurance	6/28/2016	20,000		20,000			2.08	%		6/28/2019
Prudential Insurance	6/28/2016	25,000		25,000			3.49	%		6/28/2026
Prudential Retirement Insurance & Annuity	6/28/2016	34,000		34,000			3.09	%		6/28/2023
Total Loans Payable to Affiliates		$	928,165	$	971,899

The total interest expense to the Company related to loans and other payables to affiliates was $58 million, $66 million and $53 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Contributed Capital and Dividends

Through December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company did not receive any capital contributions. In June of 2016, the Company received a capital contribution in the amount of $8,422 million from PAI, related to the Variable Annuities Recapture, as discussed in Note 1.

In March, June, September and December of 2018, there was a $300 million, $250 million, $250 million and $225 million return of capital, respectively, to PAI. In June, September and December of 2017, there was a $100 million, $200 million and $650 million return of capital, respectively, to PAI. In December of 2016, there was a $1,140 million return of capital to PAI.

Reinsurance with Affiliates

As discussed in Note 10, the Company participates in reinsurance transactions with ~~a positive fair value. The Company manages credit risk by entering into derivative transactions with its affiliate,~~ certain affiliates.

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Prudential ~~Global Funding, LLC (“PGF”), related~~Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes 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 a central clearing and OTC; (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.Financial Statements - (Continued)

~~Substantially all of the Company’s derivative agreements have zero thresholds which require daily full collateralization by the party in a liability position.~~

~~12.~~15. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES ~~AND LITIGATION AND REGULATORY MATTERS~~

Commitments

The Company has made commitments to fund ~~$37~~$4 million and $9$37 million of commercial loans as of December 31, ~~2017~~2018 and ~~2016,~~2017, respectively. The Company also made commitments to purchase or fund investments, mostly private fixed maturities, of ~~$134~~$271 million and ~~$121~~$134 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, ~~and 2016,~~ respectively.

~~Contingent Liabilities~~Expense Charges and Allocations

~~On an ongoing basis,~~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 ~~operations including, but not limited~~allocation methodology periodically which it may adjust accordingly. General and administrative expenses include allocations of stock compensation expenses related to ~~practices~~a stock-based awards program and ~~procedures for meeting obligations~~a deferred compensation program issued by Prudential Financial. The expense charged to our customers and other parties. This review may result in the modification or enhancement of processes, including concerning the timing or computation of payments to customers and other parties. In certain cases, if appropriate, the Company ~~may offer customers or other parties remediation~~for the stock-based awards program was $0.1 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and ~~may incur charges, including~~2016. The expense charged to the ~~cost of such remediation, administrative costs~~Company for the deferred compensation program was $0.5 million, $0.9 million and ~~regulatory fines.~~$0.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

The Company is ~~subject to the laws~~charged for its share of employee benefit expenses. These expenses include costs for funded and ~~regulations of states~~non-funded contributory 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 discussionnon-contributory defined benefit pension plans. Some of these ~~matters, see “Litigation~~benefits are based on final earnings and ~~Regulatory Matters” below.~~

~~It is possible that~~length of service while others are based on an account balance, which takes into consideration age, service and earnings during a career. The Company’s share of net expense for the ~~results of operations or~~pension plans was $2 million, $1 million and $1 million for 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 reservesyears ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and ~~rights to indemnification, should not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position.~~

~~Litigation and Regulatory Matters~~2016, respectively.

The Company is ~~subject~~also charged for its share of the costs associated with welfare plans issued by Prudential Insurance. These expenses include costs related to ~~legal~~medical, dental, life insurance and ~~regulatory actions in~~disability. The Company's share of net expense for the ~~ordinary course~~welfare plans was $2 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016.

Prudential Insurance sponsors voluntary savings plans for its ~~business. Pending legal~~employee 401(k) plans. The plans provide for salary reduction contributions by employees and ~~regulatory actions include proceedings specific to~~matching contributions by the Company ~~and proceedings generally applicable~~of up to ~~business practices in the industry in which it operates.~~4% of annual salary. 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 ofCompany's expense for 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 someshare of the ~~Company’s pending legal~~voluntary savings plan was $0.7 million, $0.5 million and ~~regulatory actions, parties are seeking large and/or indeterminate amounts, including punitive or exemplary damages. The outcome of litigation or a regulatory matter,~~$0.5 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and ~~the amount or range of potential loss at any particular time, is often inherently uncertain.~~2016, respectively.

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

The Company ~~establishes accruals~~pays commissions and certain other fees to PAD in consideration for ~~litigation~~PAD’s marketing and ~~regulatory matters when it is probable that a loss has been incurred~~underwriting of the Company’s products. Commissions and fees are paid by PAD to broker-dealers who sell the ~~amount of that loss can be reasonably estimated. For litigation~~Company’s products. Commissions 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~~fees paid by the ~~matter, if material, is disclosed, including matters discussed below.~~ Company to PAD were $122 million, $109 million and $108 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

The Company ~~estimates that~~is charged for its share of corporate expenses incurred by Prudential Financial to benefit its businesses, such as advertising, executive oversight, external affairs and philanthropic activity. The Company’s share of corporate expenses was $15 million, $14 million and $10 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Affiliated Investment Management Expenses

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. See Note 4 for additional information.

Joint Ventures

The Company has made investments in joint ventures with certain subsidiaries of Prudential Financial. "Other invested assets" includes $228 million and $111 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, ~~the aggregate range~~respectively. "Net investment income" related to these ventures includes a gain of ~~reasonably possible losses in excess of accruals established for those litigation~~$1 million, $9 million and regulatory matters for which such an estimate currently can be made is less than $150 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.

~~Escheatment Audit and Claims Settlement Practices Market Conduct Exam~~

In January 2012, a Global Resolution Agreement entered into by the Company and a third-party auditor became effective upon its acceptance by the unclaimed property departments of 20 states and jurisdictions. Under the terms of the Global Resolution Agreement, the third-party auditor acting on behalf of the signatory states will compare expanded matching criteria to the Social Security Master Death File (“SSMDF”) to identify deceased insureds and contractholders where a valid claim has not been made. In February 2012, a Regulatory Settlement Agreement entered into by the Company to resolve a multi-state market conduct examination regarding its adherence to state claim settlement practices became effective upon its acceptance by the insurance departments of 20 states and jurisdictions. The Regulatory Settlement Agreement applies prospectively and requires the Company to adopt and implement additional procedures comparing its records to the SSMDF to identify unclaimed death benefits and prescribes procedures for identifying and locating beneficiaries once deaths are identified. Substantially all other jurisdictions that are not signatories to the Global Resolution Agreement or the Regulatory Settlement Agreement have entered into similar agreements with the Company. During 2017, audits were satisfactorily completed by the third party auditor of the Global Resolution Agreement and by the regulators$5 million for the ~~Regulatory Settlement Agreement to assure that the Company had complied with the terms of both agreements.~~years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

The New York Attorney General has subpoenaed the Company, along with other companies, regarding its unclaimed property procedures and may ultimately seek remediation and other relief, including damages. Additionally, the New York Office of Unclaimed Funds is conducting an audit of the Company’s compliance with New York’s unclaimed property laws.

~~Securities Lending Matter~~

In 2016, Prudential Financial self-reported to the SEC and the DOL, and notified other regulators, that in some cases it failed to maximize securities lending income for the benefit of certain separate account investments due to a long-standing restriction benefiting Prudential Financial that limited the availability of loanable securities. Prudential Financial has removed the restriction and substantially implemented a remediation plan for the benefit of customers. Prudential Financial is cooperating with regulators in their review of this matter (which includes a review of the remediation plan) and has entered into discussions with the SEC staff regarding a possible settlement that would potentially involve charges under the Investment Advisers Act and financial remedies. Prudential Financial cannot predict the outcome of these discussions.

~~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.

~~Table of Contents~~

~~Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation~~

~~Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)~~

~~13. REINSURANCE~~Affiliated Asset Administration Fee Income

The Company ~~uses reinsurance as part of its risk management~~has a revenue sharing agreement with AST Investment Services, Inc. (“ASTISI”) and ~~capital management strategies for certain of its living benefit guarantees and variable annuity base contracts. Through March 31, 2016,~~PGIM Investments LLC (“PGIM Investments”) whereby the Company ~~reinsured its living benefit guarantees~~receives fee income based on ~~certain variable annuity products to Pruco Re~~policyholders' separate account balances invested in the Advanced Series Trust and the Prudential ~~Insurance, which are the legal entities in which the Company previously executed its living benefit hedging program. Effective April 1, 2016 the Company recaptured the risks~~Series Fund. Income received from ASTISI and PGIM Investments related to ~~its variable annuity living benefit guarantees that were previously reinsured to Pruco Re~~this agreement was $105 million, $111 million and ~~Prudential Insurance,~~$112 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively. These revenues are recorded as discussed further in Note 1. In addition, the Company reinsured variable annuity base contracts, along with the living benefit guarantees, from Pruco Life, excluding the PLNJ business which was reinsured to Prudential Insurance. This reinsurance covers new“Asset administration fees and ~~in force business and excludes business reinsured externally.~~

In the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company surrendered its New York License. The Company recaptured the New York living benefits previously ceded to Pruco Re, and reinsured the majority of its New York business, both the living benefit guarantees and base contracts, to Prudential Insurance. See Note 1 for additional information.

Realized investment gains and losses include the impact of reinsurance agreements, particularly reinsurance agreements involving living benefit guarantees. These reinsurance agreements are derivatives and have been accounted forother income” in the ~~same manner as embedded derivatives~~Statements of Operations and ~~the changes in the fair value of these derivatives are recognized through "Realized investment gains (losses), net"~~Comprehensive Income (Loss). ~~See Note 11 for additional information related to the accounting for embedded derivatives.~~

~~Reinsurance amounts~~Affiliated Notes Receivable

Affiliated notes receivable included in ~~the Company's Statements of Financial Position as of~~"Receivables from parent and affiliates" at December 31, were as follows:

2017 2016
(in thousands)
Reinsurance recoverables $ 563,428
$ 588,608
Deferred policy acquisition costs 3,766,066
3,557,248
Deferred sales inducements 540,389
520,182
Value of business acquired (2,702 ) (2,357 )
Other assets 105,167
112,802
Policyholders’ account balances 2,825,030
2,576,357
Future policy benefits 5,511,496
5,130,753
Reinsurance payables(1) 262,588
275,822
Other liabilities 329,019
335,713



	Maturity Dates			Interest Rates				2018		2017
								(in thousands)
U.S. dollar floating rate notes			2028	3.83%	-	4.25	%	$	34,008	$	34,268
U.S. dollar fixed rate notes	2027	-	2027	8.15%	-	14.85	%	3,184		3,877
Total long-term notes receivable - affiliated(1)								$	37,192	$	38,145


(1)	~~"Reinsurance payables" includes $0.1 million of unaffiliated activity as of both December 31, 2017 and 2016.~~All long-term notes receivable may be called for prepayment prior to the respective maturity dates under specified circumstances.

~~The reinsurance recoverables by counterparty~~Accrued interest receivable related to these loans was $0.3 million and $0.2 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and is included in “Other assets”. Revenues related to these loans were $0.4 million, $0.7 million and $0.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and are ~~broken out below:~~

December 31, 2017 December 31, 2016
(in thousands)
Prudential Insurance $ 310,758
$ 306,191
Pruco Life 252,383
282,326
Unaffiliated 287
91
Total reinsurance recoverables $ 563,428
$ 588,608
included in “Asset administration fees and other income”.

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

~~Reinsurance amounts, included~~Affiliated Asset Transfers

The Company participates in ~~the Company’s Statements of Operations~~affiliated asset trades with parent and ~~Comprehensive Income~~sister companies. Book and market value differences for trades with a parent and sister are recognized within APIC and "Realized investment gains (losses), net", respectively. The table below shows affiliated asset trades for the years ended December 31, ~~were as follows:~~2018 and 2017:

2017 2016 2015(3)
(in thousands)
Premiums:
Direct $ 33,908
$ 39,326
$ 33,250
Assumed 32,890
860,831
0
Ceded (3,225 ) (3,318 ) (23,463 )
Net premiums 63,573
896,839
9,787
Policy charges and fee income:
Direct 622,099
647,226
743,956
Assumed 1,632,132
1,153,752
0
Ceded(1) (44,652 ) (45,754 ) (3,133 )
Net policy charges and fee income 2,209,579
1,755,224
740,823
Asset administration fees and other income:
Direct 129,847
103,892
177,479
Assumed 293,275
205,221
0
Ceded (9,747 ) (9,729 ) 0
Net asset administration fees and other income 413,375
299,384
177,479
Realized investment gains (losses), net:
Direct (1,335,253 ) (3,612,578 ) 247,525
Assumed 554,686
(81,510 ) 0
Ceded (24,833 ) 251,328
(241,473 )
Realized investment gains (losses), net (805,400 ) (3,442,760 ) 6,052
Policyholders' benefits (including change in reserves):
Direct 52,477
74,438
81,719
Assumed 46,375
553,280
0
Ceded(2) 15,216
(23,661 ) (21,258 )
Net policyholders' benefits (including change in reserves) 114,068
604,057
60,461
Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances:
Direct 9,834
74,389
225,555
Assumed 24,708
(1,551 ) 0
Ceded (4,262 ) (3,949 ) 0
Net interest credited to policyholders’ account balances 30,280
68,889
225,555
Reinsurance expense allowances and general and administrative expenses, net of capitalization and amortization 725,749
563,027
(6,054 )


~~(1)~~	~~"Policy charges and fee income ceded" includes $(2) million, $(2) million and $(3) million of unaffiliated activity for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.~~


~~(2)~~	"Policyholders' benefits (including change in reserves) ceded" includes $(0.1) million, $(0.3) million and $(0.1) million of unaffiliated activity for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.


~~(3)~~	~~Prior period amounts are presented on a basis consistent with the current presentation.~~

~~Table of Contents~~

~~Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation~~

~~Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)~~



Affiliate	Date	Transaction	Security Type	Fair Value		Book Value		APIC, Net of Tax Increase/ (Decrease)		Realized Investment Gain/ (Loss), Net of Tax
				(in thousands)
Pruco Life	January 2017	Sale	Fixed Maturities	$	29	$	29	$	0	$	0
Prudential Insurance	October 2017	Sale	Commercial Mortgages	$	131,953	$	128,529	$	0	$	2,226
Gibraltar Universal Life Reinsurance Company	October 2017	Purchase	Fixed Maturities	$	113,686	$	96,583	$	0	$	(11,117	)
Prudential Insurance	December 2017	Purchase	Other long-term investments - Derivatives	$	171,363	$	171,363	$	0	$	0
Prudential Insurance	December 2017	Sale	Fixed Maturities	$	13,793	$	7,113	$	0	$	4,342
Prudential Insurance	February 2018	Purchase	Fixed Maturities	$	136,963	$	136,963	$	0	$	0
Pruco Life Insurance Company of Arizona	April 2018	Sale	Fixed Maturities	$	64,313	$	64,514	$	0	$	(159	)
Prudential Insurance	April 2018	Sale	Fixed Maturities	$	57,747	$	43,434	$	0	$	11,308
Prudential Insurance	May 2018	Sale	Fixed Maturity & Commercial Mortgages	$	162,111	$	159,237	$	0	$	2,271
Passaic Fund LLC	June 2018	Transfer Out	Other Invested Assets - Privates	$	15,281	$	15,281	$	0	$	0
Prudential Insurance	July 2018	Sale	Fixed Maturities	$	11,160	$	9,277	$	0	$	1,488
Prudential Insurance	August 2018	Sale	Commercial Mortgages	$	13,414	$	13,165	$	0	$	196
Prudential Insurance	December 2018	Purchase	Fixed Maturities	$	33,256	$	33,166	$	0	$	(71	)
Prudential Agricultural Investors LP	December 2018	Transfer Out	Other Invested Assets - Privates	$	7,324	$	7,324	$	0	$	0

~~14. EQUITY~~

~~Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)~~

~~The balance of and changes in each component of "Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” for the years ended December 31, 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, 2014 $ (30 ) $ 84,652
$ 84,622
Change in OCI before reclassifications (54 ) (54,279 ) (54,333 )
Amounts reclassified from AOCI 0
(4,831 ) (4,831 )
Income tax benefit (expense) 19
20,689
20,708
Balance, December 31, 2015 (65 ) 46,231
46,166
Change in OCI before reclassifications (20 ) (469,356 ) (469,376 )
Amounts reclassified from AOCI 0
(86,184 ) (86,184 )
Income tax benefit (expense) 7
194,439
194,446
Balance, December 31, 2016 (78 ) (314,870 ) (314,948 )
Change in OCI before reclassifications 109
320,182
320,291
Amounts reclassified from AOCI 0
3,177
3,177
Income tax benefit (expense) (38 ) (98,606 ) (98,644 )
Balance, December 31, 2017 $ (7 ) $ (90,117 ) $ (90,124 )


~~(1)~~	~~Includes cash flow hedges of $(26) million, $12 million and $15 millionas of December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015, respectively.~~

~~Reclassifications out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)~~

Year Ended December 31, 2017 Year Ended December 31, 2016 Year Ended December 31, 2015

(in thousands)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI(1)(2):
Net unrealized investment gains (losses):
Cash flow hedges - Currency/Interest rate(3) $ (1,838 ) $ 12,800
$ 2,070
Net unrealized investment gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities (1,339 ) 73,384
2,761
Total net unrealized investment gains (losses)(4) (3,177 ) 86,184
4,831
Total reclassifications for the period $ (3,177 ) $ 86,184
$ 4,831


~~(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 11 for additional information on cash flow hedges.~~


~~(4)~~	~~See table below for additional information on unrealized investment gains (losses), including the impact on deferred policy acquisition and other costs and future policy benefits.~~

~~Net Unrealized Investment Gains (Losses)~~

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

~~Table of Contents~~

~~Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation~~

~~Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)~~

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

Net Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Investments

Deferred Policy
Acquisition Costs
and Other Costs
Future Policy Benefits and Other Liabilities
Deferred
Income Tax
(Liability)
Benefit

Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
Related To Net
Unrealized
Investment
Gains (Losses)

(in thousands)
Balance, December 31, 2014 $ 1
$ 0
$ 0
$ 16
$ 17
Net investment gains (losses) on investments arising during the period (9 ) 0
0
3
(6 )
Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income 17
0
0
(6 ) 11
Reclassification adjustment for OTTI losses excluded from net income 0
0
0
0
0
Impact of net unrealized investment (gains) losses on deferred policy acquisition costs and other costs 0
(3 ) 0
1
(2 )
Impact of net unrealized investment (gains) losses on future policy benefits 0
0
0
0
0
Balance, December 31, 2015 9
(3 ) 0
14
20
Net investment gains (losses) on investments arising during the period 378
0
0
(132 ) 246
Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income 556
0
0
(195 ) 361
Reclassification adjustment for OTTI losses excluded from net income (2,204 ) 0
0
771
(1,433 )
Impact of net unrealized investment (gains) losses on deferred policy acquisition costs and other costs 0
(2,130 ) 0
746
(1,384 )
Impact of net unrealized investment (gains) losses on future policy benefits 0
0
(522 ) 183
(339 )
Balance, December 31, 2016 (1,261 ) (2,133 ) (522 ) 1,387
(2,529 )
Net investment gains (losses) on investments arising during the period 11,328
0
0
(3,481 ) 7,847
Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income 2,172
0
0
(667 ) 1,505
Reclassification adjustment for OTTI losses excluded from net income(1) 72
0
0
(22 ) 50
Impact of net unrealized investment (gains) losses on deferred policy acquisition costs and other costs 0
1,125
0
(352 ) 773
Impact of net unrealized investment (gains) losses on future policy benefits and other liabilities 0
0
365
(128 ) 237
Balance, December 31, 2017 $ 12,311
$ (1,008 ) $ (157 ) $ (3,263 ) $ 7,883


~~(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.~~

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

~~All Other Net Unrealized Investment Gains (Losses)~~Debt Agreements

The Company is authorized to borrow funds up to $9 billion from Prudential Financial and its affiliates to meet its capital and other funding needs. The debt issued during the second quarter of 2016 in ~~AOCI~~the table below was assigned from affiliates as part of the Variable Annuities Recapture, as described further in Note 1. The following table provides the breakout of the Company's short and long-term debt to affiliates:

Net Unrealized
Gains (Losses)
on Investments (1)

Deferred Policy
Acquisition Costs
and Other Costs
Future Policy Benefits and Other Liabilities
Deferred
Income Tax
(Liability)
Benefit

Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
Related To Net
Unrealized
Investment
Gains (Losses)

(in thousands)
Balance, December 31, 2014 $ 198,922
$ (59,045 ) $ (8,372 ) $ (46,870 ) $ 84,635
Net investment gains (losses) on investments arising during the period (86,623 ) 0
0
30,319
(56,304 )
Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (4,848 ) 0
0
1,697
(3,151 )
Reclassification adjustment for OTTI losses excluded from net income 0
0
0
0
0
Impact of net unrealized investment (gains) losses on deferred policy acquisition costs and other costs 0
28,580
0
(10,003 ) 18,577
Impact of net unrealized investment (gains) losses on future policy benefits 0
0
3,776
(1,322 ) 2,454
Balance, December 31, 2015 107,451
(30,465 ) (4,596 ) (26,179 ) 46,211
Net investment gains (losses) on investments arising during the period (637,597 ) 0
0
223,159
(414,438 )
Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income 85,628
0
0
(29,970 ) 55,658
Reclassification adjustment for OTTI losses excluded from net income 2,204
0
0
(771 ) 1433
Impact of net unrealized investment (gains) losses on deferred policy acquisition costs and other costs 0
(786 ) 0
275
(511 )
Impact of net unrealized investment (gains) losses on future policy benefits 0
0
(1,068 ) 374
(694 )
Balance, December 31, 2016 (442,314 ) (31,251 ) (5,664 ) 166,888
(312,341 )
Net investment gains (losses) on investments arising during the period 376,012
0
0
(115,538 ) 260,474
Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income (5,349 ) 0
0
1,644
(3,705 )
Reclassification adjustment for OTTI losses excluded from net income(2) (72 ) 0
0
22
(50 )
Impact of net unrealized investment (gains) losses on deferred policy acquisition costs and other costs 0
(50,961 ) 0
15,949
(35,012 )
Impact of net unrealized investment (gains) losses on future policy benefits and other liabilities 0
0
(11,333 ) 3,967
(7,366 )
Balance, December 31, 2017 $ (71,723 ) $ (82,212 ) $ (16,997 ) $ 72,932
$ (98,000 )



Affiliate	Date Issued	Amount of Notes - December 31, 2018		Amount of Notes - December 31, 2017		Interest Rate			Date of Maturity
		(in thousands)
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	0		18,734			2.60	%		12/15/2018
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	0		25,000			2.60	%		12/15/2018
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	46,835		46,835			2.80	%		6/20/2019
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	18,734		18,734			2.80	%		6/20/2019
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	37,468		37,468			3.64	%		12/6/2020
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	93,671		93,671			3.64	%		12/15/2020
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	103,039		103,039			3.64	%		12/15/2020
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	93,671		93,671			3.47	%		6/20/2021
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	93,671		93,671			4.39	%		12/15/2023
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	28,102		28,102			4.39	%		12/15/2023
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	37,468		37,468			3.95	%		6/20/2024
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	93,671		93,671			3.95	%		6/20/2024
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	46,835		46,835			3.95	%		6/20/2024
Prudential Insurance	6/28/2016	30,000		30,000			2.08	%		6/28/2019
Prudential Insurance	6/28/2016	50,000		50,000			3.49	%		6/28/2026
Prudential Insurance	6/28/2016	25,000		25,000			3.49	%		6/28/2026
Prudential Insurance	6/28/2016	26,000		26,000			2.59	%		6/28/2021
Prudential Insurance	6/28/2016	25,000		25,000			2.08	%		6/28/2019
Prudential Insurance	6/28/2016	20,000		20,000			2.08	%		6/28/2019
Prudential Insurance	6/28/2016	25,000		25,000			3.49	%		6/28/2026
Prudential Retirement Insurance & Annuity	6/28/2016	34,000		34,000			3.09	%		6/28/2023
Total Loans Payable to Affiliates		$	928,165	$	971,899


~~(1)~~	~~Includes cash flow hedges. See Note 11 for information on cash flow hedges.~~


~~(2)~~	~~Represents "transfers out" related to the portion of OTTI losses recognized during the period that were not recognized in earnings for securities with no prior OTTI loss.~~

Contributed Capital and Dividends

Reinsurance with Affiliates

As discussed in Note 10, the Company participates in reinsurance transactions with certain affiliates.

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

15. ~~RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS~~COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

Commitments

The Company has ~~extensive transactions~~made commitments to fund $4 million and ~~relationships with Prudential Insurance~~$37 million of commercial loans as of December 31, 2018 and ~~other affiliates. Although we seek~~2017, respectively. The Company also made commitments to ~~ensure that these transactions~~purchase or fund investments, mostly private fixed maturities, of $271 million and ~~relationships are fair~~$134 million as of December 31, 2018 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.~~2017, respectively.

Expense Charges and Allocations

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-based awards program and a deferred compensation program issued by Prudential Financial. The expense charged to the Company for the stock-based awards program was $0.1 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 ~~2016~~ and ~~2015.~~2016. The expense charged to the Company for the deferred compensation program was $0.5 million, $0.9 million ~~$0.8 million~~ and ~~$0.6~~$0.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 ~~2016~~ and ~~2015,~~2016, respectively.

The Company is charged for its share of employee benefit 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 earnings and length of service while others are based on an account balance, which takes into consideration age, service and earnings during a career. The Company’s share of net expense for the pension plans was $2 million, $1 million and $1 million for ~~each of~~ the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, ~~and 2015.~~respectively.

Prudential Insurance sponsors voluntary savings plans for its employee 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 $0.7 million, $0.5 million and $0.5 million for ~~each of~~ the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, ~~and 2015.~~respectively.

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

The Company pays commissions and certain other fees to 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 $122 million, $109 million ~~$108 million~~ and ~~$143~~$108 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 ~~2016~~ and ~~2015,~~2016, respectively.

The Company is charged for its share of corporate expenses incurred by Prudential Financial to benefit its businesses, such as advertising, executive oversight, external affairs and philanthropic activity. The Company’s share of corporate expenses was $15 million, $14 million ~~$10 million~~ and ~~$11~~$10 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 and 2016, ~~and 2015,~~ respectively.

Certain operating costs, including rental of office space, furniture, and equipment, have been charged to the Company at cost by Prudential Annuities Information Services and Technology Corporation (“PAIST”), an affiliated company. The Company signed a written service agreement with PAIST for these services executed and approved by the Connecticut Insurance Department in 1995. This agreement automatically continues in effect from year to year and may be terminated by either party upon 30 days written notice. Allocated lease expense was $3 million, $4 million and $4 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Sub-lease rental income, recorded as a reduction to lease expense, was $0 million for each of the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015. Assuming that the written service agreement between PALAC and PAIST continues indefinitely, PALAC's allocated future minimum lease payments and sub-lease receipts per year and in aggregate as of December 31, 2017 are as follows:

~~Table of Contents~~

~~Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation~~

~~Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)~~

Lease Sub-Lease
(in thousands)
2018 $ 2,992
$ 0
2019 2,742
0
2020 2,992
0
2021 2,992
0
2022 2,992
0
2023 and thereafter 0
0
Total $ 14,710
$ 0

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 $12 million, $13 million ~~$11 million~~ and $5$11 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 ~~2016~~ and ~~2015,~~2016, respectively. These expenses are recorded as “Net investment income” in the Statements of Operations and Comprehensive ~~Income.~~Income (Loss).

Derivative Trades

Joint Ventures

The Company has made investments in joint ventures with certain subsidiaries of Prudential Financial. "Other ~~long-term investments"~~invested assets" includes ~~$111~~$228 million and ~~$102~~$111 million as of December 31, ~~2017~~2018 and ~~2016,~~2017, respectively. "Net investment income" related to these ventures includes a gain of $1 million, $9 million ~~$5 million~~ and ~~$0.1~~$5 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 ~~2016~~ and ~~2015,~~2016, respectively.

Affiliated Asset Administration Fee Income

The Company has a revenue sharing agreement with AST Investment Services, Inc. (“ASTISI”) and PGIM Investments LLC (“PGIM Investments”) whereby the Company receives fee income based on policyholders' separate account balances invested in the Advanced Series Trust and the Prudential Series Fund. Income received from ASTISI and PGIM Investments related to this agreement was $105 million, $111 million ~~$112 million~~ and ~~$173~~$112 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 ~~2016~~ and ~~2015,~~2016, respectively. These revenues are recorded as “Asset administration fees and other income” in the Statements of Operations and Comprehensive ~~Income.~~Income (Loss).

Affiliated Notes Receivable

Affiliated notes receivable included in "Receivables from parent and affiliates" at December 31, were as follows:

Maturity Dates Interest Rates 2017 2016
(in thousands)
U.S. Dollar floating rate notes 2028 2.77% - 3.12 % $ 34,268
$ 0
U.S. Dollar fixed rate notes 2027 - 2028 2.31% - 14.85 % 3,877
40,925
Total long-term notes receivable - affiliated(1) $ 38,145
$ 40,925



	Maturity Dates			Interest Rates				2018		2017
								(in thousands)
U.S. dollar floating rate notes			2028	3.83%	-	4.25	%	$	34,008	$	34,268
U.S. dollar fixed rate notes	2027	-	2027	8.15%	-	14.85	%	3,184		3,877
Total long-term notes receivable - affiliated(1)								$	37,192	$	38,145


(1)	All long-term notes receivable may be called for prepayment prior to the respective maturity dates under specified circumstances.

The affiliated notes receivable shown above ~~include those classified as loans, and carried at unpaid principal balance, net of any allowance for losses and those~~are classified as available-for-sale securities and other trading ~~account~~ assets carried at fair value. The Company monitors the internal and external credit ratings of these loans and loan performance. The Company also considers any guarantees made by Prudential Insurance for loans due from affiliates.

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

Accrued interest receivable related to these loans was $0.2 million and $0.1 million as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, and is included in “Other assets”. Revenues related to these loans were $0.7 million, $0.9 million and $1 million for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and are included in “Asset administration fees and other income”.

Affiliated Asset Transfers


Affiliate	Date	Transaction	Security Type	Fair Value		Book Value		APIC, Net of Tax Increase/ (Decrease)			Realized Investment Gain/ (Loss), Net of Tax			Date	Transaction	Security Type	Fair Value		Book Value		APIC, Net of Tax Increase/ (Decrease)		Realized Investment Gain/ (Loss), Net of Tax
				(in thousands)													(in thousands)
Gibraltar Life Insurance Co Ltd	August 2016	Sale	Fixed Maturities	$	11,559	$	11,485	$	0		$	48
Prudential Insurance	September 2016	Sale	Fixed Maturities	$	47,066	$	36,639	$	0		$	6,777
Pruco Re	September 2016	Transfer in	Fixed Maturities	$	91,586	$	80,732	$	(7,055	)	$	0
Pruco Life	January 2017	Sale	Fixed Maturities	$	29	$	29	$	0		$	0		January 2017	Sale	Fixed Maturities	$	29	$	29	$	0	$	0
Prudential Insurance	October 2017	Sale	Commercial Mortgages	$	131,953	$	128,529	$	0		$	2,226		October 2017	Sale	Commercial Mortgages	$	131,953	$	128,529	$	0	$	2,226
Gibraltar Universal Life Reinsurance Company	October 2017	Purchase	Fixed Maturities	$	113,686	$	96,583	$	0		$	(11,117	)	October 2017	Purchase	Fixed Maturities	$	113,686	$	96,583	$	0	$	(11,117	)
Prudential Insurance	December 2017	Purchase	Other long-term investments - Derivatives	$	171,363	$	171,363	$	0		$	0		December 2017	Purchase	Other long-term investments - Derivatives	$	171,363	$	171,363	$	0	$	0
Prudential Insurance	December 2017	Sale	Fixed Maturities	$	13,793	$	7,113	$	0		$	4,342		December 2017	Sale	Fixed Maturities	$	13,793	$	7,113	$	0	$	4,342
Prudential Insurance														February 2018	Purchase	Fixed Maturities	$	136,963	$	136,963	$	0	$	0
Pruco Life Insurance Company of Arizona														April 2018	Sale	Fixed Maturities	$	64,313	$	64,514	$	0	$	(159	)
Prudential Insurance														April 2018	Sale	Fixed Maturities	$	57,747	$	43,434	$	0	$	11,308
Prudential Insurance														May 2018	Sale	Fixed Maturity & Commercial Mortgages	$	162,111	$	159,237	$	0	$	2,271
Passaic Fund LLC														June 2018	Transfer Out	Other Invested Assets - Privates	$	15,281	$	15,281	$	0	$	0
Prudential Insurance														July 2018	Sale	Fixed Maturities	$	11,160	$	9,277	$	0	$	1,488
Prudential Insurance														August 2018	Sale	Commercial Mortgages	$	13,414	$	13,165	$	0	$	196
Prudential Insurance														December 2018	Purchase	Fixed Maturities	$	33,256	$	33,166	$	0	$	(71	)
Prudential Agricultural Investors LP														December 2018	Transfer Out	Other Invested Assets - Privates	$	7,324	$	7,324	$	0	$	0

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

Debt Agreements

The Company is authorized to borrow funds up to $9 billion from Prudential Financial and its affiliates to meet its capital and other funding needs. The debt issued during the second quarter of 2016 in the table below was assigned from affiliates as part of the Variable Annuities Recapture, as described further in Note 1. The following table provides the breakout of the Company's ~~short-term~~short and long-term debt ~~with~~to affiliates:

~~Table of Contents~~

~~Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation~~

~~Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)~~


Affiliate	Date Issued	Amount of Notes - December 31, 2017		Amount of Notes - December 31, 2016		Interest Rate			Date of Maturity		Date Issued	Amount of Notes - December 31, 2018		Amount of Notes - December 31, 2017		Interest Rate			Date of Maturity
		(in thousands)										(in thousands)
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	$	0	$	28,101		1.89	%		6/20/2017	4/20/2016	0		18,734			2.60	%		12/15/2018
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	18,734		18,734			2.60	%		12/15/2018	4/20/2016	0		25,000			2.60	%		12/15/2018
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	25,000		25,000			2.60	%		12/15/2018	4/20/2016	46,835		46,835			2.80	%		6/20/2019
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	46,835		46,835			2.80	%		6/20/2019	4/20/2016	18,734		18,734			2.80	%		6/20/2019
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	18,734		18,734			2.80	%		6/20/2019	4/20/2016	37,468		37,468			3.64	%		12/6/2020
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	37,468		37,468			3.64	%		12/6/2020	4/20/2016	93,671		93,671			3.64	%		12/15/2020
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	93,671		93,671			3.64	%		12/15/2020	4/20/2016	103,039		103,039			3.64	%		12/15/2020
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	103,039		103,039			3.64	%		12/15/2020	4/20/2016	93,671		93,671			3.47	%		6/20/2021
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	93,671		93,671			3.47	%		6/20/2021	4/20/2016	93,671		93,671			4.39	%		12/15/2023
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	93,671		93,671			4.39	%		12/15/2023	4/20/2016	28,102		28,102			4.39	%		12/15/2023
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	28,102		28,102			4.39	%		12/15/2023	4/20/2016	37,468		37,468			3.95	%		6/20/2024
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	37,468		37,468			3.95	%		6/20/2024	4/20/2016	93,671		93,671			3.95	%		6/20/2024
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	93,671		93,671			3.95	%		6/20/2024	4/20/2016	46,835		46,835			3.95	%		6/20/2024
Prudential Insurance	4/20/2016	46,835		46,835			3.95	%		6/20/2024	6/28/2016	30,000		30,000			2.08	%		6/28/2019
Prudential Insurance	6/28/2016	30,000		30,000			2.08	%		6/28/2019	6/28/2016	50,000		50,000			3.49	%		6/28/2026
Prudential Insurance	6/28/2016	50,000		50,000			3.87	%		6/28/2026	6/28/2016	25,000		25,000			3.49	%		6/28/2026
Prudential Insurance	6/28/2016	25,000		25,000			3.49	%		6/28/2026	6/28/2016	26,000		26,000			2.59	%		6/28/2021
Prudential Insurance	6/28/2016	26,000		26,000			2.59	%		6/28/2021	6/28/2016	25,000		25,000			2.08	%		6/28/2019
Prudential Insurance	6/28/2016	25,000		25,000			2.08	%		6/28/2019	6/28/2016	20,000		20,000			2.08	%		6/28/2019
Prudential Insurance	6/28/2016	20,000		20,000			2.08	%		6/28/2019	6/28/2016	25,000		25,000			3.49	%		6/28/2026
Prudential Insurance	6/28/2016	25,000		25,000			3.49	%		6/28/2026
Prudential Retirement Insurance & Annuity	6/28/2016	34,000		34,000			3.09	%		6/28/2023	6/28/2016	34,000		34,000			3.09	%		6/28/2023
Total Loans Payable to Affiliates		$	971,899	$	1,000,000							$	928,165	$	971,899

The total interest expense to the Company related to loans and other payables to affiliates was $58 million, $66 million ~~$53 million~~ and ~~$0.0~~$53 million for the years ended December 31, 2018, 2017 ~~2016~~ and ~~2015,~~2016, respectively.

Contributed Capital and Dividends

~~For the year ended~~Through December 31, 2018 and 2017, the Company did not receive any capital contributions. In June of 2016, the Company received a capital contribution in the amount of $8,422 million from PAI, related to the Variable Annuities Recapture, as discussed in Note 1. ~~For the year ended~~

In March, June, September and December ~~31, 2015, the Company did not receive any~~of 2018, there was a $300 million, $250 million, $250 million and $225 million return of capital, ~~contributions.~~

respectively, to PAI. In June, September and December of 2017, there was a $100 million, $200 million and $650 million return of capital, respectively, to PAI. In December of 2016, there was a $1,140 million return of capital to PAI. ~~In June and December of 2015, the Company paid dividends in the amounts of $270 million and $180 million, respectively, to Prudential Financial.~~

Reinsurance with Affiliates

As discussed in Note ~~13,~~10, the Company participates in reinsurance transactions with certain affiliates.

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

15. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

Commitments

The Company has made commitments to fund $4 million and $37 million of commercial loans as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The Company also made commitments to purchase or fund investments, mostly private fixed maturities, of $271 million and $134 million as of December 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

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 cost 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 December 31, 2018, 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 $150 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.

Unclaimed Property

In 2011 the New York Attorney General subpoenaed the Company, along with other companies, regarding its unclaimed property procedures and may ultimately seek remediation and other relief, including damages. Additionally, in 2011 the New York Office of Unclaimed Funds commenced an audit of the Company’s compliance with New York’s unclaimed property laws.

Securities Lending and Foreign Tax Reclaim Matter

In 2016, Prudential Financial self-reported to the SEC and the U.S. Department of Labor ("DOL"), and notified other regulators, that in some cases it failed to maximize securities lending income for the benefit of certain separate account investments due to a long-standing restriction benefiting Prudential Financial that limited the availability of loanable securities. Prudential Financial has removed the restriction and implemented a remediation plan for the benefit of customers. As part of Prudential Financial’s review of this matter, in 2018 it further self-reported to the SEC, and notified other regulators, that in some cases it failed to timely process foreign tax reclaims for the separate account investments. Prudential Financial has corrected the foreign tax reclaim process and has implemented a remediation plan for the benefit of customers.

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)

The DOL’s review of the securities lending matter is closed. Prudential Financial is cooperating with the SEC in its review of the securities lending and foreign tax reclaim matters (which includes a review of the remediation plans) and has entered into discussions with the SEC staff regarding a possible settlement of the securities lending matter that would potentially involve charges under the Investment Advisers Act and financial remedies. Prudential Financial cannot predict the outcome of the discussions with the SEC regarding the foreign tax reclaim matter or the possible settlement of the securities lending matter.

Summary

16. CONTRACT WITHDRAWAL PROVISIONS

Most of the Company’s separate account liabilities are subject to discretionary withdrawal by contractholders at market ~~value or with market value adjustment.~~value. Separate account assets, which are carried at fair value, are adequate to pay such withdrawals, which are generally subject to surrender charges ranging from 9% to 1% for contracts held less than 10 years.

~~Table of Contents~~

~~Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation~~

~~Notes to Financial Statements - (Continued)~~

17. QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

The unaudited quarterly results of operations for the years ended December 31, ~~2017~~2018 and ~~2016~~2017 are summarized in the table below:


	Three Months Ended												Three Months Ended
	March 31			June 30			September 30			December 31			March 31		June 30			September 30		December 31

2017	(in thousands)
2018													(in thousands)
Total revenues	$	766,669		$	(726,666	)	$	1,949,155		$	314,778		$	1,331,262	$	769,260		$	826,028	$	988,030
Total benefits and expenses	386,941			(165,242		)	597,242			367,400			539,327		517,619			561,865		451,549
Income (loss) from operations before income taxes	379,728			(561,424		)	1,351,913			(52,622		)	791,935		251,641			264,163		536,481
Net income (loss)	$	262,358		$	(400,583	)	$	938,926		$	(884,205	)	$	635,679	$	202,546		$	412,236	$	432,255
2016
2017 (1)
Total revenues	$	201,095		$	(892,563	)	$	719,985		$	(181,460	)	$	766,669	$	(726,666	)	$	1,949,155	$	314,778
Total benefits and expenses	429,590			1,215,062			(149,250		)	122,236			386,941		(165,242		)	597,242		367,400
Income (loss) from operations before income taxes	(228,495		)	(2,107,625		)	869,235			(303,696		)	379,728		(561,424		)	1,351,913		(52,622		)
Net income (loss)	$	(142,665	)	$	(1,316,230	)	$	569,649		$	(200,842	)	$	262,358	$	(400,583	)	$	938,926	$	(884,205	)

(1) The variability in the quarterly results for 2017 was primarily due to NPR gains/losses as a result of credit spread widening/tightening coupled with $882 million tax expense impact due to the enactment of the Tax Act of 2017 on December 22, 2017. See Note ~~9 for additional information.~~

~~The variability in the quarterly results for 2016 was primarily due to the Variable Annuities Recapture. See Note 1~~11 for additional information.

~~122~~

Table of Contents

Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Independent Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

None.

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018 is included in Part II, Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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 the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”) Rules 13a-15(e), as of December 31, 2018. Based on such evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of December 31, 2018, 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 December 31, 2018 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting.

Item 9B. Other Information

None.

Table of Contents

PART III

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

We have adopted Prudential Financial’s code of business conduct and ethics known as “Making the Right Choices”. Making the Right Choices is posted at www.investor.prudential.com.

Certain of the information called for by this item is hereby incorporated herein by reference to the relevant portions of Prudential Financial’s definitive proxy statement for the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 14, 2019 to be filed by Prudential Financial with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A within 120 days after December 31, 2018 (the “Proxy Statement”).

Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

The information called for by this item is hereby incorporated herein by reference to the relevant portions of the Proxy Statement.

Table of Contents

PART IV

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

The following documents are filed as part of this report:



		Page
(a) (1)	Financial Statements-Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data	44
(2)	Financial Statement Schedules:
	Schedule I—Summary of Investments Other Than Investments in Related Parties as of December 31, 2018	120
	Any remaining schedules provided for in the applicable SEC regulations are omitted because they are either inapplicable or the relevant information is provided elsewhere within this Form 10-K.

(3) Exhibits



3. (i)(a)	Certificate Restating the Certificate of Incorporation of American Skandia Life Assurance Corporation, dated February 8, 1988 is incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K, Registration No. 33-44202, filed March 27, 2004.
(i)(b)	Certificate of Amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of American Skandia Life Assurance Corporation, dated December 17, 1999 is incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K, Registration No. 33-44202, filed March 27, 2004.
(i)(c)	Certificate of Amendment changing the name from American Skandia Life Assurance Corporation to Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation, effective as of January 1, 2008, is incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K, Registration No 33-44202, filed March 15, 2011.
(i)(d)	Articles of Domestication of Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation, effective August 31, 2013, are incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K, Registration No. 33-44202, filed August 30, 2013.
(ii)(a)	By-Laws of American Skandia Life Assurance Corporation, as amended June 17, 1998, are incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K, Registration No. 33-44202, filed March 27, 2004.
(ii)(b)	By-Laws of Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation, as amended and restated effective January 1, 2008, are incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 10-K, Registration No 33-44202, filed March 15, 2011.
(ii)(c)	Amended and Restated By-Laws of Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation, effective August 31, 2013, are incorporated by reference to the Company’s Form 8-K, Registration No. 33-44202, filed August 30, 2013.
24. Powers of Attorney are filed herewith.
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.

Table of Contents

Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation

Schedule I

Summary of Investments Other Than Investments in Related Parties

As of December 31, 2018

(in thousands)



Type of Investment	Amortized Cost or Cost(1)		Fair Value		Amount Shown in the Balance Sheet
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale:
Bonds:
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government authorities and agencies	$	5,240,519	$	4,884,091	$	4,884,091
Obligations of U.S. states and their political subdivisions	133,670		131,164		131,164
Foreign governments	199,044		199,636		199,636
Asset-backed securities	505,862		505,244		505,244
Residential mortgage-backed securities	48,622		49,414		49,414
Commercial mortgage-backed securities	364,601		361,880		361,880
Public utilities	572,791		565,510		565,510
Certificates of deposit	0		0		0
All other corporate bonds	3,091,931		3,046,569		3,046,569
Redeemable preferred stock	29,425		28,165		28,165
Total fixed maturities, available-for-sale	$	10,186,465	$	9,771,673	$	9,771,673
Equity securities:
Common stocks:
Other common stocks	$	11,519	$	12,341	$	12,341
Mutual funds	4,902		4,908		4,908
Perpetual preferred stocks	2,344		3,364		3,364
Total equity securities, at fair value	$	18,765	$	20,613	$	20,613
Fixed maturities, trading	$	294,549	$	289,752	$	289,752
Commercial mortgage and other loans(2)	1,353,478				1,353,478
Policy loans	12,805				12,805
Short-term investments	37,568				37,568
Other invested assets	348,541				348,541
Total investments	$	12,252,171			$	11,834,430


(1)	For fixed maturities available-for-sale, original cost reduced by repayments and impairments and adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts.


(2)	At carrying value, which is net of allowance for credit losses.

Item 16. Form 10-K Summary

None.

Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15 (d) 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, in the City of Shelton, and State of Connecticut on the 7th day of March 2019.



PRUDENTIAL ANNUITIES LIFE ASSURANCE CORPORATION (Registrant)
By:		/s/ Kent D. Sluyter
		Kent D. Sluyter
		President and Chief Executive Officer



Signature		Title

/s/ Kent D. Sluyter		President,
Kent D. Sluyter		Chief Executive Officer and Director

/s/ John Chieffo		Executive Vice President,
John Chieffo		Chief Financial Officer, Principal Accounting Officer and Director

* Caroline A. Feeney		Director
Caroline A. Feeney

* Nandini Mongia		Director
Nandini Mongia

* Arthur W. Wallace		Director
Arthur W. Wallace

* Candace J. Woods		Director
Candace J. Woods



* By:		/s/ Lynn K. Stone
		Lynn K. Stone
		(Attorney-in-Fact)

121



		2017			2016
		(1) in millions
Excluding impact of assumption updates and other refinements:
	Net hedging impact(2)(3)	$	547		$	(294	)
	Change in portions of U.S. GAAP liability, before NPR(4)	2,259			2,162
	Change in the NPR adjustment	(3,551		)	(4,044		)
	Net impact from changes in the U.S. GAAP embedded derivative and hedge positions	(745		)	(2,176		)
	Related benefit (charge) to amortization of DAC and other costs	148			803
Net impact of assumption updates and other refinements		(75		)	1,331
Recapture and reinsurance gains (losses)		0			(2,866		)
Other investment gains (losses)		0			0
Net impact from changes in the U.S. GAAP embedded derivative and hedge positions, after the impact of NPR, DAC and other costs—reported in Individual Annuities(3)		$	(671	)	$	(2,908	)



	Balance as of March 31, 2016		Impacts of Recapture			Impacts of Reinsurance			Total
	(in millions)
ASSETS
Total investments(1)	$	3,343	$	3,084		$	10,624		$	17,051
Cash and cash equivalents	106		11			1,024			1,141
Deferred policy acquisition costs	537		0			3,134			3,671
Reinsurance recoverables	3,776		(3,401		)	320			695
Deferred sales inducements	327		0			500			827
Income tax receivable(2)	0		115			2,441			2,556
TOTAL ASSETS	46,694		(191		)	18,043			64,546
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
LIABILITIES
Policyholders' account balances	$	2,422	$	0		$	2,387		$	4,809
Future policy benefits	4,295		0			6,972			11,267
Short-term and long-term debt(3)	0		0			1,268			1,268
Other liabilities	114		0			630			744
TOTAL LIABILITIES	45,472		0			11,257			56,729
EQUITY
Additional paid-in capital(4)	901		0			8,422			9,323
Retained earnings	254		(191		)	(1,600		)	(1,537		)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	64		0			(36		)	28
TOTAL EQUITY	1,222		(191		)	6,786			7,817
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY	46,694		(191		)	18,043			64,546



Affiliate	Period	Transaction	Security Type	Fair Value		Book Value		APIC Increase/ (Decrease)		Realized Investment Gain/(Loss), Net
				(in millions)
Pruco Re	Apr - June 2016	Purchase	Derivatives	$	3,084	$	3,084	$	0	$	0
Pruco Life	Apr - June 2016	Purchase	Fixed Maturities, Trading Account Assets, Commercial Mortgages, Derivatives, JV/LP Investments and Short-Term Investments	$	6,994	$	6,994	$	0	$	0
PAI	Apr - June 2016	Contributed Capital	Fixed Maturities, Trading Account Assets and Derivatives	$	3,517	$	3,517	$	3,517	$	0



	December 31, 2017
	Amortized Cost or 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	$	5,059,168	$	9,109	$	236,627	$	4,831,650	$	0
Obligations of U.S. states and their political subdivisions	102,709		2,089		158		104,640		0
Foreign government bonds	133,859		6,878		432		140,305		0
Public utilities	567,829		31,414		2,058		597,185		0
Redeemable preferred stock	29,504		615		59		30,060		0
All other U.S. public corporate securities	1,473,761		77,379		3,416		1,547,724		0
All other U.S. private corporate securities	938,144		35,327		3,795		969,676		0
All other foreign public corporate securities	194,201		5,663		918		198,946		0
All other foreign private corporate securities	638,785		38,030		3,231		673,584		0
Asset-backed securities(1)	341,277		4,438		128		345,587		(17		)
Commercial mortgage-backed securities	502,695		7,334		4,345		505,684		0
Residential mortgage-backed securities(2)	163,334		2,950		539		165,745		(4		)
Total fixed maturities, available-for-sale	$	10,145,266	$	221,226	$	255,706	$	10,110,786	$	(21	)
Equity securities, available-for-sale:
Common stocks:
Industrial, miscellaneous & other	$	0	$	0	$	0	$	0
Mutual funds	14		4		0		18
Total equity securities, available-for-sale	$	14	$	4	$	0	$	18



	December 31, 2017				December 31, 2016
	Amortized Cost or Cost		Fair Value		Amortized Cost or Cost		Fair Value
	(in thousands)
Fixed maturities	$	161,393	$	166,360	$	147,057	$	139,513
Equity securities	11,600		15,357		7,551		10,358
Total trading account assets	$	172,993	$	181,717	$	154,608	$	149,871



	December 31, 2017				December 31, 2016
	In the Event of Death(2)		At Annuitization/ Accumulation(1)(2)		In the Event of Death(2)		At Annuitization/ Accumulation (1)(2)

Annuity Contracts	(in thousands)
Return of net deposits
Account value	$	119,182,143	N/A		$	110,194,439	N/A
Net amount at risk	$	274,617	N/A		$	463,423	N/A
Average attained age of contractholders	66 years		N/A		66 years		N/A
Minimum return or contract value
Account value	$	25,835,100	$	129,630,456	$	24,725,084	$	120,237,955
Net amount at risk	$	2,161,133	$	3,225,700	$	3,098,018	$	5,041,214
Average attained age of contractholders	69 years		67 years		69 years		66 years
Average period remaining until earliest expected annuitization	N/A		0 years		N/A		0 years



	Sales Inducements
	(in thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2014	$	665,207
Capitalization	873
Amortization - Impact of assumption and experience unlocking and true-ups	21,125
Amortization - All other	(206,263		)
Change in unrealized investment gains and losses	11,063
Ceded DSI upon reinsurance agreement with Prudential Insurance(1)	(39,253		)
Balance at December 31, 2015	452,752
Capitalization	1,805
Amortization - Impact of assumption and experience unlocking and true-ups	101,424
Amortization - All other	(81,603		)
Change in unrealized investment gains and losses	4,915
Assumed DSI upon reinsurance agreement with Pruco Life(1)	499,530
Balance at December 31, 2016	978,823
Capitalization	1,551
Amortization - Impact of assumption and experience unlocking and true-ups	145,141
Amortization - All other	(94,014		)
Change in unrealized investment gains and losses	(10,715		)
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	1,020,786



	Year Ended December 31, 2017
	Fixed Maturities Available-For-Sale
	U.S. Government		Foreign Government			Corporate Securities(5)			Asset-Backed Securities(4)
	(in thousands)
Fair value, beginning of period	$	0	$	87		$	151,989		$	31,735
Total gains (losses) (realized/unrealized):
Included in earnings:
Realized investment gains (losses), net	0		0			(6,877		)	576
Asset management fees and other income	0		0			0			0
Included in other comprehensive income (loss)	0		0			(3,627		)	217
Net investment income	0		0			7,874			183
Purchases	4,264		0			17,920			237,469
Sales	0		0			(15,283		)	(5,613		)
Issuances	0		0			0			0
Settlements	0		0			(111,675		)	(55,184		)
Transfers into Level 3(1)	0		0			64,412			106,034
Transfers out of Level 3(1)	0		(87		)	(5,370		)	(130,059		)
Other(3)	973		0			(4,157		)	0
Fair Value, end of period	$	5,237	$	0		$	95,206		$	185,358
Unrealized gains (losses) for assets still held(2):
Included in earnings:
Realized investment gains (losses), net	$	0	$	0		$	(6,498	)	$	(8	)
Asset management fees and other income	$	0	$	0		$	0		$	0



	Year Ended December 31, 2017
	Other Long-term Investments			Reinsurance Recoverables			Receivables from Parent and Affiliates			Future Policy Benefits
	(in thousands)
Fair value, beginning of period	$	0		$	240,091		$	33,962		$	(7,707,333	)
Total gains (losses) (realized/unrealized):
Included in earnings:
Realized investment gains (losses), net(6)	(7		)	(18,240		)	0			552,047
Asset management fees and other income	0			0			0			0
Included in other comprehensive income (loss)	0			0			0			0
Net investment income	0			0			0			0
Purchases	0			19,416			0			0
Sales	0			0			0			0
Issuances	0			0			0			(996,616		)
Settlements	0			0			0			0
Transfers into Level 3(1)	0			0			0			0
Transfers out of Level 3(1)	0			0			(33,962		)	0
Other(3)	154			2,739			0			0
Fair value, end of period	$	147		$	244,006		$	0		$	(8,151,902	)
Unrealized gains (losses) for assets/liabilities still held(2):
Included in earnings:
Realized investment gains (losses), net	$	(7	)	$	(10,303	)	$	0		$	307,529
Asset management fees and other income	$	0		$	0		$	0		$	0



	Year Ended December 31, 2015
	Fixed Maturities Available-For-Sale
	Foreign Government		Corporate Securities(5)			Asset-Backed Securities(4)
	(in thousands)
Total gains (losses) (realized/unrealized):
Included in earnings:
Realized investment gains (losses), net	$	0	$	46		$	9
Asset management fees and other income	$	0	$	0		$	0
Included in other comprehensive income (loss)	$	0	$	(3,039	)	$	(170	)
Net investment income	$	0	$	5,274		$	49
Unrealized gains (losses) for assets still held(2):
Included in earnings:
Realized investment gains (losses), net	$	0	$	0		$	0
Asset management fees and other income	$	0	$	0		$	0



	(in thousands)
Balance, December 31, 2014	$	4,839
Net deferred gains (losses) on cash flow hedges from January 1 to December 31, 2015	12,078
Amount reclassified into current period earnings	(2,070		)
Balance, December 31, 2015	14,847
Net deferred gains (losses) on cash flow hedges from January 1 to December 31, 2016	9,698
Amount reclassified into current period earnings	(12,800		)
Balance, December 31, 2016	11,745
Net deferred gains (losses) on cash flow hedges from January 1 to December 31, 2017	(39,434		)
Amounts reclassified into current period earnings	1,838
Balance, December 31, 2017	$	(25,851	)



	2017			2016			2015(3)
	(in thousands)
Premiums:
Direct	$	33,908		$	39,326		$	33,250
Assumed	32,890			860,831			0
Ceded	(3,225		)	(3,318		)	(23,463		)
Net premiums	63,573			896,839			9,787
Policy charges and fee income:
Direct	622,099			647,226			743,956
Assumed	1,632,132			1,153,752			0
Ceded(1)	(44,652		)	(45,754		)	(3,133		)
Net policy charges and fee income	2,209,579			1,755,224			740,823
Asset administration fees and other income:
Direct	129,847			103,892			177,479
Assumed	293,275			205,221			0
Ceded	(9,747		)	(9,729		)	0
Net asset administration fees and other income	413,375			299,384			177,479
Realized investment gains (losses), net:
Direct	(1,335,253		)	(3,612,578		)	247,525
Assumed	554,686			(81,510		)	0
Ceded	(24,833		)	251,328			(241,473		)
Realized investment gains (losses), net	(805,400		)	(3,442,760		)	6,052
Policyholders' benefits (including change in reserves):
Direct	52,477			74,438			81,719
Assumed	46,375			553,280			0
Ceded(2)	15,216			(23,661		)	(21,258		)
Net policyholders' benefits (including change in reserves)	114,068			604,057			60,461
Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances:
Direct	9,834			74,389			225,555
Assumed	24,708			(1,551		)	0
Ceded	(4,262		)	(3,949		)	0
Net interest credited to policyholders’ account balances	30,280			68,889			225,555
Reinsurance expense allowances and general and administrative expenses, net of capitalization and amortization	725,749			563,027			(6,054		)



	Lease		Sub-Lease
	(in thousands)
2018	$	2,992	$	0
2019	2,742		0
2020	2,992		0
2021	2,992		0
2022	2,992		0
2023 and thereafter	0		0
Total	$	14,710	$	0

Amortization of DAC and other balances

Requires DAC and other balances, such as unearned revenue reserves and DSI, to be amortized on a constant level basis over the expected term of the related contract, independent of expected profitability.

An entity may apply one of two adoption methods: (1) a modified retrospective transition method whereby the entity will apply the amendments to contracts in force as of the beginning of the earliest period presented on the basis of their existing carrying amounts, adjusted for the removal of any related amounts in AOCI or (2) if an entity chooses a full retrospective transition method for its future policy benefits, as described above, it is required to also use a retrospective transition method for DAC and other balances.

The options for method of adoption and the impacts of such methods are under assessment. Under the modified retrospective transition method, the Company would not expect a significant impact to the balance sheet, other than the impact of the removal of any related amounts in AOCI.

Market Risk Benefits

Requires an entity to measure all market risk benefits (e.g., living benefit and death benefit guarantees associated with variable annuities) at fair value with changes in value attributable to changes in an entity’s NPR to be recognized in OCI.

An entity will apply a retrospective transition method which will include a cumulative-effect adjustment on the balance sheet as of the earliest period presented.

Upon adoption, the Company expects an impact to retained earnings for the difference between the fair value and carrying value of benefits not currently measured at fair value (e.g., Guaranteed Minimum Death Benefits ("GMDB") on variable annuities) and an impact from reclassifying the cumulative effect of changes in NPR from retained earnings to AOCI. The magnitude of such adjustments is currently being assessed.