0000881453 us-gaap:FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember us-gaap:ForeignGovernmentDebtSecuritiesMember 2019-06-30
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

_____________________________ 
FORM 10-Q
______________________________ 

ýQUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended SeptemberJune 30, 20182019
OR
¨TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Transition Period from                      to                     
Commission File Number 033-44202
______________________________________________________________________________________________________ 
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 , CT06484
(203) (203) 926-1888
(Address and Telephone Number of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)
SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:
Title of Each ClassTrading Symbol(s)Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered
Not ApplicableNot ApplicableNot Applicable
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  ý    No  ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files).    Yes  ý    No  ¨
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 definitions of “large accelerated filer", "accelerated filer", "smaller reporting company” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filerAccelerated Filer¨Accelerated filerFiler¨
Non-accelerated filerFilerxSmaller reporting companyReporting Company¨
  Emerging growth companyGrowth 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 NovemberAugust 13, 2018,2019, 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.
Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation meets the conditions set
forth in General Instruction (H) (1) (a) and (b) on Form 10-Q and
is therefore filing this Form 10-Q in the reduced disclosure format.



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TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
   Page
 
 Item 1. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
 Item 2.
 Item 3.
 Item 4.
 Item 1.
 Item 1A.
 Item 6.




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FORWARD LOOKINGFORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain of the statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including but not limited to those in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “includes,” “plans,” “assumes,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “should,” “will,” “shall” or variations of such words are generally part of forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are made based on management’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects upon 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) financial sector regulatory reform, (b) changes in tax laws, (b)(c) fiduciary rule developments, (c)rules and other standards of care, (d) state insurance laws and developments regarding group-wide supervision, capital and reserves, and (d)(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 the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20172018 for discussion of certain risks relating to our business and investment in our securities.


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PART I - Financial Information
Item 1. Financial Statements                                     
Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position
SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and December 31, 20172018 (in thousands, except share amounts)
September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017June 30, 2019 December 31, 2018
ASSETS      
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost, 2018: $9,871,624; 2017: $10,145,266)$9,322,358
 $10,110,786
Fixed maturities, trading, at fair value (amortized cost, 2018: $271,233; 2017: $161,393)(1)261,226
 166,360
Equity securities, at fair value (cost, 2018: $9,314; 2017: $11,614)(1)13,164
 15,375
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale, at fair value (amortized cost: 2019 – $11,857,110; 2018 – $10,186,465)$12,338,984
 $9,771,673
Fixed maturities, trading, at fair value (amortized cost: 2019 – $349,419; 2018 – $294,549)372,075
 289,752
Equity securities, at fair value (cost: 2019 – $43,408; 2018 – $18,765)46,720
 20,613
Commercial mortgage and other loans1,352,403
 1,387,012
1,316,611
 1,353,478
Policy loans12,656
 12,558
12,239
 12,805
Short-term investments20,685
 711,071
6,252
 37,568
Other invested assets (includes $7,567 and $151,481 measured at fair value at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively)(1)254,050
 335,811
Other invested assets (includes $9,743 and $50,945 measured at fair value at June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively)373,782
 348,541
Total investments11,236,542
 12,738,973
14,466,663
 11,834,430
Cash and cash equivalents394,262
 1,639,939
3,998,400
 4,503,534
Deferred policy acquisition costs4,431,765
 4,596,565
4,493,194
 4,447,505
Accrued investment income76,228
 88,331
98,149
 90,895
Reinsurance recoverables487,748
 563,428
646,139
 572,102
Income taxes1,372,877
 1,116,735
1,054,353
 964,521
Value of business acquired34,967
 35,109
31,539
 33,222
Deferred sales inducements907,575
 1,020,786
863,990
 889,598
Receivables from parent and affiliates56,368
 49,351
15,172
 46,381
Other assets116,861
 121,086
102,493
 85,310
Separate account assets35,480,264
 37,990,547
33,045,792
 31,210,346
TOTAL ASSETS$54,595,457
 $59,960,850
$58,815,884
 $54,677,844
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY      
LIABILITIES      
Future policy benefits$5,984,878
 $9,132,569
$12,794,173
 $9,368,986
Policyholders’ account balances5,062,233
 4,846,152
5,732,732
 5,353,596
Payables to parent and affiliates50,967
 36,026
194,344
 30,846
Cash collateral for loaned securities7,147
 17,383
0
 384
Short-term debt184,303
 43,734
0
 140,569
Long-term debt787,596
 928,165
653,596
 787,596
Reinsurance payables214,420
 262,588
251,804
 232,937
Other liabilities395,657
 422,636
403,368
 811,016
Separate account liabilities35,480,264
 37,990,547
33,045,792
 31,210,346
Total liabilities48,167,465
 53,679,800
53,075,809
 47,936,276
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES (See Note 10)
 

 

EQUITY      
Common stock, ($100 par value; 25,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding)2,500
 2,500
Common stock, $100 par value; 25,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding2,500
 2,500
Additional paid-in capital6,345,436
 7,145,436
5,628,936
 6,120,436
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)510,750
 (776,762)
Retained earnings(126,160) 943,005
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)(430,694) (90,124)234,799
 (324,373)
Total equity6,427,992
 6,281,050
5,740,075
 6,741,568
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY$54,595,457
 $59,960,850
$58,815,884
 $54,677,844

(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 Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements
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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Unaudited Interim Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Three and Six Months Ended June 30, 2019 and 2018 (in thousands)
 Three Months Ended
June 30,
 Six Months Ended
June 30,
 2019 2018 2019 2018
REVENUES       
Premiums$18,471
 $13,295
 $35,736
 $34,329
Policy charges and fee income524,788
 547,343
 1,032,722
 1,102,633
Net investment income131,972
 100,160
 257,041
 196,871
Asset administration fees and other income115,205
 98,603
 224,593
 198,140
Realized investment gains (losses), net:       
Other-than-temporary impairments on fixed maturity securities0
 (151) (1,857) (437)
Other-than-temporary impairments on fixed maturity securities transferred to other comprehensive income (loss)0
 0
 (168) 0
Other realized investment gains (losses), net(894,215) 10,010
 (2,234,409) 568,986
Total realized investment gains (losses), net(894,215) 9,859
 (2,236,434) 568,549
Total revenues(103,779) 769,260
 (686,342) 2,100,522
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES       
Policyholders’ benefits47,890
 28,667
 55,840
 63,693
Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances33,355
 62,020
 43,782
 131,590
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs40,132
 167,392
 30,041
 323,825
Commission expense221,090
 216,356
 451,282
 451,677
General, administrative and other expenses61,810
 43,184
 119,973
 86,161
Total benefits and expenses404,277
 517,619
 700,918
 1,056,946
INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES(508,056) 251,641
 (1,387,260) 1,043,576
Income tax expense (benefit)(339,286) 49,095
 (318,466) 205,351
NET INCOME (LOSS)$(168,770) $202,546
 $(1,068,794) $838,225
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:       
Foreign currency translation adjustments(116) (361) (16) (1,128)
Net unrealized investment gains (losses)423,402
 (58,039) 707,830
 (234,318)
Total423,286
 (58,400) 707,814
 (235,446)
Less: Income tax expense (benefit) related to other comprehensive income (loss)88,891
 (12,265) 148,642
 (49,445)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax334,395
 (46,135) 559,172
 (186,001)
Comprehensive income (loss)$165,625
 $156,411
 $(509,622) $652,224















See Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements
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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)Equity
Three and NineSix Months Ended SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and 20172018 (in thousands)
 Three Months Ended
September 30,
 Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 2018 2017 2018 2017
REVENUES       
Premiums$13,679
 $12,505
 $48,008
 $48,666
Policy charges and fee income550,592
 555,907
 1,653,225
 1,646,310
Net investment income103,164
 107,953
 300,035
 314,310
Asset administration fees and other income93,320
 102,713
 291,460
 307,384
Realized investment gains (losses), net:       
Other-than-temporary impairments on fixed maturity securities(2,523) 41
 (2,960) (4,692)
Other-than-temporary impairments on fixed maturity securities transferred to other comprehensive income (loss)0
 0
 0
 (95)
Other realized investment gains (losses), net67,796
 1,170,036
 636,782
 (322,725)
Total realized investment gains (losses), net65,273
 1,170,077
 633,822
 (327,512)
Total revenues826,028
 1,949,155
 2,926,550
 1,989,158
BENEFITS AND EXPENSES       
Policyholders’ benefits49,931
 14,056
 113,624
 80,251
Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances82,313
 90,499
 213,903
 567
Amortization of deferred policy acquisition costs190,632
 260,194
 514,457
 (45,981)
Commission expense192,951
 203,619
 644,628
 640,612
General, administrative and other expenses46,038
 28,874
 132,199
 143,492
Total benefits and expenses561,865
 597,242
 1,618,811
 818,941
INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES264,163
 1,351,913
 1,307,739
 1,170,217
Income tax expense (benefit)(148,073) 412,987
 57,278
 369,516
NET INCOME (LOSS)$412,236
 $938,926
 $1,250,461
 $800,701
Other comprehensive income (loss), before tax:       
Foreign currency translation adjustments(64) 31
 (1,192) 95
Net unrealized investment gains (losses)(149,116) (7,962) (383,434) 227,398
Total(149,180) (7,931) (384,626) 227,493
Less: Income tax expense (benefit) related to other comprehensive income (loss)(31,328) (2,776) (80,773) 79,622
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax(117,852) (5,155) (303,853) 147,871
Comprehensive income (loss)$294,384
 $933,771
 $946,608
 $948,572
 
  Common  
Stock
 
 Additional  
Paid-in
Capital
 Retained Earnings 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive  
Income (Loss)
 Total Equity  
Balance, December 31, 2018$2,500
 $6,120,436
 $943,005
 $(324,373) $6,741,568
Cumulative effect of adoption of accounting changes(1)    (371) 0
 (371)
Return of capital  (245,000)     (245,000)
Comprehensive income (loss):         
Net income (loss)    (900,024)   (900,024)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax      224,777
 224,777
Total comprehensive income (loss)        (675,247)
Balance, March 31, 20192,500
 5,875,436
 42,610
 (99,596) 5,820,950
Return of capital  (246,500)     (246,500)
Comprehensive income (loss):         
Net income (loss)    (168,770)   (168,770)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax      334,395
 334,395
Total comprehensive income (loss)        165,625
Balance, June 30, 2019$2,500
 $5,628,936
 $(126,160) $234,799
 $5,740,075




 
  Common  
Stock
 
 Additional  
Paid-in
Capital
 Retained Earnings 
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive  
Income (Loss)
 Total Equity  
Balance, December 31, 2017$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
Return of capital  (300,000)     (300,000)
Comprehensive income (loss):         
Net income (loss)    635,679
   635,679
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax      (139,866) (139,866)
Total comprehensive income (loss)        495,813
Balance, March 31, 20182,500
 6,845,436
 (104,032) (266,707) 6,477,197
Return of capital  (250,000) 

 

 (250,000)
Comprehensive income (loss):         
Net income (loss)    202,546
   202,546
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax      (46,135) (46,135)
Total comprehensive income (loss)        156,411
Balance, June 30, 2018$2,500
 $6,595,436
 $98,514
 $(312,842) $6,383,608



(1) Includes the impact from the adoption of ASUs 2017-08 and 2017-12. See Note 2.












See Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements
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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statements of Equity
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands)
 Common Stock Additional Paid-in Capital Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Total Equity  
Balance, December 31, 2017$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
Return of capital  (800,000)     (800,000)
Comprehensive income:         
Net income (loss)    1,250,461
   1,250,461
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax      (303,853) (303,853)
Total comprehensive income (loss)
 
 
 
 946,608
Balance, September 30, 2018$2,500
 $6,345,436
 $510,750
 $(430,694) $6,427,992
          
 Common Stock Additional Paid-in Capital Retained Earnings (Accumulated Deficit) Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Total Equity  
Balance, December 31, 2016$2,500
 $8,095,436
 $(693,258) $(314,948) $7,089,730
Return of capital  (300,000)     (300,000)
Comprehensive income:         
Net income (loss)    800,701
   800,701
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax      147,871
 147,871
Total comprehensive income (loss)
 
 
 
 948,572
Balance, September 30, 2017$2,500
 $7,795,436
 $107,443
 $(167,077) $7,738,302














See Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements
Table of Contents


Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
NineSix Months Ended SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and 20172018 (in thousands)
 2019 2018
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:   
Net income (loss)$(1,068,794) $838,225
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
Policy charges and fee income(618) (1,487)
Realized investment (gains) losses, net2,236,434
 (568,549)
Depreciation and amortization(69) 3,748
Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances43,782
 131,590
Change in:

 

Future policy benefits518,143
 516,173
Accrued investment income(7,254) 4,419
Net receivables from/payables to parent and affiliates(5,904) (5,627)
Deferred sales inducements(447) (1,130)
Deferred policy acquisition costs(180,893) 149,133
Income taxes(238,375) 39,928
Reinsurance recoverables, net(3,031) (16,443)
Derivatives, net777,708
 (1,599,193)
Other, net (1)13,117
 62,550
Cash flows from (used in) operating activities2,083,799
 (446,663)
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:   
Proceeds from the sale/maturity/prepayment of:   
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale404,235
 1,684,043
Fixed maturities, trading73
 99,590
Equity securities2,534
 3,040
Commercial mortgage and other loans117,869
 105,318
Policy loans1,069
 447
Other invested assets20,825
 2,678
Short-term investments384,990
 707,632
Payments for the purchase/origination of:

 

Fixed maturities, available for sale(2,481,050) (1,327,238)
Fixed maturities, trading(54,862) (208,007)
Equity securities(26,246) (1,625)
Commercial mortgage and other loans(83,787) (102,854)
Policy loans(168) (104)
Other invested assets(74,670) (30,323)
Short-term investments(353,614) (281,476)
Notes receivable from parent and affiliates, net34,008
 2,919
Derivatives, net(31,536) 19,801
Other, net0
 (69)
Cash flows from (used in) investing activities(2,140,330) 673,772
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:   
Cash collateral for loaned securities(384) (5,844)
Repayments of debt (maturities longer than 90 days)(274,569) 0
Net increase/(decrease) in short-term borrowing0
 3,497
Drafts outstanding(4,650) 1,754
Distribution to Parent(491,500) (550,000)
Policyholders' account deposits1,981,101
 1,444,673
Ceded policyholders' account deposits(11,204) (27,870)
Policyholders' account withdrawals(1,670,995) (1,368,264)
Ceded policyholders' account withdrawals23,598
 15,919
Cash flows from (used in) financing activities(448,603) (486,135)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS(505,134) (259,026)
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF YEAR4,503,534
 1,639,939
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD$3,998,400
 $1,380,913

 2018 2017
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:   
Net income (loss)$1,250,461
 $800,701
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
Policy charges and fee income(2,147) (761)
Realized investment (gains) losses, net(633,822) 327,512
Depreciation and amortization6,227
 (7,781)
Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances213,903
 567
Change in:

 

Future policy benefits795,294
 728,762
Accrued investment income12,103
 16,263
Net receivables from/payables to parent and affiliates1,490
 12,391
Deferred sales inducements(1,836) (993)
Deferred policy acquisition costs241,665
 (248,160)
Income taxes(175,460) 22,224
Reinsurance recoverables, net(52,210) (3,342)
Derivatives, net(3,094,289) (615,583)
Deferred (gain) loss on reinsurance(23,108) 5,448
Other, net133,306
 58,395
Cash flows from (used in) operating activities(1,328,423) 1,095,643
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:   
Proceeds from the sale/maturity/prepayment of:
 
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale2,144,273
 854,872
Fixed maturities, trading(1)99,623
 1,728
Equity securities(1)6,280
 2,271
Commercial mortgage and other loans137,766
 56,883
Policy loans553
 956
Other invested assets(1)16,864
 71,152
Short-term investments981,355
 1,556,173
Payments for the purchase/origination of:

 

Fixed maturities, available for sale(1,939,203) (1,109,624)
Fixed maturities, trading(1)(208,007) (15,964)
Equity securities(1)(3,253) (1,761)
Commercial mortgage and other loans(113,638) (228,825)
Policy loans(110) (330)
Other invested assets(1)(99,983) (5,115)
Short-term investments(291,399) (1,003,242)
Notes receivable from parent and affiliates, net2,967
 521
Derivatives, net19,929
 18,029
Other, net(69) 2,992
Cash flows from (used in) investing activities753,948
 200,716
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:   
Cash collateral for loaned securities(10,236) (15,515)
Net increase (decrease) in short-term borrowing0
 (28,101)
Drafts outstanding(2,550) 6,790
Distribution to Parent(800,000) (300,000)
Policyholders' account deposits2,128,976
 1,905,487
Ceded policyholders' account deposits(28,992) (6,818)
Policyholders' account withdrawals(1,979,186) (1,950,184)
Ceded policyholders' account withdrawals20,786
 18,421
Cash flows from (used in) financing activities(671,202) (369,920)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS(1,245,677) 926,439
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF YEAR1,639,939
 1,848,039
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD$394,262
 $2,774,478


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


Significant Non-Cash Transactions


There were no significant non-cash transactions for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and 2017.2018.
See Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements
Table of Contents
Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)








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.

PALAC has one subsidiary, which began operating in 2018 for the purpose of holding agricultural properties in the state of Florida. PALAC and its subsidiary are together referred to as the "Company”, "we" or "our" and all financial information is shown on a consolidated basis.


The Company has developed long-term savings and retirement products, which were distributed through its affiliated 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 suchannuity products in March 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 has resumed offering annuity products to new investors (except in New York). It when it launched a new fixed indexindexed annuity in January 2018 and a new deferred income annuity in March 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.


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, theThe 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 Arizona Department of Insurance. 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

Through March 31, 2016, the Company reinsured the majority of its variable annuity living benefit guarantees to its affiliated companies, Pruco Reinsurance, Ltd. ("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, in each case under a coinsurance and modified coinsurance agreements.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 isas well as the product risks for retained and reinsured businesses are being managed within the Company. These series of transactions are collectively referred toCompany and Prudential Insurance, as the "Variable Annuities Recapture".applicable.


Table of Contents
Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


Basis of Presentation


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


In the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the financial position and results of operations have been made. All such adjustments are of a normal, recurring nature. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.2018.

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)



Use of Estimates


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


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


Reclassifications


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


2.    SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND 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 ("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.


Adoption of ASU 2016-01

Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted 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 Consolidated Statements of Operations. Prior to this, the changes in fair value on equity securities classified as “available-for-sale” were reported in “Accumulated other comprehensive income”.

The impacts of this ASU on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements can be categorized as follows: (1) Changes to the presentation within the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position; (2) Cumulative-effect Adjustment Upon Adoption; and (3) Changes to Accounting Policies. Each of these components is described below. This section is meant to serve as an update to, and should be read in conjunction with, Note 2 to the Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)



(1) Changes to the presentation within the Consolidated 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 Consolidated 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 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 value0
   166,360
   166,360
Trading account assets, at fair value181,717
   (181,717)   0
Equity securities, available-for-sale, at fair value18
 (18)     0
*Equity securities, at fair value0
 18
 15,357
   15,375
Commercial mortgage and other loans1,387,012
       1,387,012
Policy loans12,558
       12,558
Short-term investments711,071
       711,071
Other long-term investments335,811
     (335,811) 0
*Other invested assets0
     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”.




















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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


(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 Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption. The following table illustrates the impact on the Company’s Consolidated 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 Consolidated Statement
of Financial Position upon Adoption on January 1, 2018
(in thousands)
 Increase / (Decrease)
Other invested assets$423
Total assets$423
Income taxes$89
Total liabilities89
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)(3)
Retained earnings337
Total equity334
Total liabilities and equity$423

(3) Changes to Accounting Policies

This section summarizes the changes in our accounting policies resulting from the adoption of ASU 2016-01 as well as an update to the components of the financial statement line items impacted by the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Financial Position presentation changes described above.

ASSETS

Fixed maturities, trading is a new financial statement line item comprised of fixed maturities that are carried at fair value. Prior to the adoption of the standard, these fixed maturities were reported in “Trading account assets, at fair value”. Realized and unrealized gains and losses on these investments are reported in “Asset administration fees and other income”, and interest and dividend income from these investments is reported in “Net investment income”.

Equity securities, at fairvalue is the new title of the financial statement line item formerly titled “Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value”. As a result of the adoption of the standard, equity securities previously reported in “Trading account assets, at fair value” were reclassified to “Equity securities, at fair value”. The retitled financial statement line is comprised of common stock, mutual fund shares, and preferred stock, which are carried at fair value. Realized and unrealized gains and losses on these investments are reported in “Asset administration fees and other income”, and dividend income is reported in “Net investment income” on the ex-dividend date. Prior to the adoption of the standard, for the equity investments reported in the financial statement line formerly titled “Equity securities, available for sale, at fair value”, the associated net realized gains and losses were included in “Realized investment gains (losses), net” and the associated net unrealized gains and losses were included in “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” (“AOCI”). In addition, with the adoption of the standard, the identification of OTTI for these investments is no longer needed as all of these investments are now measured at fair value with changes in fair value reported in earnings.

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


Other invested assets is the new title of the financial statement line formerly titled “Other long-term investments”. Investments previously reported in “Other long-term investments” were reclassified to “Other invested assets”. The retitled financial statement line consists of the Company’s non-coupon investments in Limited Partnerships and Limited Liability Companies ("LPs/LLCs") (other than operating joint ventures), wholly-owned investment real estate and derivative assets. LPs/LLCs interests are accounted for using either the equity method of accounting, or at fair value with changes in fair value reported in “Asset administration fees and other income”. Prior to the adoption of the standard, the Company applied the cost method of accounting for certain LPs/LLCs interest when its partnership interest was considered minor. The standard effectively eliminated the cost method of accounting for these equity investments. The Company’s income from investments in LPs/LLCs accounted for using the equity 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 (including assessment for OTTI), the Company uses financial information provided by the investee, generally on a one to three month lag. For the investments reported at fair value with changes in fair value reported in current earnings, the associated realized and unrealized gains and losses are reported in “Asset administration fees and other income”.

REVENUES AND BENEFITS AND EXPENSES

Asset administration fees and other income principally includes asset-based asset management fees, which are recognized in the period in which the services are performed. This financial statement line also includes realized and unrealized gains or losses from investments reported as “Fixed maturities, trading”, “Equity securities, at fair value”, and “Other invested assets” that are measured at fair value.

Other ASU adopted during the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2018.2019.
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)
2017-08,
Receivables -
Nonrefundable Fees
and Other Costs
(Subtopic 310-20)
Premium
Amortization on
Purchased Callable
Debt Securities
 The
This ASU is basedrequires certain premiums 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 expectscallable debt securities to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services. The standard also requires additional disclosures aboutamortized to 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.earliest call date.

 January 1, 20182019 using the modified retrospective method which included a cumulative-effect adjustment on the balance sheet as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption.
Adoption of the ASU did not have an impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


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 did not have a significant impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The impact of the cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings was immaterial.
ASU 2016-18, Statement of Cash Flows2017-12,
Derivatives and
Hedging
(Topic 230)
815)
: Restricted Cash
Targeted
Improvements to
Accounting for
Hedging Activities
 In November 2016,
This ASU makes targeted changes to the FASB issued thisexisting hedge accounting model to better portray the economics of an entity’s risk management activities and to simplify the use of hedge accounting. The ASU to address diversity in practice from entities classifyingeliminates separate measurement and presenting transfers between cash and restricted cash as operating, investing, or financing activities, or as a combinationrecording of those activities in the Statement of Cash Flows. The ASUhedge ineffectiveness. It requires entities to showpresent the changesearnings effect of the hedging instrument in the total of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash,same income statement line item in which the hedged item is reported 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.also requires expanded disclosures.
 January 1, 20182019 using the modified retrospective method (with early adoption permitted).which included cumulative-effect adjustment on the balance sheet as of the beginning of the fiscal year of adoption.
 Adoption of the ASU did not have a significant impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
ASU 2018-02, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income

In February 2018, this ASU was issued following the enactment The impact of the Tax Act of 2017. This ASU allows an entitycumulative-effect adjustment to elect a reclassification fromretained earnings and accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) ("AOCI") related 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 effectineffectiveness of the change inhedge instruments outstanding at the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate in the Tax Actdate 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 accumulated other comprehensive income and increasing retained earnings, each by$36.7 million. Stranded effects unrelated to the Tax Act of 2017 are generally released from accumulated other comprehensive income when an entire portfolio of the type of item related to the stranded effect is liquidated, sold or extinguished (i.e., portfolio approach).
was immaterial. See Note 4 for additional required disclosures.





Table of Contents
Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)




ASU issued but not yet adopted as of SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 — 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 Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. TheIn July 2019, the FASB made a tentative decision to defer the effective date of this ASU is effectiveto January 1, 20212022 (with early adoption permitted), andrepresenting a one year extension from the original effective date of January 1, 2021. A final decision regarding the effective date is expected in the third quarter of 2019. This ASU 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 less significant 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 Consolidated 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.
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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


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 Other Comprehensive Income ("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.
Amortization of deferred acquisition costs ("DAC")DAC and other balances Requires DAC and other balances, such as unearned revenue reserves and deferred sales inducements,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.
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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


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 non-performance risk ("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 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.
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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)





Other ASU issued but not yet adopted as of SeptemberJune 30, 2018
2019
Standard Description Effective date and method of adoption Effect on the financial statements or other significant matters
ASU 2016-13,

Financial Instruments-CreditInstruments - 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 assessingcontinuing to develop its expected credit loss models and related systems, processes and controls for assets held on the Statement of Financial Position at amortized cost, the most significant of
which are the commercial mortgage and other loans. The allowance for credit losses will likely increase when the ASU is adopted to cover expected credit losses over the lifetime of the commercial mortgage and other loans, incorporating reasonable and supportable forecasts and
expected changes in future economic conditions. The extent of the impact of theadoption of this ASU on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
ASU 2017-08,
Receivables -
Nonrefundable Fees
Statements will depend on various factors including the economic environment 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 usingsize and type of the modified retrospective method (with early adoption permitted) which will include a cumulative-effect adjustmentcommercial mortgage and other loans held on the balance sheet asdate 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 Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to the Consolidated 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 Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.


Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


3.    INVESTMENTS


Fixed Maturity Securities


The following tables set forth information relating tothe composition of fixed maturity securities (excluding investments classified as trading), as of the dates indicated:
September 30, 2018June 30, 2019
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
 
OTTI
in AOCI(3)
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
 
OTTI
in AOCI(3)
(in thousands)(in thousands)
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale:                  
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government authorities and agencies$4,718,446
 $38
 $510,300
 $4,208,184
 $0
$6,541,657
 $336,709
 $69,324
 $6,809,042
 $0
Obligations of U.S. states and their political subdivisions134,396
 433
 3,967
 130,862
 0
132,126
 5,553
 0
 137,679
 0
Foreign government bonds223,312
 4,706
 3,653
 224,365
 0
203,223
 14,688
 16
 217,895
 0
Public utilities548,257
 10,863
 16,122
 542,998
 0
Redeemable preferred stock29,445
 0
 786
 28,659
 0
All other U.S. public corporate securities1,391,160
 26,213
 35,125
 1,382,248
 0
All other U.S. private corporate securities846,203
 13,898
 20,665
 839,436
 0
All other foreign public corporate securities284,819
 2,075
 5,761
 281,133
 0
All other foreign private corporate securities672,681
 14,883
 16,638
 670,926
 0
U.S. public corporate securities1,582,606
 90,724
 3,539
 1,669,791
 0
U.S. private corporate securities1,047,083
 44,181
 4,284
 1,086,980
 0
Foreign public corporate securities305,453
 13,421
 519
 318,355
 0
Foreign private corporate securities958,122
 38,168
 10,100
 986,190
 0
Asset-backed securities(1)510,463
 3,333
 1,685
 512,111
 (16)479,696
 4,733
 2,299
 482,130
 (12)
Commercial mortgage-backed securities447,064
 1,137
 11,476
 436,725
 0
526,795
 19,783
 74
 546,504
 0
Residential mortgage-backed securities(2)65,378
 1,036
 1,703
 64,711
 0
80,349
 4,202
 133
 84,418
 0
Total fixed maturities, available-for-sale$9,871,624
 $78,615
 $627,881
 $9,322,358
 $(16)$11,857,110
 $572,162
 $90,288
 $12,338,984
 $(12)


(1)Includes credit-tranched securities collateralized by loan obligations, sub-prime mortgages, auto loans, credit cards,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 $(1.0)$9.8 million of net unrealized lossesgains 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 Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)





December 31, 2017December 31, 2018
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
 
OTTI
in AOCI(3)
Amortized
Cost
 
Gross
Unrealized
Gains
 
Gross
Unrealized
Losses
 
Fair
Value
 
OTTI
in AOCI(3)
(in thousands)(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
$5,240,519
 $20,065
 $376,493
 $4,884,091
 $0
Obligations of U.S. states and their political subdivisions102,709
 2,089
 158
 104,640
 0
133,670
 621
 3,127
 131,164
 0
Foreign government bonds133,859
 6,878
 432
 140,305
 0
199,044
 4,748
 4,156
 199,636
 0
Public utilities567,829
 31,414
 2,058
 597,185
 0
Redeemable preferred stock29,504
 615
 59
 30,060
 0
All other U.S. public corporate securities1,473,761
 77,379
 3,416
 1,547,724
 0
All other U.S. private corporate securities938,144
 35,327
 3,795
 969,676
 0
All other foreign public corporate securities194,201
 5,663
 918
 198,946
 0
All other foreign private corporate securities638,785
 38,030
 3,231
 673,584
 0
U.S. public corporate securities1,498,130
 26,425
 50,582
 1,473,973
 0
U.S. private corporate securities1,070,400
 15,430
 22,877
 1,062,953
 0
Foreign public corporate securities296,029
 1,888
 6,831
 291,086
 0
Foreign private corporate securities829,588
 10,415
 27,771
 812,232
 0
Asset-backed securities(1)341,277
 4,438
 128
 345,587
 (17)505,862
 3,147
 3,765
 505,244
 (16)
Commercial mortgage-backed securities502,695
 7,334
 4,345
 505,684
 0
364,601
 2,770
 5,491
 361,880
 0
Residential mortgage-backed securities(2)163,334
 2,950
 539
 165,745
 (4)48,622
 1,290
 498
 49,414
 0
Total fixed maturities, available-for-sale$10,145,266
 $221,226
 $255,706
 $10,110,786
 $(21)$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, credit cards,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 $12.3$3.3 million of net unrealized gainslosses 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 Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


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


September 30, 2018June 30, 2019
Less than Twelve Months Twelve Months or More TotalLess Than Twelve Months Twelve Months or More Total
Fair Value   
Gross
  Unrealized  
Losses
 Fair Value   
Gross
  Unrealized  
Losses
 Fair Value   
Gross
  Unrealized  
Losses
Fair Value   
Gross
  Unrealized  
Losses
 Fair Value   
Gross
  Unrealized  
Losses
 Fair Value   
Gross
  Unrealized  
Losses
(in thousands)(in thousands)
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale:                      
U.S. Treasury securities and obligations of U.S. government authorities and agencies$998,734
 $28,769
 $3,194,749
 $481,531
 $4,193,483
 $510,300
$0
 $0
 $1,340,698
 $69,324
 $1,340,698
 $69,324
Obligations of U.S. states and their political subdivisions96,628
 3,149
 19,062
 818
 115,690
 3,967
0
 0
 0
 0
 0
 0
Foreign government bonds138,696
 2,510
 23,115
 1,143
 161,811
 3,653
0
 0
 131
 16
 131
 16
Public utilities284,042
 12,460
 61,961
 3,662
 346,003
 16,122
Redeemable preferred stock28,659
 786
 0
 0
 28,659
 786
All other U.S. public corporate securities755,392
 29,258
 134,461
 5,867
 889,853
 35,125
All other U.S. private corporate securities351,239
 9,807
 216,144
 10,858
 567,383
 20,665
All other foreign public corporate securities137,967
 2,935
 52,986
 2,826
 190,953
 5,761
All other foreign private corporate securities223,148
 10,928
 72,195
 5,710
 295,343
 16,638
U.S. public corporate securities13,122
 711
 92,531
 2,828
 105,653
 3,539
U.S. private corporate securities32,982
 1,352
 122,846
 2,932
 155,828
 4,284
Foreign public corporate securities11,590
 325
 19,845
 194
 31,435
 519
Foreign private corporate securities78,867
 1,336
 143,872
 8,764
 222,739
 10,100
Asset-backed securities268,933
 1,539
 5,052
 146
 273,985
 1,685
123,334
 518
 185,263
 1,781
 308,597
 2,299
Commercial mortgage-backed securities137,333
 2,773
 181,463
 8,703
 318,796
 11,476
0
 0
 40,513
 74
 40,513
 74
Residential mortgage-backed securities26,272
 751
 21,924
 952
 48,196
 1,703
0
 0
 7,044
 133
 7,044
 133
Total fixed maturities, available-for-sale$3,447,043
 $105,665
 $3,983,112
 $522,216
 $7,430,155
 $627,881
$259,895
 $4,242
 $1,952,743
 $86,046
 $2,212,638
 $90,288
 
 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 subdivisions6,669
 26
 13,311
 132
 19,980
 158
Foreign government bonds37,466
 428
 143
 4
 37,609
 432
Public utilities84,260
 1,357
 22,420
 701
 106,680
 2,058
Redeemable preferred stock10,522
 59
 0
 0
 10,522
 59
All other U.S. public corporate securities206,988
 1,034
 118,002
 2,382
 324,990
 3,416
All other U.S. private corporate securities221,753
 2,173
 83,365
 1,622
 305,118
 3,795
All other foreign public corporate securities66,004
 578
 23,186
 340
 89,190
 918
All other foreign private corporate securities78,200
 536
 89,675
 2,695
 167,875
 3,231
Asset-backed securities30,234
 128
 0
 0
 30,234
 128
Commercial mortgage-backed securities113,423
 1,225
 129,458
 3,120
 242,881
 4,345
Residential mortgage-backed securities26,916
 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
Table of Contents
Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)




 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 subdivisions25,764
 322
 83,950
 2,805
 109,714
 3,127
Foreign government bonds98,437
 2,346
 58,975
 1,810
 157,412
 4,156
U.S. public corporate securities627,589
 28,474
 386,599
 22,108
 1,014,188
 50,582
U.S. private corporate securities269,545
 7,755
 422,498
 15,122
 692,043
 22,877
Foreign public corporate securities97,367
 2,521
 107,286
 4,310
 204,653
 6,831
Foreign private corporate securities373,891
 19,217
 116,743
 8,554
 490,634
 27,771
Asset-backed securities358,668
 3,501
 24,529
 264
 383,197
 3,765
Commercial mortgage-backed securities45,432
 355
 159,638
 5,136
 205,070
 5,491
Residential mortgage-backed securities34
 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


As of SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and December 31, 2017,2018, the gross unrealized losses on fixed maturity securities were composed of $617.5$86.5 million and $253.1$485.7 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 $10.4$3.8 million and $2.7$15.9 million, respectively, related to other than high or highest quality securities based on NAIC or equivalent rating. As of SeptemberJune 30, 2018,2019, the $522.2$86.0 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 finance, utility and utilitycapital goods sectors. As of December 31, 2017,2018, the $248.0$432.3 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 finance, consumer non-cyclical and financecapital goods sectors. In accordance with its policy described in Note 2 to the Financial Statements included in the Company'sCompany’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017,2018, the Company concluded that an adjustment to earnings for OTTI for these fixed maturity securities was not warranted at either SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 or December 31, 2017.2018. 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 SeptemberJune 30, 2018,2019, 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.


The following table sets forth the amortized cost and fair value of fixed maturities by contractual maturities, as of the date indicated:
 June 30, 2019
 Amortized Cost Fair Value
 (in thousands)
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale:   
Due in one year or less$151,032
 $152,032
Due after one year through five years1,188,945
 1,217,111
Due after five years through ten years1,542,382
 1,628,079
Due after ten years7,887,911
 8,228,710
Asset-backed securities479,696
 482,130
Commercial mortgage-backed securities526,795
 546,504
Residential mortgage-backed securities80,349
 84,418
Total fixed maturities, available-for-sale$11,857,110
 $12,338,984


Table of Contents
Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)

 September 30, 2018
 Amortized Cost Fair Value
 (in thousands)
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale:   
Due in one year or less$216,375
 $217,322
Due after one year through five years1,150,303
 1,145,246
Due after five years through ten years1,341,125
 1,347,845
Due after ten years6,140,916
 5,598,398
Asset-backed securities510,463
 512,111
Commercial mortgage-backed securities447,064
 436,725
Residential mortgage-backed securities65,378
 64,711
Total fixed maturities, available-for-sale$9,871,624
 $9,322,358


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 proceeds and related investment gains (losses), as well as losses on impairments of fixed maturities, for the periods indicated:
Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
2018 2017 2018 20172019 2018 2019 2018
(in thousands)(in thousands)
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale              
Proceeds from sales(1)$391,271
 $115,316
 $1,834,190
 $382,792
$21,640
 $208,266
 $153,409
 $1,442,919
Proceeds from maturities/prepayments67,980
 156,822
 308,339
 480,794
109,974
 124,502
 254,417
 240,359
Gross investment gains from sales and maturities2,532
 (1,299) 20,109
 2,461
(983) 17,465
 967
 17,577
Gross investment losses from sales and maturities(10,764) (1,406) (85,869) (2,081)(1,985) (1,480) (2,641) (75,105)
OTTI recognized in earnings(2)(2,523) 41
 (2,960) (4,787)0
 (151) (2,025) (437)


(1)Includes $(1.7)$3.6 million and $8.7$(0.8) million of non-cash related proceeds due to the timing of trade settlements for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and 2017,2018, respectively.
(2)Excludes the portion of OTTI recordedamounts 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 Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)



The following table sets forth a rollforward of pre-tax amounts remaining in OCI related to fixed maturity securities with credit loss impairments recognized in earnings, for the periods indicated:
 Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
 2019 2018 2019 2018
 (in thousands)
Credit loss impairments: 
Balance, beginning of period$1,134
 $791
 $(209) $792
New credit loss impairments0
 0
 1,343
 0
Increases due to the passage of time on previously recorded credit losses10
 0
 10
 1
Reductions for securities which matured, paid down, prepaid or were sold during the period(1) (38) (1) (40)
Accretion of credit loss impairments previously recognized due to an increase in cash flows expected to be collected(1) 0
 (1) 0
Balance, end of period$1,142
 $753
 $1,142
 $753

 Three Months Ended September 30, 2018 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 Three Months Ended September 30, 2017 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
 (in thousands)
Credit loss impairments: 
Balance, beginning of period$753
 $792
 $200
 $1,325
New credit loss impairments0
 0
 (1) 365
Additional credit loss impairments on securities previously impaired0
 0
 0
 0
Increases due to the passage of time on previously recorded credit losses1
 2
 1
 9
Reductions for securities which matured, paid down, prepaid or were sold during the period0
 (40) (3) (18)
Reductions for securities impaired to fair value during the period(1)0
 0
 0
 (1,481)
Accretion of credit loss impairments previously recognized due to an increase in cash flows expected to be collected(1) (1) (8) (11)
Assets transferred to parent and affiliates0
 0
 0
 0
Balance, end of period$753
 $753
 $189
 $189

(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.


Equity Securities


The net change in unrealized gains (losses) from equity securities still held at period end, recorded within “Asset administration fees and other income,” was $(0.3)$0.6 million and $0.8$(0.4) million during the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and 2017, respectively.

The net change in unrealized gains (losses) from equity securities still held at period end, recorded within “Asset administration fees and other income,” was $0.1$1.5 million and $1.7$0.4 million during the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2019 and 2018, and 2017, respectively.

Table of Contents
Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated 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:
 June 30, 2019 December 31, 2018
 
Amount
(in thousands)
 
% of
Total
 
Amount
(in thousands)
 
% of
Total
Commercial mortgage and agricultural property loans by property type:       
Apartments/Multi-Family$284,999
 21.6% $304,644
 22.4%
Hospitality4,787
 0.4
 3,633
 0.3
Industrial390,931
 29.6
 355,758
 26.2
Office286,659
 21.7
 305,537
 22.5
Other138,177
 10.5
 137,781
 10.2
Retail160,506
 12.2
 194,646
 14.4
Total commercial mortgage loans1,266,059
 96.0
 1,301,999
 96.0
Agricultural property loans52,948
 4.0
 54,375
 4.0
Total commercial mortgage and agricultural property loans by property type1,319,007
 100.0% 1,356,374
 100.0%
Allowance for credit losses(2,396)   (2,896)  
Total commercial mortgage and other loans$1,316,611
   $1,353,478
  

 September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017
 
Amount
(in thousands)
 
% of
Total
 
Amount
(in thousands)
 
% of
Total
Commercial mortgage and agricultural property loans by property type:       
Apartments/Multi-Family$306,807
 22.6% $348,718
 25.0%
Hospitality3,671
 0.3
 3,782
 0.3
Industrial358,883
 26.5
 327,987
 23.6
Office299,216
 22.1
 294,072
 21.2
Other135,790
 10.0
 139,362
 10.0
Retail195,520
 14.4
 216,544
 15.6
Total commercial mortgage loans1,299,887
 95.9
 1,330,465
 95.7
Agricultural property loans55,488
 4.1
 59,197
 4.3
Total commercial mortgage and agricultural property loans by property type1,355,375
 100.0% 1,389,662
 100.0%
Valuation allowance(2,972)   (2,650)  
Total commercial mortgage and other loans$1,352,403
   $1,387,012
  


As of SeptemberJune 30, 2018,2019, the commercial mortgage and agricultural property loans were secured by properties geographically dispersed throughout the United States (with the largest concentrations in California (27%), Texas (14%) and New York (7% (8%)) and included loans secured by properties in Europe (11%) and Australia (3%).


The following tables settable sets forth the activity in the allowance for credit losses for commercial mortgage and other loans, as of the dates indicated:
 September 30, 2018
 Commercial Mortgage Loans Agricultural Property Loans Total
 (in thousands)
Allowance for credit losses:     
Balance, beginning of year$2,616
 $34
 $2,650
Addition to (release of) allowance for losses323
 (1) 322
Charge-offs, net of recoveries0
 0
 0
Total ending balance$2,939
 $33
 $2,972
 Commercial Mortgage Loans Agricultural Property Loans Total
 (in thousands)
Balance at December 31, 2017$2,616
 $34
 $2,650
Addition to (release of) allowance for credit losses245
 1
 246
Charge-offs, net of recoveries0
 0
 0
Balance at December 31, 20182,861
 35
 2,896
Addition to (release of) allowance for credit losses(507) 7
 (500)
Charge-offs, net of recoveries0
 0
 0
Balance at June 30, 2019$2,354
 $42
 $2,396

 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 losses349
 12
 361
Charge-offs, net of recoveries0
 0
 0
Total ending balance$2,616
 $34
 $2,650


Table of Contents
Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)




The following tables set forth the allowance for credit losses and the recorded investment in commercial mortgage and other loans, as of the dates indicated:
September 30, 2018June 30, 2019
Commercial Mortgage Loans Agricultural Property Loans TotalCommercial Mortgage Loans Agricultural Property Loans Total
(in thousands)(in thousands)
Allowance for credit losses:          
Individually evaluated for impairment$0
 $0
 $0
$0
 $0
 $0
Collectively evaluated for impairment2,939
 33
 2,972
2,354
 42
 2,396
Total ending balance(1)$2,939
 $33
 $2,972
$2,354
 $42
 $2,396
Recorded investment(2):          
Individually evaluated for impairment$0
 $4,333
 $4,333
$0
 $0
 $0
Collectively evaluated for impairment1,299,887
 51,155
 1,351,042
1,266,059
 52,948
 1,319,007
Total ending balance(1)$1,299,887
 $55,488
 $1,355,375
$1,266,059
 $52,948
 $1,319,007


(1)As of SeptemberJune 30, 2018,2019, there were no loans acquired with deteriorated credit quality.
(2)Recorded investment reflects the carrying value gross of related allowance.
December 31, 2017December 31, 2018
Commercial Mortgage Loans Agricultural Property Loans TotalCommercial Mortgage Loans Agricultural Property Loans Total
(in thousands)(in thousands)
Allowance for credit losses:          
Individually evaluated for impairment$0
 $0
 $0
$0
 $0
 $0
Collectively evaluated for impairment2,616
 34
 2,650
2,861
 35
 2,896
Total ending balance(1)$2,616
 $34
 $2,650
$2,861
 $35
 $2,896
Recorded investment(2):          
Individually evaluated for impairment$1,571
 $4,865
 $6,436
$0
 $3,439
 $3,439
Collectively evaluated for impairment1,328,894
 54,332
 1,383,226
1,301,999
 50,936
 1,352,935
Total ending balance(1)$1,330,465
 $59,197
 $1,389,662
$1,301,999
 $54,375
 $1,356,374


(1)As of December 31, 2017,2018, 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:
September 30, 2018June 30, 2019
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%$658,709
 $15,079
 $0
 $673,788
$688,758
 $12,017
 $3,621
 $704,396
60%-69.99%478,402
 23,469
 0
 501,871
431,303
 21,536
 0
 452,839
70%-79.99%169,409
 7,281
 0
 176,690
153,620
 7,143
 0
 160,763
80% or greater2,000
 1,026
 0
 3,026
0
 0
 1,009
 1,009
Total commercial mortgage and agricultural property loans$1,308,520
 $46,855
 $0
 $1,355,375
$1,273,681
 $40,696
 $4,630
 $1,319,007
Table of Contents
Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated 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 greater2,000
 1,020
 0
 3,020
Total commercial mortgage and agricultural property loans$1,309,699
 $46,330
 $345
 $1,356,374

 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 greater1,387
 0
 1,045
 2,432
Total commercial mortgage and agricultural property loans$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:
September 30, 2018June 30, 2019
Current 30-59 Days Past Due 60-89 Days Past Due 90 Days or More Past Due(1) Total Loans Non-Accrual Status(2)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)(in thousands)
Commercial mortgage loans$1,299,887
 $0
 $0
 $0
 $1,299,887
 $0
$1,266,059
 $0
 $0
 $0
 $1,266,059
 $0
Agricultural property loans55,488
 0
 0
 0
 55,488
 0
52,948
 0
 0
 0
 52,948
 0
Total$1,355,375
 $0
 $0
 $0
 $1,355,375
 $0
$1,319,007
 $0
 $0
 $0
 $1,319,007
 $0


(1)As of SeptemberJune 30, 2019, 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 to the Financial Statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.
 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 loans54,375
 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 to the Financial Statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.2018.
 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 loans59,197
 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 to the Financial Statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.


For the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2019, there were no commercial mortgage and other loans acquired, other than those through direct origination, and there were $0 million and $101 million, respectively, of commercial mortgage and other loans sold. For both the three and six months ended June 30, 2018, there were no commercial mortgage and other loans acquired, other than those through direct origination, and there were $13 million and $96$83 million of commercial mortgage and other loans sold. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, there were no commercial mortgage and other loans acquired, other than those through direct origination, and there were no commercial mortgage and other loans sold.




Table of Contents
Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)




Other Invested Assets


The following table sets forth the composition of “Other invested assets,” as of the dates indicated:
 June 30, 2019 December 31, 2018
 (in thousands)
LPs/LLCs:   
Equity method:   
Private equity$24,043
 $23,844
Hedge funds204,961
 179,014
Real estate-related135,035
 94,738
Subtotal equity method364,039
 297,596
Fair value:   
Private equity3,854
 4,142
Hedge funds268
 263
Real estate-related5,619
 3,562
Subtotal fair value9,741
 7,967
Total LPs/LLCs373,780
 305,563
Derivative instruments2
 42,978
Total other invested assets$373,782
 $348,541

 September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017
 (in thousands)
LPs/LLCs:   
Equity method:   
Private equity$26,480
 $25,801
Hedge funds154,928
 106,474
Real estate-related57,875
 46,043
Subtotal equity method239,283
 178,318
Fair value:   
Private equity4,216
 3,500
Hedge funds267
 302
Real estate-related3,084
 2,512
Subtotal fair value(1)7,567
 6,314
Total LPs/LLCs246,850
 184,632
Real estate held through direct ownership7,200
 0
Derivative instruments0
 151,179
Total other invested assets(2)$254,050
 $335,811

(1)As of December 31, 2017, $6.0 million was accounted for under the cost method.
(2)Prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation. For additional information, see Note 2.


Net Investment Income


The following table sets forth “Net investment income” by investment type, for the periods indicated:
 Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
 2019 2018 2019 2018
 (in thousands)
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale$96,829
 $77,885
 $189,040
 $153,936
Fixed maturities, trading2,553
 484
 4,918
 1,085
Equity securities, at fair value73
 108
 146
 176
Commercial mortgage and other loans13,168
 12,758
 24,900
 26,251
Policy loans218
 236
 277
 371
Short-term investments and cash equivalents16,766
 7,358
 30,506
 13,885
Other invested assets7,765
 4,880
 16,607
 8,510
Gross investment income137,372
 103,709
 266,394
 204,214
Less: investment expenses(5,400) (3,549) (9,353) (7,343)
Net investment income$131,972
 $100,160
 $257,041
 $196,871

 Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2018 2017 2018 2017
 (in thousands)
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale$81,551
 $83,198
 $235,487
 $246,853
Fixed maturities, trading2,006
 1,109
 3,091
 3,213
Equity securities, at fair value72
 67
 248
 216
Commercial mortgage and other loans12,567
 12,777
 38,818
 36,313
Policy loans175
 114
 546
 810
Short-term investments and cash equivalents5,103
 9,700
 18,988
 22,618
Other invested assets5,573
 4,771
 14,083
 15,718
Gross investment income107,047
 111,736
 311,261
 325,741
Less: investment expenses(3,883) (3,783) (11,226) (11,431)
Net investment income(1)$103,164
 $107,953
 $300,035
 $314,310

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


Table of Contents
Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)




Realized Investment Gains (Losses), Net


The following table sets forth “Realized investment gains (losses), net,”net” by investment type, for the periods indicated:
 Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
 2019 2018 2019 2018
 (in thousands)
Fixed maturities(1)$(2,968) $15,834
 $(3,699) $(57,965)
Commercial mortgage and other loans(461) 472
 (1,242) (148)
Derivatives(890,952) (6,465) (2,231,880) 626,655
Short-term investments and cash equivalents166
 18
 387
 7
Realized investment gains (losses), net$(894,215) $9,859
 $(2,236,434) $568,549

 Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2018 2017 2018 2017
 (in thousands)
Fixed maturities(1)$(10,755) $(2,664) $(68,720) $(4,407)
Commercial mortgage and other loans201
 (430) 53
 (660)
LPs/LLCs0
 (3) 0
 (37)
Derivatives(2)75,810
 1,173,163
 702,465
 (322,456)
Short-term investments and cash equivalents17
 11
 24
 48
Realized investment gains (losses), net$65,273
 $1,170,077
 $633,822
 $(327,512)


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


Net Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Investments within AOCI


The following table sets forth net unrealized gains (losses) on investments, as of the dates indicated:
September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017June 30, 2019 December 31, 2018
(in thousands)(in thousands)
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale — with OTTI$(1,034) $12,311
$9,793
 $(3,334)
Fixed maturity securities, available-for-sale — all other(548,232) (46,791)472,081
 (411,458)
Equity securities, available-for-sale(1)0
 4
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges(2)(23,867) (25,851)
Derivatives designated as cash flow hedges(1)(302) (3,849)
Affiliated notes635
 829
673
 658
Other investments1,075
 86
1,074
 1,074
Net unrealized gains (losses) on investments$(571,423) $(59,412)$483,319
 $(416,909)


(1)Effective January 1, 2018, unrealized gains (losses) on equity securities are recorded within “Asset administration fees and other income.”
(2)For more information on cash flow hedges, see Note 4.


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 SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and December 31, 2017,2018, 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:
September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017June 30, 2019 December 31, 2018
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 TotalOvernight & Continuous Up to 30 Days Total Overnight & Continuous Up to 30 Days Total
(in thousands)(in thousands)
Foreign government bonds$0
 $0
 $0
 $10,505
 $0
 $10,505
$0
 $0
 $0
 $0
 $0
 $0
U.S. public corporate securities7,147
 0
 7,147
 6,878
 0
 6,878
0
 0
 0
 384
 0
 384
Total cash collateral for loaned securities(1)$7,147
 $0
 $7,147
 $17,383
 $0
 $17,383
$0
 $0
 $0
 $384
 $0
 $384


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

Table of Contents
Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)




4.    DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS


Types of Derivative Instruments and Derivative Strategies


The Company utilizes various derivative instruments and strategies to manage its risk. Commonly used derivative instruments include but are not necessarily limited to:
Interest rate contracts: futures, swaps, forwards, options, swaptions, caps and floors
Equity contracts: futures, options and total return swaps
Foreign exchange contracts: futures, options, forwards and swaps
Credit contracts: single and index reference credit default swaps

Other contracts: embeddedtypes of financial contracts that the Company accounts for as derivatives include:

Embedded derivatives

For detailed information on these contracts and the related strategies, see Note 114 to the Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.2018.


Table of Contents
Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)


Primary Risks Managed by Derivatives


The table below provides a summary of the gross notional amount and the fair value of derivativesderivative 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.
 September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017 June 30, 2019 December 31, 2018
Primary Underlying Risk/Instrument Type   Gross Fair Value   Gross Fair Value 
Gross
Notional
 Fair Value 
Gross
Notional
 Fair Value
Notional Assets Liabilities Notional Assets Liabilities  Assets Liabilities Assets Liabilities
 (in thousands) (in thousands)     
Derivatives Designated as Hedge Accounting Instruments:                        
Currency/Interest Rate                        
Foreign Currency Swaps $748,787
 $18,033
 $(38,666) $677,257
 $13,348
 $(47,209) $897,338
 $39,547
 $(20,748) $768,075
 $33,348
 $(21,794)
Total Qualifying Hedges $748,787
 $18,033
 $(38,666) $677,257
 $13,348
 $(47,209)
Total Derivatives Designated as Hedge Accounting Instruments $897,338
 $39,547
 $(20,748) $768,075
 $33,348
 $(21,794)
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments:                        
Interest Rate                        
Interest Rate Futures $903,500
 $272
 $(2,508) $1,964,000
 $8,296
 $0
 $4,094,800
 $0
 $(1,470) $908,100
 $4,380
 $(664)
Interest Rate Swaps 80,605,225
 3,378,320
 (2,578,179) 87,939,425
 4,374,658
 (1,065,549) 86,329,325
 5,976,912
 (1,782,753) 82,172,825
 3,344,033
 (1,395,270)
Interest Rate Options 19,050,000
 157,095
 (326,477) 15,775,000
 175,156
 (160,181) 17,905,000
 315,214
 (192,825) 19,255,000
 139,765
 (245,523)
Interest Rate Forwards 1,626,323
 14
 (32,402) 975,929
 19,870
 (2) 293,076
 17,348
 0
 1,713,947
 56,562
 (1,976)
Foreign Currency                        
Foreign Currency Forwards 15,281
 104
 0
 12,455
 1
 (319) 17,092
 324
 (62) 19,467
 287
 (27)
Currency/Interest Rate                        
Foreign Currency Swaps 157,819
 7,414
 (6,740) 151,400
 7,779
 (7,488) 210,641
 14,595
 (1,446) 231,245
 11,659
 (2,850)
Credit            
Credit Default Swaps 100,000
 3,850
 (94) 0
 0
 0
Equity                        
Equity Futures 253,208
 78
 0
 672,055
 2,442
 0
 1,191,402
 276
 (4,902) 860,718
 0
 (6,629)
Total Return Swaps 14,200,030
 17,006
 (270,367) 13,841,333
 8,517
 (341,700) 14,921,377
 29,847
 (271,467) 14,456,836
 986,130
 (53,235)
Equity Options 32,801,821
 630,109
 (569,941) 31,702,334
 460,597
 (318,955) 26,176,838
 247,112
 (413,442) 26,861,807
 271,630
 (412,821)
Total Non-Qualifying Hedges $149,613,207
 $4,190,412
 $(3,786,614) $153,033,931
 $5,057,316
 $(1,894,194)
Total Derivatives(1) $150,361,994
 $4,208,445
 $(3,825,280) $153,711,188
 $5,070,664
 $(1,941,403)
Total Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments $151,239,551
 $6,605,478
 $(2,668,461) $146,479,945
 $4,814,446
 $(2,118,995)
Total Derivatives(1)(2) $152,136,889
 $6,645,025
 $(2,689,209) $147,248,020
 $4,847,794
 $(2,140,789)


(1)Excludes embedded derivatives and associated reinsurance recoverables which contain multiple underlying risks.
(2)Recorded in “Other invested assets”, “Other liabilities”, and "Payables to parent and affiliates" on the Unaudited Interim Statements of Financial Position.

Table of Contents
Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)



The fair value of the embedded derivatives, included in "Future policy benefits,"benefits", was a net liability of $4,995$11,738 million and $8,152$8,332 million as of SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and December 31, 2017,2018, respectively. The fair value of the related reinsurance recoverables to Prudential Insurance was a net asset of $156$300 million and $232$234 million as of SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and December 31, 2017,2018, respectively, included in "Reinsurance recoverables". See Note 76 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,"payables", was a net asset of $3$40 million and $12$6 million as of SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and December 31, 2017,2018, respectively.


The fair value of the embedded derivatives, included in "Policyholders' account balances,"balances", was a net liability of $34$121 million and $42 million as of SeptemberJune 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, with no related reinsurance recoverables.

Table of Contents
Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim 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 Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position, and/or are subject to an enforceable master netting arrangement or similar agreement, irrespective of whether they are offset in the Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.
September 30, 2018June 30, 2019
Gross
Amounts of
Recognized
Financial
Instruments
 Gross Amounts
Offset in the
Consolidated Statements of
Financial
Position
 
Net
Amounts
Presented in
the Consolidated Statements
of Financial
Position
 
 Financial
Instruments/
Collateral(1)
 Net
Amount
Gross
Amounts of
Recognized
Financial
Instruments
 Gross Amounts
Offset in the
Statements of
Financial
Position
 
Net
Amounts
Presented in
the Statements
of Financial
Position
 
 Financial
Instruments/
Collateral(1)
 Net
Amount
(in thousands)(in thousands)
Offsetting of Financial Assets:                  
Derivatives(1)$4,208,445
 $(4,208,445) $0
 $0
 $0
$6,645,025
 $(6,645,023) $2
 $0
 $2
Securities purchased under agreements to resell327,000
 0
 327,000
 (327,000) 0
835,000
 0
 835,000
 (835,000) 0
Total Assets$4,535,445
 $(4,208,445) $327,000
 $(327,000) $0
$7,480,025
 $(6,645,023) $835,002
 $(835,000) $2
Offsetting of Financial Liabilities:                  
Derivatives(1)$3,825,280
 $(3,818,167) $7,113
 $(3,781) $3,332
$2,689,209
 $(2,524,326) $164,883
 $(624) $164,259
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase0
 0
 0
 0
 0
0
 0
 0
 0
 0
Total Liabilities$3,825,280
 $(3,818,167) $7,113
 $(3,781) $3,332
$2,689,209
 $(2,524,326) $164,883
 $(624) $164,259


December 31, 2017December 31, 2018
Gross
Amounts of
Recognized
Financial
Instruments
 
Gross Amounts
Offset in the
Statements of
Financial
Position
 
Net
Amounts
Presented in
the Statements
of Financial
Position 
 
Financial
Instruments/
Collateral(1)
 
Net
Amount
Gross
Amounts of
Recognized
Financial
Instruments
 
Gross Amounts
Offset in the
Statements of
Financial
Position
 
Net
Amounts
Presented in
the Statements
of Financial
Position 
 
Financial
Instruments/
Collateral(1)
 
Net
Amount
(in thousands)(in thousands)
Offsetting of Financial Assets:                  
Derivatives(1)$5,070,517
 $(4,919,486) $151,031
 $0
 $151,031
$4,847,794
 $(4,804,816) $42,978
 $0
 $42,978
Securities purchased under agreements to resell0
 0
 0
 0
 0
675,000
 0
 675,000
 (675,000) 0
Total Assets$5,070,517
 $(4,919,486) $151,031
 $0
 $151,031
$5,522,794
 $(4,804,816) $717,978
 $(675,000) $42,978
Offsetting of Financial Liabilities:                  
Derivatives(1)$1,941,403
 $(1,941,403) $0
 $0
 $0
$2,140,789
 $(2,134,160) $6,629
 $(6,629) $0
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase0
 0
 0
 0
 0
0
 0
 0
 0
 0
Total Liabilities$1,941,403
 $(1,941,403) $0
 $0
 $0
$2,140,789
 $(2,134,160) $6,629
 $(6,629) $0


(1)Amounts exclude the excess of collateral received/pledged from/to the counterparty.
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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)




For information regarding the rights of offset associated with the derivative assets and liabilities in the table above see “Credit Risk” below and Note 9. 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 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.2018.


Table of Contents
Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)


Cash Flow Hedges


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


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

Three Months Ended September 30, 2018Three Months Ended June 30, 2019
Realized
Investment
Gains (Losses)
 
Net
Investment
Income
 Other Income AOCI(1)Realized
Investment
Gains (Losses)
 Net
Investment
Income
 Other Income AOCI(1)
(in thousands)(in thousands)
Derivatives Designated as Hedge Accounting Instruments:              
Cash flow hedges              
Currency/Interest Rate$0
 $2,141
 $2,484
 $257
$(399) $2,977
 $1,956
 $1,882
Total cash flow hedges0
 2,141
 2,484
 257
(399) 2,977
 1,956
 1,882
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments:       
 
 
 
Interest Rate(772,889) 0
 0
 0
1,764,300
 0
 0
 0
Currency213
 0
 0
 0
435
 0
 0
 0
Currency/Interest Rate1,224
 0
 33
 0
6,784
 0
 17
 0
Credit1,579
 0
 0
 0
Equity(640,413) 0
 0
 0
(583,113) 0
 0
 0
Embedded Derivatives1,487,675
 0
 0
 0
(2,080,538) 0
 0
 0
Total non-qualifying hedges75,810
 0
 33
 0
Total Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments:(890,553) 0
 17
 0
Total$75,810
 $2,141
 $2,517
 $257
$(890,952) $2,977
 $1,973
 $1,882
Table of Contents
Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)




Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018Six Months Ended June 30, 2019
Realized
Investment
Gains (Losses)
 Net
Investment
Income
 Other Income AOCI(1)Realized
Investment
Gains (Losses)
 Net
Investment
Income
 Other Income AOCI(1)
(in thousands)(in thousands)
Derivatives Designated as Hedge Accounting Instruments:              
Cash flow hedges              
Currency/Interest Rate$0
 $5,841
 $8,973
 $1,984
$(720) $5,710
 $398
 $3,505
Total cash flow hedges0
 5,841
 8,973
 1,984
(720) 5,710
 398
 3,505
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments:       
 
 
 
Interest Rate(2,360,922) 0
 0
 0
2,756,745
 0
 0
 0
Currency537
 0
 0
 0
248
 0
 0
 0
Currency/Interest Rate5,279
 0
 62
 0
8,616
 0
 20
 0
Credit1,577
 0
 0
 0
Equity(879,866) 0
 0
 0
(2,233,223) 0
 0
 0
Embedded Derivatives3,937,437
 0
 0
 0
(2,765,123) 0
 0
 0
Total non-qualifying hedges702,465
 0
 62
 0
Total Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments:(2,231,160) 0
 20
 0
Total$702,465
 $5,841
 $9,035
 $1,984
$(2,231,880) $5,710
 $418
 $3,505



Three Months Ended September 30, 2017Three Months Ended June 30, 2018(2)
Realized
Investment
Gains (Losses)
 
Net
Investment
Income
 Other Income AOCI(1)Realized
Investment
Gains (Losses)
 Net
Investment
Income
 Other Income AOCI(1)
(in thousands)(in thousands)
Derivatives Designated as Hedge Accounting Instruments:              
Cash flow hedges              
Currency/Interest Rate$0
 $1,678
 $(3,496) $(12,020)$160
 $2,085
 $10,483
 $14,699
Total cash flow hedges0
 1,678
 (3,496) (12,020)160
 2,085
 10,483
 14,699
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments:       
 
 
 
Interest Rate52,535
 0
 0
 0
(404,238) 0
 0
 0
Currency(230) 0
 0
 0
794
 0
 0
 0
Currency/Interest Rate(11,358) 0
 (314) 0
17,228
 0
 84
 0
Credit0
 0
 0
 0
Equity(453,516) 0
 0
 0
(251,520) 0
 0
 0
Embedded Derivatives1,585,732
 0
 0
 0
631,111
 0
 0
 0
Total non-qualifying hedges1,173,163
 0
 (314) 0
Total Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments:(6,625) 0
 84
 0
Total$1,173,163
 $1,678
 $(3,810) $(12,020)$(6,465) $2,085
 $10,567
 $14,699



Table of Contents
Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)




Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017Six Months Ended June 30, 2018(2)
Realized
Investment
Gains (Losses)
 Net
Investment
Income
 Other Income AOCI(1)Realized
Investment
Gains (Losses)
 Net
Investment
Income
 Other Income AOCI(1)
(in thousands)(in thousands)
Derivatives Designated as Hedge Accounting Instruments:              
Cash flow hedges              
Currency/Interest Rate$0
 $4,523
 $(9,308) $(27,143)$(678) $3,700
 $6,489
 $1,727
Total cash flow hedges0
 4,523
 (9,308) (27,143)(678) 3,700
 6,489
 1,727
Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments:       
 
 
 
Interest Rate618,534
 0
 0
 0
(1,588,033) 0
 0
 0
Currency(307) 0
 0
 0
324
 0
 0
 0
Currency/Interest Rate(22,712) 0
 (592) 0
4,734
 0
 29
 0
Credit0
 0
 0
 0
Equity(1,468,601) 0
 0
 0
(239,454) 0
 0
 0
Embedded Derivatives550,630
 0
 0
 0
2,449,762
 0
 0
 0
Total non-qualifying hedges(322,456) 0
 (592) 0
Total Derivatives Not Qualifying as Hedge Accounting Instruments:627,333
 0
 29
 0
Total$(322,456) $4,523
 $(9,900) $(27,143)$626,655
 $3,700
 $6,518
 $1,727


(1)Amounts deferredNet change in AOCI.
(2)Prior period amounts have been updated to conform to current period presentation.


ForPresented below is a rollforward of current period cash flow hedges in AOCI before taxes:
 (in thousands)
Balance, December 31, 2018$(3,849)
Cumulative-effect adjustment from the adoption of ASU 2017-12(1)42
Amount recorded in AOCI 
Currency/Interest Rate8,893
Total amount recorded in AOCI8,893
Amount reclassified from AOCI to income 
Currency/Interest Rate(5,388)
Total amount reclassified from AOCI to income(5,388)
Balance, June 30, 2019$(302)

(1) See Note 2 for details.

The changes in fair value of cash flow hedges are deferred in AOCI and are included in "Net unrealized investment gains (losses)" in the nineUnaudited Interim Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss); these amounts are then reclassified to earnings when the hedged item affects earnings. Using June 30, 2019 values, it is estimated that a pre-tax gain of $12 million is expected to be reclassified from AOCI to earnings during the subsequent twelve months ended Septemberending June 30, 2018 and 2017, the ineffective portion of derivatives accounted for using hedge accounting was de minimis2020, offset by amounts pertaining to the Company’s resultshedged items.

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

There were no material amounts reclassified from AOCI into earnings relating to instances in which the Company discontinued cash flow hedge accounting because the forecasted transaction did not occur by the anticipated date or within the additional time period permitted by the authoritative guidance for the accounting for derivatives and hedging.

Table of Contents
Presented below is a rollforward of current period cash flow hedges in AOCI before taxes:Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
 (in thousands)
Balance, December 31, 2017$(25,851)
Net deferred gains (losses) on cash flow hedges from January 1 to September 30, 201815,834
Amount reclassified into current period earnings(13,850)
Balance, September 30, 2018$(23,867)

The changes in fair value of cash flow hedges are deferred in AOCI and are included in "Net unrealized investment gains (losses)" in theNotes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss); these amounts are then reclassified to earnings when the hedged item affects earnings. Using September 30, 2018 values, it is estimated that a pre-tax gain of $9 million will be reclassified from AOCI to earnings during the subsequent twelve months ending September 30, 2019, offset by amounts pertaining to the hedged items.Financial Statements—(Continued)


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 written credit protection on certain index references with notional amounts of $100 million and $0.0 million as of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively. These credit derivatives are reported at fair value as an asset of $4 million and $0.0 million as of June 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018. As of June 30, 2019, the notional amount of these credit derivatives had the following NAIC ratings: $50 million in NAIC 3 and $50 million in NAIC 6.

The Company has no exposure from credit derivative positions where it has written or purchased credit protection as of SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and December 31, 2017.2018.

Table of Contents
Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)



Credit Risk


The Company is exposed to credit-related losses in the event of non-performance by counterparty to financial derivative transactions with a positive fair value. The Company manages credit risk by entering into derivative transactions with its affiliate, Prudential Global Funding, LLC (“PGF”), related to its over-the-counter ("OTC") derivatives. PGF, in turn, manages its credit risk by: (i) entering into derivative transactions with highly rated major international financial institutions and other creditworthy counterparties governed by master netting agreement, as applicable; (ii) trading through central clearing and OTC parties; (iii) obtaining collateral, such as cash and securities, when appropriate; and (iv) setting limits on single partysingle-party credit exposures which are subject to periodic management review.


Substantially all of the Company’s derivative agreements have zero thresholds which require daily full collateralization by the party in a liability position.


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.


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.


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.


For a discussion of the Company's valuation methodologies for assets and liabilities measured at fair value and the fair value hierarchy, see Note 105 to the Financial Statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.2018.


Table of Contents
Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)




Assets and Liabilities by Hierarchy Level – The tables below present the balances of assets and liabilities reported at fair value on a recurring basis, as of the dates indicated.
As of September 30, 2018As of June 30, 2019
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Netting(1) TotalLevel 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
 $4,201,271
 $6,913
 $0
 $4,208,184
$0
 $6,799,662
 $9,380
 $0
 $6,809,042
Obligations of U.S. states and their political subdivisions0
 130,862
 0
 0
 130,862
0
 137,679
 0
 0
 137,679
Foreign government bonds0
 224,365
 0
 0
 224,365
0
 217,895
 0
 0
 217,895
U.S. corporate public securities0
 1,618,433
 1,060
 0
 1,619,493
0
 1,669,791
 0
 0
 1,669,791
U.S. corporate private securities0
 998,383
 54,457
 0
 1,052,840
0
 1,047,099
 39,881
 0
 1,086,980
Foreign corporate public securities0
 309,792
 211
 0
 310,003
0
 318,127
 228
 0
 318,355
Foreign corporate private securities0
 733,928
 29,136
 0
 763,064
0
 955,228
 30,962
 0
 986,190
Asset-backed securities(2)0
 502,704
 9,407
 0
 512,111
0
 462,405
 19,725
 0
 482,130
Commercial mortgage-backed securities0
 436,180
 545
 0
 436,725
0
 546,504
 0
 0
 546,504
Residential mortgage-backed securities0
 64,711
 0
 0
 64,711
0
 84,418
 0
 0
 84,418
Subtotal0
 9,220,629
 101,729
 0
 9,322,358
0
 12,238,808
 100,176
 0
 12,338,984
Fixed maturities, trading0
 261,226
 0
 0
 261,226
0
 368,031
 4,044
 0
 372,075
Equity securities5,473
 12
 7,679
 0
 13,164
5,031
 26,326
 5,363
 0
 36,720
Short-term investments2,653
 10,274
 8
 0
 12,935
0
 6,252
 0
 0
 6,252
Cash equivalents0
 46,859
 0
 0
 46,859
99,812
 2,594,928
 0
 0
 2,694,740
Other invested assets(3)350
 4,208,095
 0
 (4,208,445) 0
276
 6,644,749
 0
 (6,645,023) 2
Reinsurance recoverables0
 0
 159,206
 0
 159,206
0
 0
 339,744
 0
 339,744
Receivables from parent and affiliates0
 37,719
 0
 0
 37,719
0
 3,198
 0
 0
 3,198
Subtotal excluding separate account assets8,476
 13,784,814
 268,622
 (4,208,445) 9,853,467
105,119
 21,882,292
 449,327
 (6,645,023) 15,791,715
Separate account assets(4)0
 35,480,264
 0
 0
 35,480,264
0
 33,045,792
 0
 0
 33,045,792
Total assets$8,476
 $49,265,078
 $268,622
 $(4,208,445) $45,333,731
$105,119
 $54,928,084
 $449,327
 $(6,645,023) $48,837,507
Future policy benefits(5)$0
 $0
 $4,995,305
 $0
 $4,995,305
$0
 $0
 $11,738,480
 $0
 $11,738,480
Policyholders' account balances0
 0
 34,069
 0
 34,069
0
 0
 121,102
 0
 121,102
Payables to parent and affiliates0
 3,822,772
 0
 (3,817,815) 4,957
0
 2,682,837
 0
 (2,524,050) 158,787
Other liabilities2,508
 0
 0
 (352) 2,156
6,372
 0
 0
 (276) 6,096
Total liabilities$2,508
 $3,822,772
 $5,029,374
 $(3,818,167) $5,036,487
$6,372
 $2,682,837
 $11,859,582
 $(2,524,326) $12,024,465
Table of Contents
Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)




As of December 31, 2017As of December 31, 2018
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Netting(1) TotalLevel 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 subdivisions0
 104,640
 0
 0
 104,640
0
 131,164
 0
 0
 131,164
Foreign government bonds0
 140,305
 0
 0
 140,305
0
 199,636
 0
 0
 199,636
U.S. corporate public securities0
 1,806,888
 1,562
 0
 1,808,450
0
 1,473,973
 0
 0
 1,473,973
U.S. corporate private securities0
 1,148,536
 59,408
 0
 1,207,944
0
 1,008,632
 54,321
 0
 1,062,953
Foreign corporate public securities0
 229,006
 215
 0
 229,221
0
 291,086
 0
 0
 291,086
Foreign corporate private securities0
 737,539
 34,021
 0
 771,560
0
 781,101
 31,131
 0
 812,232
Asset-backed securities(2)0
 160,229
 185,358
 0
 345,587
0
 495,908
 9,336
 0
 505,244
Commercial mortgage-backed securities0
 505,684
 0
 0
 505,684
0
 361,880
 0
 0
 361,880
Residential mortgage-backed securities0
 165,745
 0
 0
 165,745
0
 49,414
 0
 0
 49,414
Subtotal0
 9,824,985
 285,801
 0
 10,110,786
0
 9,668,753
 102,920
 0
 9,771,673
Fixed maturities, trading(6)0
 166,360
 0
 0
 166,360
0
 289,752
 0
 0
 289,752
Equity securities(6)5,599
 18
 9,758
 0
 15,375
4,896
 12
 5,705
 0
 10,613
Short-term investments448,712
 262,272
 87
 0
 711,071
0
 29,818
 0
 0
 29,818
Cash equivalents0
 1,146,466
 0
 0
 1,146,466
1,098,903
 2,593,456
 0
 0
 3,692,359
Other invested assets(6)(3)10,738
 5,059,779
 147
 (4,919,486) 151,178
4,380
 4,843,414
 0
 (4,804,816) 42,978
Reinsurance recoverables0
 0
 244,006
 0
 244,006
0
 0
 239,911
 0
 239,911
Receivables from parent and affiliates0
 38,145
 0
 0
 38,145
0
 37,193
 0
 0
 37,193
Subtotal excluding separate account assets465,049
 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(4)0
 37,990,547
 0
 0
 37,990,547
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(5)$0
 $0
 $8,151,902
 $0
 $8,151,902
$0
 $0
 $8,332,474
 $0
 $8,332,474
Policyholders' account balances0
 0
 42,350
 0
 42,350
Payables to parent and affiliates0
 1,941,403
 0
 (1,941,403) 0
0
 2,133,496
 0
 (2,133,496) 0
Other liabilities0
 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


(1)“Netting” amounts represent cash collateral of $0.4$4,121 million and $2,978$2,671 million as of SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and December 31, 2017,2018, respectively, and the impact of offsetting asset and liability positions held with the same counterparty, subject to master netting arrangements.
(2)Includes credit tranchedcredit-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 SeptemberAs of June 30, 20182019 and December 31, 2017,2018, the fair values of such investments were $7.6$9.7 million and $0.3$8.0 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 Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position.
(5)As of SeptemberJune 30, 2018,2019, the net embedded derivative liability position of $4,995$11,738 million includes $1,039$500 million of embedded derivatives in an asset position and $6,034$12,238 million of embedded derivatives in a liability position. As of December 31, 2017,2018, the net embedded derivative liability position of $8,152$8,332 million includes $819$625 million of embedded derivatives in an asset position and $8,971$8,957 million of embedded derivatives in a liability position.
(6)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 Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)




Transfers between Levels 1 and 2 – Transfers between levels are made to reflect changes in observability of inputs and market activity. Transfers into or out of any level are generally reported 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. 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 both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, there were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2.

Quantitative Information Regarding Internally Priced Level 3 Assets and Liabilities – The tables below present quantitative information on significant internally-priced Level 3 assets and liabilities.
As of September 30, 2018As of June 30, 2019
Fair
Value    
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)$16,066
Discounted cash flowDiscount rate7.00% 20.00% 11.15% Decrease$18,239
Discounted cash flowDiscount rate8.34% 20% 11.03% Decrease
 Liquidation6.00% 54.00% 50.00% Increase Market ComparablesEBITDA multiples(3)6.7X
 6.7X
 6.7X
 Increase
 LiquidationLiquidation value3.98% 3.98% 3.98% Increase
Reinsurance recoverables$159,206
Fair values are determined in the same manner as future policy benefits  $339,744
Fair values are determined using the same unobservable inputs as future policy benefits.  
Liabilities:                
Future policy benefits(3)$4,995,305
Discounted cash flowLapse rate(4)1% 13%   Decrease
Future policy benefits(4)$11,738,480
Discounted cash flowLapse rate(6)1% 18%   Decrease
  Spread over LIBOR(5)0.16% 1.21%   Decrease  Spread over LIBOR(7)0.16% 1.24%   Decrease
  Utilization rate(6)50% 97%   Increase  Utilization rate(8)43% 97%   Increase
  Withdrawal rateSee table footnote (7) below.  Withdrawal rateSee table footnote (9) below.
  Mortality rate(8)0% 15%   Decrease  Mortality rate(10)0% 15%   Decrease
  Equity volatility curve14% 22%   Increase  Equity volatility curve13% 23%   Increase
Policyholders' account balances(5)$121,102
Discounted cash flowLapse rate(6)2% 42%   Decrease
  Spread over LIBOR(7)0.16% 1.24%   Decrease
  Equity volatility curve13% 21%   Increase
 
As of December 31, 2017As of December 31, 2018
Fair
Value    
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 flowDiscount rate5.06% 22.23% 8.57% Decrease$18,609
Discounted cash flowDiscount rate7% 20% 11.30% Decrease
 Market ComparablesEBITDA multiples(3)6.7X 6.7X 6.7X Increase
 LiquidationLiquidation value41% 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(3)$8,151,902
Discounted cash flowLapse rate(4)1% 12%   Decrease
Future policy benefits(4)$8,332,474
Discounted cash flowLapse rate(6)1% 13%   Decrease
  Spread over LIBOR(5)0.12% 1.10%   Decrease  Spread over LIBOR(7)0.36% 1.60%   Decrease
  Utilization rate(6)52% 97%   Increase  Utilization rate(8)50% 97%   Increase
  Withdrawal rateSee table footnote (7) below.  Withdrawal rateSee table footnote (9) below.
  Mortality rate(8)0% 14%   Decrease  Mortality rate(10)0% 15%   Decrease
  Equity volatility curve13% 24%   Increase  Equity volatility curve18% 22%   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.available-for-sale and fixed maturities trading.
(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 features of the Company’s variable annuity contracts which are accounted for as embedded derivatives. Since the valuation methodology for these liabilities uses a range of inputs that vary at the contract level over the cash flow projection period, presenting a range, rather than weighted average, is a more meaningful representation of the unobservable inputs used in the valuation.
(4)(5)Policyholders’ account balances primarily represent general account liabilities for the index-linked interest credited on certain of the Company’s annuity products that are accounted for as embedded derivatives. Since the valuation methodology for these liabilities uses a range of inputs that vary at the contract
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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)


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.
(6)Lapse rates for contracts with living benefit guarantees 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 for contracts with index-linked crediting guarantees may be adjusted at the contract level based on the applicability of any surrender charges, product type, and market related factors such as interest rates. Lapse rates are also generally assumed to be lower for the period where surrender charges apply. For any given contract, lapse rates vary throughout the period over which cash flows are projected for the purposes of valuing these embedded derivatives.
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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


(5)(7)The spread over the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") swap curve represents the premium added to the proxy for the risk-free rate (LIBOR) to reflect ourthe Company's estimates of rates that a market participant would use to value the living benefit contractsbenefits in both the accumulation and payout phases.phases and index-linked interest crediting guarantees. 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 contractsguarantees, and index-linked interest crediting guarantees are insurance liabilities and are therefore senior to debt.
(6)(8)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.
(7)(9)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 SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and December 31, 2017,2018, 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%.
(8)(10)RangeThe range reflects the mortality raterates for the vast majority of business with living benefits and other contracts, with policyholders ranging from 5045 to 90 years old. While the majority of living benefits have a minimum age requirement, certain benefitsother contracts 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 for certain benefits. Mortality rates may vary by product, age, and duration specific mortality rate adjustments compared to standard industry tables.duration. 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. For the discussion of the relationships between unobservable inputs as well as market factors that may affect the range of inputs used in the valuation of Level 3 assets and liabilities, see Note 105 to the Financial Statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.2018.


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. When a determination is made to classify assets and liabilities within Level 3, the determination is based on significance of the unobservable inputs in the overall fair value measurement. All transfers are based on changes in the observability of the valuation inputs, including the availability of pricing service information that the Company can validate. All transfers are generally reported at the value as of the beginning of the quarter in which transfers occur for any such assets still held at the end of the quarter. 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 Level 2 as market activity, liquidity and overall observability of valuation inputs of CLOs have increased. For further information on valuation processes, see Note 10 to the Financial Statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)




 Three Months Ended September 30, 2018
 Fixed Maturities, Available-For-Sale
 U.S. Government Corporate Securities(1) Structured Securities(2)
 (in thousands)
Fair Value, beginning of period assets/(liabilities)$6,658
 $96,849
 $59,178
Total gains (losses) (realized/unrealized):     
Included in earnings:     
Realized investment gains (losses), net0
 (2,424) (441)
Asset administration fees and other income0
 0
 0
Included in other comprehensive income (loss)0
 (4,437) 284
Net investment income0
 45
 2
Purchases255
 1,323
 0
Sales0
 0
 (13,850)
Issuances0
 0
 0
Settlements0
 (6,495) (14,052)
Transfers into Level 3(4)0
 0
 (194)
Transfers out of Level 3(4)0
 0
 (20,975)
Other(5)0
 3
 0
Fair Value, end of period assets/(liabilities)$6,913
 $84,864
 $9,952
Unrealized gains (losses) for assets/liabilities still held(6):     
   Included in earnings:     
Realized investment gains (losses), net$0
 $(2,771) $0
Asset administration fees and other income$0
 $0
 $0
 Three Months Ended June 30, 2019
 Fair Value, beginning of periodTotal realized and unrealized gains (losses)(1)PurchasesSalesIssuancesSettlementsOther(2)Transfers into Level 3Transfers out of Level 3Fair Value, end of periodUnrealized gains (losses) for assets still held(3)
 (in thousands) 
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale:           
U.S. Government$8,779
$0
$601
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$9,380
$0
Corporate Securities(4)84,800
13
4,087
0
0
(16,626)0
815
(2,018)71,071
0
Structured Securities(5)50,258
384
0
0
0
(339)0
0
(30,578)19,725
0
Other assets:           
Fixed maturities, trading0
(977)0
0
0
0
0
5,021
0
4,044
(972)
Equity securities5,616
481
0
(734)0
0
0
0
0
5,363
480
Reinsurance recoverables283,991
51,236
4,518
0
0
0
(1)0
0
339,744
53,335
Liabilities:           
Future policy benefits(9,316,905)(2,157,110)0
0
(264,465)0
0
0
0
(11,738,480)(2,240,816)
Policyholders' account balances(6)(80,579)(5,095)0
0
(35,428)0
0
0
0
(121,102)(3,299)

 Three Months Ended June 30, 2019
 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 incomeIncluded in other comprehensive income (losses)Net investment income Realized investment gains (losses), netAsset administration fees and other income
 (in thousands)
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale$(1,175)$0
$1,473
$99
 $0
$0
Other assets:       
Fixed maturities, trading0
(972)0
(5) 0
(972)
Equity securities0
481
0
0
 0
480
Reinsurance recoverables51,236
0
0
0
 53,335
0
Liabilities:       
Future policy benefits(2,157,110)0
0
0
 (2,240,816)0
Policyholders' account balances(5,095)0
0
0
 (3,299)0

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)




 Three Months Ended September 30, 2018
 Equity Securities Short-Term Investments Other
Invested Assets
 (in thousands)
Fair Value, beginning of period assets/(liabilities)$9,309
 $0
 $0
Total gains (losses) (realized/unrealized):     
Included in earnings:     
Realized investment gains (losses), net0
 0
 0
Asset administration fees and other income(46) 0
 0
Included in other comprehensive income (loss)0
 0
 0
Net investment income0
 0
 0
Purchases0
 0
 0
Sales(1,584) 0
 0
Issuances0
 0
 0
Settlements0
 31
 0
Transfers into Level 3(4)0
 0
 0
Transfers out of Level 3(4)0
 0
 0
Other(5)0
 (23) 0
Fair Value, end of period assets/(liabilities)$7,679
 $8
 $0
Unrealized gains (losses) for assets/liabilities still held(6):     
  Included in earnings:     
Realized investment gains (losses), net$0
 $0
 $0
Asset administration fees and other income$(375) $0
 $0
 Six Months Ended June 30, 2019
 Fair Value, beginning of periodTotal realized and unrealized gains (losses)(1)PurchasesSalesIssuancesSettlementsOther(2)Transfers into Level 3Transfers out of Level 3Fair Value, end of periodUnrealized gains (losses) for assets still held(3)
 (in thousands) 
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale:           
U.S. Government$8,132
$0
$1,248
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$9,380
$0
Corporate Securities(4)85,452
623
7,313
0
0
(22,089)0
1,790
(2,018)71,071
(1,996)
Structured Securities(5)9,336
529
44,273
0
0
(4,386)0
551
(30,578)19,725
(2)
Other assets:           
Fixed maturities, trading0
(977)0
0
0
0
0
5,021
0
4,044
(972)
Equity securities5,705
587
0
(929)0
0
0
0
0
5,363
598
Reinsurance recoverables239,911
68,861
9,077
0
0
0
21,895
0
0
339,744
72,829
Liabilities:           
Future policy benefits(8,332,474)(2,884,200)0
0
(521,806)0
0
0
0
(11,738,480)(3,025,994)
Policyholders' account balances(6)(42,350)(13,078)0
0
(65,674)0
0
0
0
(121,102)(11,282)


 Six Months Ended June 30, 2019
 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 incomeIncluded in other comprehensive income (losses)Net investment income Realized investment gains (losses), netAsset administration fees and other income
 (in thousands)
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale$(1,900)$0
$2,914
$138
 $(1,998)$0
Other assets:       
Fixed maturities, trading0
(972)0
(5) 0
(972)
Equity securities0
587
0
0
 0
598
Reinsurance recoverables68,861
0
0
0
 72,829
0
Liabilities:       
Future policy benefits(2,884,200)0
0
0
 (3,025,994)0
Policyholders' account balances(13,078)0
0
0
 (11,282)0

Table of Contents
Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)




 Three Months Ended September 30, 2018
 Reinsurance
Recoverables
 Receivables from
Parent and Affiliates
 Future Policy
Benefits
 Policyholders' account balances
 (in thousands)  
Fair Value, beginning of period assets/(liabilities)$185,258
 $0
 $(6,222,612) $(13,835)
Total gains (losses) (realized/unrealized):       
Included in earnings:       
Realized investment gains (losses), net(7)(33,467) 0
 1,485,428
 (1,093)
Asset administration fees and other income0
 0
 0
 0
Included in other comprehensive income (loss)0
 0
 0
 0
Net investment income0
 0
 0
 0
Purchases4,930
 0
 0
 0
Sales0
 0
 0
 0
Issuances0
 0
 (258,121) (19,141)
Settlements0
 0
 0
 0
Transfers into Level 3(4)0
 0
 0
 0
Transfers out of Level 3(4)0
 0
 0
 0
Other(5)2,485
 0
 0
 0
Fair Value, end of period assets/(liabilities)$159,206
 $0
 $(4,995,305) $(34,069)
Unrealized gains (losses) for assets/liabilities still held(6):       
  Included in earnings:       
Realized investment gains (losses), net$(47,218) $0
 $1,428,629
 $(1,093)
Asset administration fees and other income$0
 $0
 $0
 $0
 Three Months Ended June 30, 2018(7)
 Fair Value, beginning of periodTotal realized and unrealized gains (losses)(1)PurchasesSalesIssuancesSettlementsOther (2)Transfers into Level 3Transfers out of Level 3Fair Value, end of periodUnrealized gains (losses) for assets still held(3)
 (in thousands) 
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale:           
U.S. Government$5,882
$0
$776
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$6,658
$0
Corporate Securities(4)90,273
(2,665)4,874
(205)0
(2,369)0
6,941
0
96,849
(144)
Structured Securities(5)256,244
(404)21,000
(193)0
(14,714)0
10,025
(212,780)59,178
0
Other assets:           
Equity securities10,617
(300)0
(1,008)0
0
0
0
0
9,309
(462)
Other invested assets0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Short-term investments11
(2)0
0
0
(9)0
0
0
0
(2)
Reinsurance recoverables195,497
(15,696)4,662
0
0
0
795
0
0
185,258
(14,217)
Receivables from parent and affiliates34,163
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
(34,163)0
0
Liabilities:           
Future policy benefits(6,578,210)611,827
0
0
(256,229)0
0
0
0
(6,222,612)537,900
Policyholders' account balances(6)0
(45)0
0
(13,790)0
0
0
0
(13,835)(45)
Reinsurance payable(129)0
0
0
0
0
129
0
0
0
0


 Three Months Ended June 30, 2018(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 incomeIncluded in other comprehensive income (losses)Net investment income Realized investment gains (losses), netAsset administration fees and other income
 (in thousands)
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale$(119)$0
$(3,002)$52
 $(144)$0
Other assets:       
Equity securities0
(300)0
0
 0
(462)
Other invested assets0
0
0
0
 0
0
Short-term investments(2)0
0
0
 (2)0
Reinsurance recoverables(15,696)0
0
0
 (14,217)0
Receivables from parent and affiliates0
0
0
0
 0
0
Liabilities:       
Future policy benefits611,827
0
0
0
 537,900
0
Policyholders' account balances(45)0
0
0
 (45)0
Reinsurance payable0
0
0
0
 0
0

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)





 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018
 Fixed Maturities, Available-For-Sale
 U.S. Government Corporate Securities(1) Structured Securities(2)
 (in thousands)
Fair Value, beginning of period assets/(liabilities)$5,237
 $95,206
 $185,358
Total gains (losses) (realized/unrealized):     
Included in earnings:     
Realized investment gains (losses), net0
 (2,656) (394)
Asset administration fees and other income0
 0
 0
Included in other comprehensive income (loss)0
 (5,805) (300)
Net investment income0
 159
 35
Purchases1,676
 6,348
 84,810
Sales0
 (241) (14,043)
Issuances0
 0
 0
Settlements0
 (14,899) (37,665)
Transfers into Level 3(4)0
 6,941
 51,785
Transfers out of Level 3(4)0
 (215) (259,634)
Other(5)0
 26
 0
Fair Value, end of period assets/(liabilities)$6,913
 $84,864
 $9,952
Unrealized gains (losses) for assets/liabilities still held(6):     
   Included in earnings:     
Realized investment gains (losses), net$0
 $(2,992) $0
Asset administration fees and other income$0
 $0
 $0
 Six Months Ended June 30, 2018(7)
 Fair Value, beginning of periodTotal realized and unrealized gains (losses)(1)PurchasesSalesIssuancesSettlementsOther (2)Transfers into Level 3Transfers out of Level 3Fair Value, end of periodUnrealized gains (losses) for assets still held(3)
 (in thousands) 
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale:           
U.S. Government$5,237
$0
$1,421
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$0
$6,658
$0
Corporate Securities(4)95,206
(1,486)5,025
(241)0
(8,404)23
6,941
(215)96,849
(221)
Structured Securities(5)185,358
(504)84,810
(193)0
(23,613)0
51,979
(238,659)59,178
0
Other assets:           
Equity securities9,758
412
0
(1,008)0
0
147
0
0
9,309
250
Other invested assets147
0
0
0
0
0
(147)0
0
0
0
Short-term investments87
(55)0
0
0
(31)(1)0
0
0
(55)
Reinsurance recoverables244,006
(56,738)9,513
0
0
0
(11,523)0
0
185,258
(52,511)
Receivables from parent and affiliates0
(106)0
0
0
0
0
34,269
(34,163)0
0
Liabilities:           
Future policy benefits(8,151,902)2,440,439
0
0
(511,149)0
0
0
0
(6,222,612)2,272,290
Policyholders' account balances(6)0
(45)0
0
(13,790)0
0
0
0
(13,835)(45)





Table of Contents
Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)



 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018
 Equity Securities Short-Term Investments Other
Invested Assets
 (in thousands)
Fair Value, beginning of period assets/(liabilities)$9,758
 $87
 $147
Total gains (losses) (realized/unrealized):     
Included in earnings:     
Realized investment gains (losses), net0
 (55) 0
Asset administration fees and other income366
 0
 0
Included in other comprehensive income (loss)0
 0
 0
Net investment income0
 0
 0
Purchases0
 0
 0
Sales(2,592) 0
 0
Issuances0
 0
 0
Settlements0
 0
 0
Transfers into Level 3(4)0
 0
 0
Transfers out of Level 3(4)0
 0
 0
Other(5)147
 (24) (147)
Fair Value, end of period assets/(liabilities)$7,679
 $8
 $0
Unrealized gains (losses) for assets/liabilities still held(6):     
  Included in earnings:     
Realized investment gains (losses), net$0
 $(55) $0
Asset administration fees and other income$(125) $0
 $0
 Six Months Ended June 30, 2018(7)
 Total realized and unrealized gains (losses) Unrealized gains (losses) for assets still held(3)
 Realized investment gains (losses), net(1)Asset administration fees and other incomeIncluded in other comprehensive income (losses)Net investment income Realized investment gains (losses), netAsset administration fees and other income
 (in thousands)
Fixed maturities, available-for-sale$(185)$0
$(1,952)$147
 $(221)$0
Other assets:       
Equity securities0
412
0
0
 0
250
Other invested assets0
0
0
0
 0
0
Short-term investments(55)0
0
0
 (55)0
Reinsurance recoverables(56,738)0
0
0
 (52,511)0
Receivables from parent and affiliates0
0
(106)0
 0
0
Liabilities:       
Future policy benefits2,440,439
0
0
0
 2,272,290
0
Policyholders' account balances(45)0
0
0
 (45)0
Reinsurance payable0
0
0
0
 0
0
Table of Contents
Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


  Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018
  Reinsurance
Recoverables
 Receivables from
Parent and Affiliates
 Future Policy
Benefits
 Policyholders' account balances
  (in thousands)
Fair Value, beginning of period assets/(liabilities) $244,006
 $0
 $(8,151,902) $0
Total gains (losses) (realized/unrealized):        
Included in earnings:        
Realized investment gains (losses), net(7) (90,205) 0
 3,925,867
 (1,138)
Asset administration fees and other income 0
 0
 0
 0
Included in other comprehensive income (loss) 0
 (106) 0
 0
Net investment income 0
 0
 0
 0
Purchases 14,444
 0
 0
 0
Sales 0
 0
 0
 0
Issuances 0
 0
 (769,270) (32,931)
Settlements 0
 0
 0
 0
Transfers into Level 3(4) 0
 34,269
 0
 0
Transfers out of Level 3(4) 0
 (34,163) 0
 0
Other(5) (9,039) 0
 0
 0
Fair Value, end of period assets/(liabilities) $159,206
 $0
 $(4,995,305) $(34,069)
Unrealized gains (losses) for assets/liabilities still held(6):        
  Included in earnings:        
Realized investment gains (losses), net $(95,836) $0
 $3,677,070
 $(1,138)
Asset administration fees and other income $0
 $0
 $0
 $0

Table of Contents
Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


  Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
  Fixed Maturities Available-For-Sale
  U.S. Government Foreign Government Corporate Securities(1) Structured Securities(2)
  (in thousands)
Fair Value, beginning of period assets/(liabilities) $3,151
 $0
 $133,567
 $215,503
Total gains (losses) (realized/unrealized):        
Included in earnings:        
Realized investment gains (losses), net 0
 0
 (945) 527
Asset administration fees and other income 0
 0
 0
 0
Included in other comprehensive income (loss) 0
 0
 (2,270) (306)
Net investment income 0
 0
 1,526
 111
Purchases 917
 0
 334
 78,112
Sales 0
 0
 0
 0
Issuances 0
 0
 0
 0
Settlements 0
 0
 (1,670) (6,720)
Transfers into Level 3(4) 0
 0
 8,290
 2,513
Transfers out of Level 3(4) 0
 0
 (1,056) (12,502)
Other(5) (2) 0
 (3,028) 0
Fair Value, end of period assets/(liabilities) $4,066
 $0
 $134,748
 $277,238
Unrealized gains (losses) for assets/(liabilities) still held(6):        
Included in earnings:        
Realized investment gains (losses), net $0
 $0
 $0
 $0
Asset administration fees and other income $0
 $0
 $0
 $0

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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


  Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
  Equity Securities(3) Short-Term Investments Cash Equivalents
  (in thousands)
Fair Value, beginning of period assets/(liabilities) $5,854
 $450
 $375
Total gains (losses) (realized/unrealized): 
    
Included in earnings: 
    
Realized investment gains (losses), net 0
 0
 0
Asset administration fees and other income 630
 0
 0
Included in other comprehensive income (loss) 0
 0
 0
Net investment income 0
 0
 0
Purchases 0
 75
 0
Sales 0
 0
 0
Issuances 0
 0
 0
Settlements 0
 0
 0
Transfers into Level 3(4) 0
 0
 0
Transfers out of Level 3(4) 0
 0
 0
Other 3,853
 (450) (375)
Fair Value, end of period assets/(liabilities) $10,337
 $75
 $0
Unrealized gains (losses) for assets/(liabilities) still held(6):      
Included in earnings:      
Realized investment gains (losses), net $0
 $0
 $0
Asset administration fees and other income $630
 $0
 $0

Table of Contents
Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


 Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
 Reinsurance
Recoverables
 Receivables from
Parent and Affiliates
 Future Policy
Benefits
 (in thousands)
Fair Value, beginning of period assets/(liabilities)$268,337
 $0
 $(9,331,040)
Total gains (losses) (realized/unrealized):     
Included in earnings:     
Realized investment gains (losses), net(7)(33,779) 0
 1,584,013
Asset administration fees and other income0
 0
 0
Included in other comprehensive income (loss)0
 0
 0
Net investment income0
 0
 0
Purchases4,875
 0
 0
Sales0
 0
 0
Issuances0
 0
 (252,024)
Settlements0
 0
 0
Transfers into Level 3(4)0
 0
 0
Transfers out of Level 3(4)0
 0
 0
Other(5)2,948
 0
 0
Fair Value, end of period assets/(liabilities)$242,381
 $0
 $(7,999,051)
Unrealized gains (losses) for assets/(liabilities) still held(6):     
Included in earnings:     
Realized investment gains (losses), net$(31,836) $0
 $1,503,393
Asset administration fees and other income$0
 $0
 $0




Table of Contents
Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


  Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
  Fixed Maturities Available-For-Sale
  U.S. Government Foreign Government Corporate Securities(1) Structured Securities(2)
  (in thousands)
Fair Value, beginning of period assets/(liabilities) $0
 $87
 $151,989
 $31,735
Total gains (losses) (realized/unrealized):        
Included in earnings:        
Realized investment gains (losses), net 0
 0
 (3,060) 535
Asset administration fees and other income 0
 0
 0
 0
Included in other comprehensive income (loss) 0
 0
 (1,619) (35)
Net investment income 0
 0
 6,383
 163
Purchases 3,093
 0
 1,428
 228,719
Sales 0
 0
 (14,367) (1,595)
Issuances 0
 0
 0
 0
Settlements 0
 0
 (7,963) (49,272)
Transfers into Level 3(4) 0
 0
 10,640
 94,979
Transfers out of Level 3(4) 0
 (87) (4,681) (27,991)
Other(5) 973
 0
 (4,002) 0
Fair Value, end of period assets/(liabilities) $4,066
 $0
 $134,748
 $277,238
Unrealized gains (losses) for assets/(liabilities) still held(6):        
Included in earnings:        
Realized investment gains (losses), net $0
 $0
 $(2,277) $(1)
Asset administration fees and other income $0
 $0
 $0
 $0



Table of Contents
Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


  Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
  Equity Securities(3) Short-Term Investments Cash Equivalents
  (in thousands)
Fair Value, beginning of period assets/(liabilities) $4,864
 $450
 $375
Total gains (losses) (realized/unrealized):      
Included in earnings:      
Realized investment gains (losses), net 0
 0
 0
Asset administration fees and other income 1,268
 0
 0
Included in other comprehensive income (loss) 351
 0
 0
Net investment income 0
 0
 0
Purchases 0
 75
 0
Sales 0
 0
 0
Issuances 0
 0
 0
Settlements 0
 0
 0
Transfers into Level 3(4) 0
 0
 0
Transfers out of Level 3(4) 0
 0
 0
Other 3,854
 (450) (375)
Fair Value, end of period assets/(liabilities) $10,337
 $75
 $0
Unrealized gains (losses) for assets/(liabilities) still held(6):      
Included in earnings:      
Realized investment gains (losses), net $0
 $0
 $0
Asset administration fees and other income $917
 $0
 $0

Table of Contents
Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)


 Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
 Reinsurance
Recoverables
 Receivables from
Parent and Affiliates
 Future Policy
Benefits
 (in thousands)
Fair Value, beginning of period assets/(liabilities)$240,091
 $33,962
 $(7,707,333)
Total gains (losses) (realized/unrealized):     
Included in earnings:     
Realized investment gains (losses), net(7)(12,834) 0
 455,564
Asset administration fees and other income0
 0
 0
Included in other comprehensive income (loss)0
 0
 0
Net investment income0
 0
 0
Purchases14,659
 0
 0
Sales0
 0
 0
Issuances0
 0
 (747,282)
Settlements0
 0
 0
Transfers into Level 3(4)0
 0
 0
Transfers out of Level 3(4)0
 (33,962) 0
Other(5)465
 0
 0
Fair Value, end of period assets/(liabilities)$242,381
 $0
 $(7,999,051)
Unrealized gains (losses) for assets/(liabilities) still held(6):     
Included in earnings:     
Realized investment gains (losses), net$(7,021) $0
 $274,784
Asset administration fees and other income$0
 $0
 $0


(1)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.
(2)Includes asset-backed, commercial mortgage-backed and residential mortgage-backed securities. Prior period amounts were aggregated to conform to current period presentation.
(3)Prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to current period presentation. See Note 2 for details.
(4)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.
(5)Other, primarily represents reclassifications of certain assets and liabilities between reporting categories.
(6)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.
(7)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 includes reclassifications of certain assets and liabilities between reporting categories.
Table of Contents
Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)




(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.
(5)Includes asset-backed, commercial mortgage-backed and residential mortgage-backed securities.
(6)Issuances and settlements for Policyholders' account balances are presented net in the rollforward.
(7)Prior period amounts have been updated to conform to current period presentation.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments


The table below presents the carrying amount and fair value by fair value hierarchy level of certain financial instruments that are not reported at fair value. The financial instruments presented below are reported at carrying value on the Company’s Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. In some cases, as described below, the carrying amount equals or approximates fair value.
September 30, 2018(1)June 30, 2019
Fair Value 
Carrying
Amount(2)
Fair Value 
Carrying
Amount(1)
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total TotalLevel 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total Total
(in thousands)(in thousands)
Assets:                  
Commercial mortgage and other loans$0
 $0
 $1,324,292
 $1,324,292
 $1,352,403
$0
 $0
 $1,358,041
 $1,358,041
 $1,316,611
Policy loans0
 0
 12,656
 12,656
 12,656
0
 0
 12,239
 12,239
 12,239
Short-term investments7,750
 0
 0
 7,750
 7,750
0
 0
 0
 0
 0
Cash and cash equivalents20,403
 327,000
 0
 347,403
 347,403
468,660
 835,000
 0
 1,303,660
 1,303,660
Accrued investment income0
 76,228
 0
 76,228
 76,228
0
 98,149
 0
 98,149
 98,149
Reinsurance recoverables0
 0
 56,348
 56,348
 56,348
0
 0
 53,251
 53,251
 53,251
Receivables from parent and affiliates0
 18,649
 0
 18,649
 18,649
0
 11,974
 0
 11,974
 11,974
Other assets0
 15,047
 0
 15,047
 15,047
0
 5,633
 0
 5,633
 5,633
Total assets$28,153
 $436,924
 $1,393,296
 $1,858,373
 $1,886,484
$468,660
 $950,756
 $1,423,531
 $2,842,947
 $2,801,517
Liabilities:                  
Policyholders’ account balances - investment contracts$0
 $0
 $431,293
 $431,293
 $438,448
$0
 $0
 $1,003,487
 $1,003,487
 $997,938
Cash collateral for loaned securities0
 7,147
 0
 7,147
 7,147
0
 0
 0
 0
 0
Short-term debt0
 183,673
 0
 183,673
 184,303
0
 0
 0
 0
 0
Long-term debt0
 789,881
 0
 789,881
 787,596
0
 682,141
 0
 682,141
 653,596
Reinsurance payables0
 0
 56,348
 56,348
 56,348
0
 0
 53,251
 53,251
 53,251
Payables to parent and affiliates0
 46,010
 0
 46,010
 46,010
0
 35,557
 0
 35,557
 35,557
Other liabilities0
 138,859
 0
 138,859
 138,859
0
 155,474
 0
 155,474
 155,474
Separate account liabilities - investment contracts0
 86
 0
 86
 86
0
 65
 0
 65
 65
Total liabilities$0
 $1,165,656
 $487,641
 $1,653,297
 $1,658,797
$0
 $873,237
 $1,056,738
 $1,929,975
 $1,895,881
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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)




December 31, 2017(1)December 31, 2018
Fair Value 
Carrying
Amount(2)
Fair Value 
Carrying
Amount(1)
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total TotalLevel 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 loans0
 0
 12,558
 12,558
 12,558
0
 0
 12,805
 12,805
 12,805
Short-term investments7,750
 0
 0
 7,750
 7,750
Cash and cash equivalents493,473
 0
 0
 493,473
 493,473
136,175
 675,000
 0
 811,175
 811,175
Accrued investment income0
 88,331
 0
 88,331
 88,331
0
 90,895
 0
 90,895
 90,895
Reinsurance recoverables0
 0
 59,588
 59,588
 59,588
0
 0
 55,236
 55,236
 55,236
Receivables from parent and affiliates0
 11,206
 0
 11,206
 11,206
0
 9,188
 0
 9,188
 9,188
Other assets0
 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 securities0
 17,383
 0
 17,383
 17,383
0
 384
 0
 384
 384
Short-term debt0
 43,734
 0
 43,734
 43,734
0
 139,843
 0
 139,843
 140,569
Long-term debt0
 1,003,251
 0
 1,003,251
 928,165
0
 791,670
 0
 791,670
 787,596
Reinsurance payables0
 0
 59,588
 59,588
 59,588
0
 0
 55,236
 55,236
 55,236
Payables to parent and affiliates0
 36,026
 0
 36,026
 36,026
0
 30,846
 0
 30,846
 30,846
Other liabilities0
 135,556
 0
 135,556
 135,556
0
 554,162
 0
 554,162
 554,162
Separate account liabilities - investment contracts0
 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


(1)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 was measured at NAV per share (or its equivalent) as a practical expedient. The fair value and the carrying value of these cost method investments were $6.4 million and $6.0 million, respectively. Due to the adoption of ASU 2016-01 effective January 1, 2018, these assets are carried at fair value at each reporting date with changes in fair value reported in “Asset administration fees and other income.” Therefore, as of September 30, 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 Unaudited Interim Consolidated 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.


6.    INCOME TAXES

The Company uses a full year projected effective tax rate approach to calculate year-to-date taxes. In addition, certain items impacting total income tax expense are recorded in the periods in which they occur. The projected effective tax rate is the ratio of projected “Total income tax expense” divided by projected “Income from operations before income taxes”. The interim period tax expense (or benefit) is the difference between the year-to-date income tax provision and the amounts reported for the previous interim periods of the fiscal year.

The Company's income tax provision, on a consolidated basis, amounted to an income tax expense of $57 million, or 4.4% of income from operations before income taxes in the first nine months of 2018, compared to $370 million, or 31.6%, in the first nine months of 2017. The Company’s 2018 effective tax rates differed from the U.S. statutory rate of 21% primarily due to non-taxable investment income, tax credits and unique items described below that were recorded in the periods in which they occurred. The Company's 2017 effective tax rates differed from the U.S. statutory rate of 35% primarily due to non-taxable investment income and tax credits. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 ("Tax Act of 2017") modified the methodology for determining the dividend received deduction and will likely reduce the tax benefit of non-taxable investment income in periods starting after December 31, 2017.
Table of Contents
Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)



2018 Industry Issue Resolution (IIR) - In August 2018, the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") released an IIR 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 IIR methodology 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 IIR, the Company accounted for these future deductions as deferred tax assets measured using the current 21% corporate income tax rate. Upon adoption of the IIR, 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 for the first nine months of 2018.

U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs 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 Consolidated Statements of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2017. In accordance with SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin 118, 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. The Company has not fully completed its accounting for the tax effects of the Tax Act of 2017. As the Company completes the collection, preparation and analysis of data relevant to the Tax Act of 2017, and interprets any additional guidance issued by the IRS, U.S. Department of the Treasury, or other standard-setting organizations, the Company may make adjustments to these provisional amounts. These adjustments may materially impact the Company’s provision for income taxes in the period in which the adjustments are made. During the first nine months of 2018, the Company recognized a $0.5 million increase in income tax expense primarily related to refinements of our provisional estimates.


7.    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.affiliates. 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 ofEffective December 31, 2015, the Company surrendered its New York license. The Company recaptured the New York living benefits previously ceded to Pruco Re,license 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". ForSee Note 4 for additional information related to the accounting for embedded derivatives, see Note 11 to the Financial Statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.












derivatives.
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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)





Reinsurance amounts included in the Company's Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as of SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and December 31, 20172018 were as follows:


 June 30, 2019 December 31, 2018
 (in thousands)
Reinsurance recoverables(1)$646,139
 $572,102
Deferred policy acquisition costs3,778,155
 3,703,166
Deferred sales inducements473,085
 476,608
Value of business acquired(2,399) (2,431)
Other assets90,297
 79,992
Policyholders’ account balances3,185,754
 3,098,537
Future policy benefits8,247,032
 5,680,939
Reinsurance payables(2)251,804
 232,937
Other liabilities291,469
 290,330

 September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017
 (in thousands)
Reinsurance recoverables(1)$487,748
 $563,428
Deferred policy acquisition costs3,684,641
 3,766,066
Deferred sales inducements484,204
 540,389
Value of business acquired(2,561) (2,702)
Other assets100,053
 105,167
Policyholders’ account balances3,029,531
 2,825,030
Future policy benefits3,269,692
 5,511,496
Reinsurance payables(2)214,420
 262,588
Other liabilities296,686
 329,019


(1)"Reinsurance recoverables" includes $0.0$0.1 million and $0.3$0 million of unaffiliated activity as of SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and December 31, 2017,2018, respectively.
(2)"Reinsurance payables" includes $0.1 million of unaffiliated activity as of both SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and December 31, 2017.2018.


The reinsurance recoverables by counterparty are broken out below:
 June 30, 2019 December 31, 2018
 (in thousands)
Prudential Insurance$390,634
 $335,349
Pruco Life255,366
 236,716
Unaffiliated139
 37
Total reinsurance recoverables$646,139
 $572,102
 September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017
 (in thousands)
Prudential Insurance$246,217
 $310,758
Pruco Life241,494
 252,383
Unaffiliated37
 287
Total reinsurance recoverables$487,748
 $563,428


Table of Contents
Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)




Reinsurance amounts, included in the Company’s Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, were as follows:
 Three Months Ended June 30, Six Months Ended June 30,
 2019 2018 2019 2018
 (in thousands)
Premiums:       
Direct$8,381
 $7,824
 $16,435
 $19,937
Assumed10,398
 5,965
 19,493
 16,146
Ceded(308) (494) (192) (1,754)
Net premiums18,471
 13,295
 35,736
 34,329
Policy charges and fee income:       
Direct122,420
 139,738
 244,031
 285,451
Assumed411,058
 417,636
 806,146
 837,662
Ceded(1)(8,690) (10,031) (17,455) (20,480)
Net policy charges and fee income524,788
 547,343
 1,032,722
 1,102,633
Asset administration fees and other income:       
Direct41,226
 25,660
 79,971
 51,693
Assumed76,079
 75,255
 148,774
 151,147
Ceded(2,100) (2,312) (4,152) (4,700)
Net asset administration fees and other income115,205
 98,603
 224,593
 198,140
Realized investment gains (losses), net:       
Direct593,738
 (457,927) (240,470) (1,206,252)
Assumed(1,530,524) 483,344
 (2,046,233) 1,832,448
Ceded42,571
 (15,558) 50,269
 (57,647)
Realized investment gains (losses), net(894,215) 9,859
 (2,236,434) 568,549
Policyholders' benefits (including change in reserves):       
Direct17,616
 12,353
 24,719
 30,517
Assumed31,619
 16,766
 33,976
 34,658
Ceded(2)(1,345) (452) (2,855) (1,482)
Net policyholders' benefits (including change in reserves)47,890
 28,667
 55,840
 63,693
Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances:       
Direct15,335
 35,185
 21,345
 71,573
Assumed19,283
 29,757
 24,094
 65,548
Ceded(1,263) (2,922) (1,657) (5,531)
Net interest credited to policyholders’ account balances33,355
 62,020
 43,782
 131,590
Reinsurance expense allowances and general and administrative expenses, net of capitalization and amortization240,225
 295,556
 439,480
 591,753

 Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30,
 2018 2017 2018 2017
 (in thousands)
Premiums:       
Direct$7,582
 $8,028
 $27,519
 $26,216
Assumed6,568
 5,849
 22,714
 25,402
Ceded(471) (1,372) (2,225) (2,952)
Net premiums13,679
 12,505
 48,008
 48,666
Policy charges and fee income:       
Direct137,719
 153,835
 423,170
 469,128
Assumed422,888
 413,400
 1,260,550
 1,210,789
Ceded(1)(10,015) (11,328) (30,495) (33,607)
Net policy charges and fee income550,592
 555,907
 1,653,225
 1,646,310
Asset administration fees and other income:       
Direct18,360
 30,573
 70,053
 97,972
Assumed77,276
 74,586
 228,423
 216,697
Ceded(2,316) (2,446) (7,016) (7,285)
Net asset administration fees and other income93,320
 102,713
 291,460
 307,384
Realized investment gains (losses), net:       
Direct(1,033,002) (32,663) (2,239,254) (779,499)
Assumed1,133,110
 1,237,967
 2,965,558
 470,545
Ceded(34,835) (35,227) (92,482) (18,558)
Realized investment gains (losses), net65,273
 1,170,077
 633,822
 (327,512)
Policyholders' benefits (including change in reserves):       
Direct20,847
 10,061
 51,364
 36,627
Assumed29,743
 6,114
 64,401
 28,505
Ceded(2)(659) (2,119) (2,141) 15,119
Net policyholders' benefits (including change in reserves)49,931
 14,056
 113,624
 80,251
Interest credited to policyholders’ account balances:       
Direct41,949
 42,401
 113,522
 (5,421)
Assumed43,662
 52,559
 109,210
 9,108
Ceded(3,298) (4,461) (8,829) (3,120)
Net interest credited to policyholders’ account balances82,313
 90,499
 213,903
 567
Reinsurance expense allowances and general and administrative expenses, net of capitalization and amortization283,512
 352,114
 875,265
 524,961


(1)"Policy charges and fee income ceded" includes $(0.4)$(1) million and $(0.6)$(0.4) million of unaffiliated activity for the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and 2017,2018, respectively, and $(1) million and $(2)$(0.6) million for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and 2017,2018, respectively.
(2)"Policyholders' benefits (including change in reserves) ceded" includes $0.0$(0.1) million and $0 million of unaffiliated activity for both the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and 2017,$(0.1) million and $(0.2) million and $0.0 million for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and 2017,2018, respectively.


Table of Contents
Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)




7.    INCOME TAXES

The Company uses a full year projected effective tax rate approach to calculate year-to-date taxes. In addition, certain items impacting total income tax expense are recorded in the periods in which they occur. The projected effective tax rate is the ratio of projected “Income tax expense (benefit)” divided by projected “Income (loss) from operations before income taxes”. The interim period tax expense (or benefit) is the difference between the year-to-date income tax provision and the amounts reported for the previous interim periods of the fiscal year.

The Company's income tax provision amounted to an income tax benefit of $(318) million, or 22.96% of income (loss) from operations before income taxes in the first six months of 2019, compared to an income tax expense of $205 million, or 19.68%, in the first six months of 2018. The Company’s current and prior effective tax rates differed from the U.S. statutory tax rate of 21% primarily due to non-taxable investment income and tax credits.


8.    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. The balance of and changes in each component of “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)”AOCI as of and for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and 20172018 are as follows:
 Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments 
Net Unrealized
Investment Gains
(Losses)(1)
 Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 (in thousands)
Balance, December 31, 2017$(7) $(90,117) $(90,124)
Change in OCI before reclassifications(1,192) (438,304) (439,496)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI0
 54,870
 54,870
Income tax benefit (expense)251
 80,522
 80,773
Cumulative effect of adoption of ASU 2016-010
 (3) (3)
Cumulative effect of adoption of ASU 2018-02(2) (36,712) (36,714)
Balance, September 30, 2018$(950) $(429,744) $(430,694)

 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, 2018$(1,078) $(323,295) $(324,373)
Change in OCI before reclassifications(16) 698,743
 698,727
Amounts reclassified from AOCI0
 9,087
 9,087
Income tax benefit (expense)3
 (148,645) (148,642)
Balance, June 30, 2019$(1,091) $235,890
 $234,799
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments Net Unrealized
Investment Gains
(Losses)(1)
 Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment Net Unrealized
Investment Gains
(Losses)(1)
 Total Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
(in thousands)(in thousands)
Balance, December 31, 2016$(78) $(314,870) $(314,948)
Balance, December 31, 2017$(7) $(90,117) $(90,124)
Change in OCI before reclassifications95
 222,991
 223,086
(1,128) (282,772) (283,900)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI0
 4,407
 4,407
0
 48,454
 48,454
Income tax benefit (expense)(33) (79,589) (79,622)237
 49,208
 49,445
Balance, September 30, 2017$(16) $(167,061) $(167,077)
Cumulative effect of adoption of ASU 2016-010
 (3) (3)
Cumulative effect of adoption of ASU 2018-02(2) (36,712) (36,714)
Balance, June 30, 2018$(900) $(311,942) $(312,842)


(1)
Includes cash flow hedges of $(24)$0 million and $(26)$(4) million as of SeptemberJune 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, respectively, and $(24) millionand$(26) million as of June 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively and $(15) millionand$12 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.


Table of Contents
Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Financial Statements—(Continued)


Reclassifications out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Three Months Ended
September 30,
 Nine Months Ended
September 30,
Three Months Ended
June 30,
 Six Months Ended
June 30,
2018 2017 2018 20172019 2018 2019 2018
(in thousands)(in thousands)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI(1)(2):              
Net unrealized investment gains (losses):              
Cash flow hedges—Currency/ Interest rate(3)$4,339
 $(1,484) $13,850
 $(1,861)$(4,535) $12,729
 $(5,388) $9,511
Net unrealized investment gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities(10,755) (1,180) (68,720) (2,546)(2,968) 15,834
 (3,699) (57,965)
Total net unrealized investment gains (losses)(4)(6,416) (2,664) (54,870) (4,407)(7,503) 28,563
 (9,087) (48,454)
Total reclassifications for the period$(6,416) $(2,664) $(54,870) $(4,407)$(7,503) $28,563
 $(9,087) $(48,454)


(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 costs,and other costs and future policy benefits and other liabilities.
Table of Contents
Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)




Net Unrealized Investment Gains (Losses)


Net unrealized investment gains (losses) on securities classified as available-for-sale and certain other invested assets and other assets are included in the Company’s Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statements of Financial Position as a component of AOCI. Changes in these amounts include reclassification adjustments to exclude from “Other comprehensive income (loss)”OCI those items that are included as part of “Net income” for a period that had been part of “Other comprehensive income (loss)”OCI 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:


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)
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)(in thousands)
Balance, December 31, 2017$12,311
 $(1,008) $(157) $(3,263) $7,883
Balance, December 31, 2018$(3,334) $(1,119) $(68) $27
 $(4,494)
Net investment gains (losses) on investments arising during the period(12,928) 0
 0
 2,715
 (10,213)13,215
 0
 0
 (2,775) 10,440
Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income(192) 0
 0
 40
 (152)4
 0
 0
 (1) 3
Reclassification adjustment for OTTI (gains) losses excluded from net income(1)(225) 0
 0
 47
 (178)(92) 0
 0
 19
 (73)
Impact of net unrealized investment (gains) losses on deferred policy acquisition costs and other costs0
 2,841
 0
 (597) 2,244
0
 120
 0
 (25) 95
Impact of net unrealized investment (gains) losses on future policy benefits and other liabilities0
 0
 518
 (109) 409
0
 0
 (52) 11
 (41)
Balance, September 30, 2018$(1,034) $1,833
 $361
 $(1,167) $(7)
Balance, June 30, 2019$9,793
 $(999) $(120) $(2,744) $5,930


(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 value of business acquired ("VOBA").
(3)"Other liabilities" primarily includes reinsurance payables and deferred reinsurance gains.
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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated 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 Future Policy Benefits and Other Liabilities 
Deferred
Income Tax
(Liability)
Benefit
 Accumulated Other Comprehensive
Income (Loss) Related to Net Unrealized Investment Gains (Losses)
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)(in thousands)
Balance, December 31, 2017$(71,723) $(82,212) $(16,997) $72,932
 $(98,000)
Balance, December 31, 2018$(413,575) $8,505
 $1,113
 $85,156
 $(318,801)
Net investment gains (losses) on investments arising during the period(553,949) 0
 0
 116,330
 (437,619)877,926
 0
 0
 (184,366) 693,560
Reclassification adjustment for (gains) losses included in net income55,062
 0
 0
 (11,562) 43,500
9,083
 0
 0
 (1,907) 7,176
Reclassification adjustment for OTTI (gains) losses excluded from net income(2)225
 0
 0
 (47) 178
92
 0
 0
 (19) 73
Impact of net unrealized investment (gains) losses on deferred policy acquisition costs and other costs0
 105,676
 0
 (22,192) 83,484
0
 (172,664) 0
 36,259
 (136,405)
Impact of net unrealized investment (gains) losses on future policy benefits and other liabilities0
 0
 19,538
 (4,103) 15,435
0
 0
 (19,802) 4,159
 (15,643)
Cumulative effect of adoption of ASU 2016-01(4) 0
 0
 1
 (3)
Cumulative effect of adoption of ASU 2018-020 0 0 (36,712) (36,712)
Balance, September 30, 2018$(570,389) $23,464
 $2,541
 $114,647
 $(429,737)
Balance, June 30, 2019$473,526
 $(164,159) $(18,689) $(60,718) $229,960


(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.


9.    RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS


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


Expense Charges and Allocations


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


The Company’s general and administrative expenses are charged to the Company using allocation methodologies based on business production processes. Management believes that the methodology is reasonable and reflects costs incurred by Prudential Insurance to process transactions on behalf of the Company. The Company operates under service and lease agreements whereby services of officers and employees, supplies, use of equipment and office space are provided by Prudential Insurance. The Company reviews its allocation methodology periodically which it may adjust accordingly. General and administrative expenses include allocations of stock compensation expenses related to a stock-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 $0.0 million for both the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, and $0.1 million and $0.0 million for the ninethree months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively, and 2017, respectively.$0.1 million for both the six months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018. The expense charged to the Company for the deferred compensation program was $0.2 million and $0.1 million for both the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2019 and 2018, and 2017,respectively, and $0.5 million and $0.6$0.3 million for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and 2017,2018, respectively.


Table of Contents
Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)




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 $0.4$0.6 million and $0.3$0.5 million for the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and 2017,2018, respectively, and $1$1.1 million and $0.9 million for both the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2019 and 2018, and 2017.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 $0.5 million and $0.4 million for both the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2019 and 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $2 million and $1$1.1 million for both the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and 2017, respectively.2018.


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 $0.2$0.3 million and $0.1$0.2 million for the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and 2017,2018, respectively, and $0.5 million and $0.4 million for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and 2017,2018, respectively.


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 $32was $25 million and $27$29 million for the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and 2017,2018, respectively, and $91$49 million and $81$59 million for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and 2017,2018, 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 $4 million and $(2) million for both the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2019 and 2018, and 2017, respectively, and $12$8 million and $10 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, 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. There was no allocated lease expense for both the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and 2017. There was no sub-lease rental income, recorded as a reduction to lease expense, for both the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017.2018.


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 $4 million and $3 million for both the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and 2017,2018, respectively, and $9$8 million and $6 million for both the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and 2017,2018, respectively. These expenses are recorded as “Net investment income” in the Company's Unaudited InterimConsolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).


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 $160$294 million and $111$228 million as of SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and December 31, 2017,2018, respectively. "Net investment income" related to these ventures includes a gain of $2$4 million and $2 million for the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and 2017,2018, respectively, and $4$9 million and $7$2 million for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and 2017,2018, respectively.


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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)





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 theThe Prudential Series Fund. Income received from ASTISI and PGIM Investments related to this agreement was $26$24 million and $28$27 million for the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and 2017,2018, respectively, and $80$48 million and $83$54 million for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and 2017,2018, respectively. These revenues are recorded as “Asset administration fees and other income” in the Company's Unaudited Interim Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).


Affiliated Notes Receivable


Affiliated notes receivable included in "Receivables from parent and affiliates" at SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and December 31, 20172018 were as follows:
Maturity Dates Interest Rates September 30, 2018 December 31, 2017Maturity Dates Interest Rates June 30, 2019 December 31, 2018
   (in thousands)   (in thousands)
U.S. dollar floating rate notes2028 3.74%-3.83% $34,037
 $34,268
2028 3.74%-4.03% $0
 $34,008
U.S. dollar fixed rate notes2027 8.15%-14.85% 3,682
 3,877
2027 8.15%-14.85% 3,198
 3,184
Total long-term notes receivable - affiliated(1)   $37,719
 $38,145
Total notes receivable - affiliated(1)   $3,198
 $37,192


(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 $0.5$0.1 million and $0.2$0.3 million at SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and December 31, 2017,2018, respectively, and is included in “Other assets”. Revenues related to these assets were a gain of $0.1 million for both the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, and a loss of $0.2 million for the threesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20182019, and 2017, respectively, and $0.3 million and $0.5a gain of $0.2 million for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2018, and 2017, respectively, and are included in “Asset administration fees and other income”.


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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim 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 "Additional paid in capital" ("APIC") and "Realized investment gains (losses), net", respectively. The table below shows affiliated asset trades for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and for the year ended December 31, 2017.2018.
Affiliate Date Transaction   Security Type   Fair Value   Book Value   APIC, Net of Tax Increase/(Decrease) 
Realized
Investment
Gain (Loss)
        (in thousands)
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
Prudential Insurance January 2019 Sale
Fixed Maturities
$20,504

$20,781

$0

$(277)
Prudential Insurance February 2019 Sale
Commercial Mortgages
$97,953

$98,506

$0

$(554)
Prudential Insurance March 2019 Purchase
Fixed Maturities
$141,476

$141,476

$0

$7,776
Prudential Insurance April 2019 Purchase Equity Securities $4,300
 $4,300
 $0
 $0
Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company April 2019 Purchase Equity Securities $1,258
 $1,258
 $0
 $0
Pruco Life Insurance Company April 2019 Purchase Equity Securities $14,525
 $14,525
 $0
 $0
Prudential Insurance June 2019 Transfer out Fixed Maturities $23,066
 $23,002
 $0
 $64
Prudential Insurance June 2019 Transfer In Fixed Maturities $19,919
 $19,919
 $0
 $0



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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated 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 Invested Assets - 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 Maturity $64,313
 $64,514
 $0
 $(159)
Prudential Insurance April 2018 Sale Fixed Maturity $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 Maturity $11,160
 $9,277
 $0
 $1,488
Prudential Insurance August 2018 Sale Commercial Mortgages $13,414
 $13,165
 $0
 $196


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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated 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 and long termlong-term debt to affiliates as of SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and December 31, 2017.2018:
Affiliate 
Date
Issued
 Amount of Notes - June 30, 2019 Amount of Notes - December 31, 2018 Interest Rate   Date of Maturity  
    (in thousands)        
Prudential Insurance 4/20/2016 $0
 $46,835
   2.80%   6/20/2019
Prudential Insurance 4/20/2016 0
 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 103,039
 103,039
   3.64%   12/15/2020
Prudential Insurance 4/20/2016 93,671
 93,671
   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 93,671
 93,671
   3.95%   6/20/2024
Prudential Insurance 4/20/2016 37,468
 37,468
   3.95%   6/20/2024
Prudential Insurance 4/20/2016 46,835
 46,835
   3.95%   6/20/2024
Prudential Insurance 6/28/2016 0
 20,000
   2.08%   6/28/2019
Prudential Insurance 6/28/2016 0
 30,000
   2.08%   6/28/2019
Prudential Insurance 6/28/2016 0
 25,000
   2.08%   6/28/2019
Prudential Insurance 6/28/2016 26,000
 26,000
   2.59%   6/28/2021
Prudential Insurance 6/28/2016 0
 50,000
   3.49%   6/28/2026
Prudential Insurance 6/28/2016 0
 25,000
   3.49%   6/28/2026
Prudential Insurance 6/28/2016 0
 25,000
   3.49%   6/28/2026
Prudential Retirement Insurance & Annuity Company 6/28/2016 0
 34,000
   3.09%   6/28/2023
Total Loans Payable to Affiliates   $653,596
 $928,165
        

Affiliate 
Date
Issued
 Amount of Notes - September 30, 2018 Amount of Notes - December 31, 2017 Interest Rate   Date of Maturity  
    (in thousands)        
Prudential Insurance 4/20/2016 $18,734
 $18,734
   2.60%   12/15/2018
Prudential Insurance 4/20/2016 25,000
 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
   3.87%   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 Company 6/28/2016 34,000
 34,000
   3.09%   6/28/2023
Total Loans Payable to Affiliates   $971,899
 $971,899
        


The total interest expense to the Company related to loans and other payables to affiliates was $14$24 million and $19$15 million for the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and 2017,2018, respectively, and $44$40 million and $48$30 million for the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and 2017,2018, respectively.


Contributed Capital and Dividends


Through September 30, 2018June 2019 and December 31, 2017,2018, the Company did not receive any capital contributions.


In March and June 2019, there was a $245 million and $247 million return of capital, respectively, to PAI. In March, June, September and December of 2018, there was a $300 million, $250 million, and $250 million return of capital, respectively, to PAI. In June, September and December 2017, there was a $100 million, $200 million and $650$225 million return of capital, respectively, to PAI.


Reinsurance with Affiliates


As discussed in Note 7,6, the Company participates in reinsurance transactions with certain affiliates.
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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)




10.    COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES


Commitments


The Company has made commitments to fund $2$88 million and $37$4 million of commercial mortgage loans as of SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and December 31, 2017,2018, respectively. The Company also made commitments to purchase or fund investments, mostly private fixed maturities, of $138$230 million and $134$271 million as of SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and December 31, 2017,2018, respectively.


Contingent Liabilities


On an ongoing basis, the Company’s internal supervisoryCompany and control functionsits regulators review the quality ofits operations including, but not limited to, sales marketing and other customer interface procedures and practices, and procedures for meeting obligations to our customers and other parties. These reviews may recommend modifications or enhancements. From time to time, this review process resultsresult in the discoverymodification or enhancement of product administration, servicingprocesses or the imposition of other errors,action plans, including errors relating toconcerning management oversight, sales and other customer interface procedures and practices, and the timing or amountcomputation of payments or contract values due to customers.customers and other parties. In certain cases, if appropriate, the Company may offer customers or other parties 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 SeptemberJune 30, 2018,2019, 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.


For aThe following discussion of the Company's litigation and regulatory matters seeprovides an update of those matters discussed in Note 1215 to the Company's Financial Statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.2018, and should be read in conjunction with the complete descriptions provided in the Form 10-K.






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Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation
Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)




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 is implementinghas implemented a remediation plan for the benefit of customers.


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 matterboth matters 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.these matters.


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.


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


Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (“MD&A”) addresses the financial condition of Prudential Annuities Life Assurance Corporation (“PALAC” or the “Company”) as of SeptemberJune 30, 2018,2019, compared with December 31, 2017,2018, and its results of operations for the three and ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and 2017.2018. You should read the following analysis of our financial condition and results of operations in conjunction with the MD&A, the “Risk Factors” section, and the audited Financial Statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017,2018, as well as the statements under “Forward-Looking Statements” and the Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.


Overview


The Company was established in 1969 and has been a provider of annuity contracts for the individual market in the United States. The Company’s products have been sold primarily to individuals to provide for long-term savings and retirement needs and to address the economic impact of premature death, estate planning concerns and supplemental retirement income.


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
selling such products in March 2010.


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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 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.


TheIn 2018, the Company has resumed offering annuity products to new investors (except in New York). It launched a new fixed indexindexed annuity in January 2018 and a new deferred income annuity in March 2018.


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”). In addition, effective April 1, 2016, the Company recaptured the risks related to its variable annuity living benefit guarantees that were previously reinsured to Pruco Reaffiliates and Prudential Insurance. Further, 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, in each case under a coinsurance and modified coinsurance agreement. This reinsurance agreement covers new and in force business and excludes business reinsured externally. Additionally, the living benefit hedging program related to the living benefit guarantees as well as the product risks for retained and reinsured businesses are being managed within the Company and Prudential Insurance, as applicable.


Regulatory Developments


SEC Best Interest Regulation as a Designated Financial Company


In October 2018, the Financial Stability Oversight Council rescinded the designation of Prudential Financial 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 a result, 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. Prudential Financial remains subject to comprehensive regulation and supervision as described under “Business—Regulation” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, and the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance will continue to act as its group-wide supervisor.

Fiduciary Rules and other Standards of Care

In March 2018, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the fiduciary rules adopted by the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) in April 2016. The decision became effective in June 2018.

In April 2018,2019, the SEC proposedadopted a package of rulemakings and interpretative guidance that, would, among other things, requirerequires broker-dealers to act in the best interest of retail customers when recommending securities transactions or investment strategies to them. The proposals wouldguidance also clarifyclarifies the SEC’s views of the fiduciary duty that investment advisers owe to their clients. If enacted in their current form, we believeThe new best interest standards will become effective on June 30, 2020. We are evaluating the primary impact of the proposals would benew standards and believe that they will apply to sales ofrecommendations to purchase certain of our products, and towill result in increased compliance costs, in particular in our affiliated Prudential Advisors distribution system.


SECURE Act

In July 2018,May 2019, the New York DepartmentU.S. House of Financial Services issued an amendmentRepresentatives passed the Setting Every Community up for Retirement Enhancement (“SECURE”) Act. If enacted into law in its current form, the SECURE Act would help promote retirement plan coverage by expanding access to its suitability regulations whichand use of Multiple Employer Plans; facilitate access to lifetime income disclosures for plan participants to better understand how their retirement savings translate into monthly lifetime income in retirement; improve upon the current annuity selection safe harbor; and provide lifetime income portability. We cannot predict whether the SECURE Act will impose a best-interest standard on the sale of annuity and life insurance products in New York. In addition, in October 2018 the New Jersey Bureau of Securities issued proposed regulations that would impose a fiduciary standard on all New Jersey investment professionals, and other state regulators and legislatures haveultimately be adopted, or are considering adopting best interest standards.

Given the uncertainty as to the standards that will ultimately apply to our businesses, we cannot predict theits impact of these new laws and proposals.

State Insurance Exam

In June 2018, the Arizona Department of Insurance and the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance, 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.

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Risk-Based Capital

In June 2018, the Capital Adequacy Task Force of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) approved revisions to the NAIC’s risk-based capital (“RBC”) framework in respect of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (“Tax Act of 2017”). The revisions will 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 "Liquidity and Capital Resources—Capital".business.


For additional information on the potential impacts of regulation on the Company see “Business—Regulation” and “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.2018.















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Impact of a Low Interest Rate Environment


As a financial services company, market interest rates are a key driver of our 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, market experience true-ups and amortization of both deferred policy acquisition costs
(“DAC”) and value of business acquired (“VOBA”); 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.


Interest rates in the U.S. have experienced a period of historically low levels in large part due to Federal Reserve efforts to assist
with the economic recovery subsequent to the financial crisis of 2008. However, more recently market interest rates have begun to climb in conjunction with a series of Federal Reserve decisions to raise interest rates in response to a strengthening economy. While market conditions and events make uncertain the timing, amount and impact of any further monetary policy decisions by the Federal Reserve, a trend of rising interest rates may enhance our reinvestment yields, primarily for our investments in fixed maturity securities and commercial mortgage loans. As interest rates rise, our reinvestment yield may approach or exceed the overall portfolio yield. Conversely, if interest rates were to decline, our reinvestment yield may fall below our overall portfolio yield, resulting in an unfavorable impact to earnings.


For more information on interest rate risks, see “Risk Factors—Market Risk” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.2018.


Revenues and Expenses


The Company earns revenues principally from contract charges, fee income,mortality and expense fees, asset administration fees from 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 annuity benefit guarantees provided and reserves established for anticipated future 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.


Profitability


The Company’s profitability depends principally on its ability to manage risk on insurance and annuity products. Profitability also depends on, among other items, our actuarial and contractholder behavior experience on insurance and annuity products, our ability to retain customer assets, generate and maintain favorable investment results, and to manage expenses.


See “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20172018 for a discussion of risks that have materially affected and may affect in the future the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition, or cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those expected or those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company.




Products

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 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 selling such products in March 2010.

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. Starting in January 2018 the Company began selling a new fixed indexed annuity and launched a new deferred income annuity in March 2018.

In January 2018, the Company launched PruSecureSM, a single premium fixed index 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")®, a deferred income annuity, which is distributed through direct response solicitation through Prudential Insurance's Group Insurance business and online.

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”.



Accounting Policies & Pronouncements


Application of Critical Accounting Estimates


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




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


DAC, DSI and VOBA;
Policyholder liabilities;
Valuation of investments, including derivatives, and the recognition of other-than-temporary impairments ("OTTI");
Reinsurance recoverables;
Taxes on income; and
Reserves for contingencies, including reserves for losses in connection with unresolved legal matters.



Market Performance - Equity and Interest Assumptions


DAC, DSI and VOBA associated with the variable and fixed annuity contracts are generally amortized over the expected lives of these policies in proportion to total gross profits. Total gross profits include both actual gross profits and estimates of gross profits for future periods. The quarterly adjustments for market performance 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 are dependent upon the total rate of return on assets held in separate account investment options. This rate of return influences the fees we earn, 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 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.


Furthermore, the calculation of the estimated liability for future policy benefits related to certain insurance products includes an estimate of associated revenues and expenses that are dependent on both historical market performance as well as estimates of market performance in the future. Similar to DAC, DSI and VOBA described above, these liabilities are subject to quarterly adjustments for experience including market performance, in addition to annual adjustments resulting from our annual reviews of assumptions.


The weighted average rate of return assumptions used in developing estimated market returns consider many factors, including asset durations, asset allocations and other factors. With regard to equity market assumptions, the near-term future rate of return assumption used in evaluating DAC, DSI, VOBA and liabilities for future policy benefits for certain of our products, primarily domestic variable annuity products, is generally updated each quarter and 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 15.0%, we use our maximum future rate of return. As of SeptemberJune 30, 2018,2019, we assume an 8.0% long-term equity expected rate of return and a 2.9%4.3% near-term mean reversion equity expected rate of return.


With regard to interest rate assumptions, 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.annually. As a result of our 20182019 annual reviews and update of assumptions and other refinements, we kept our long-term expectation of the 10-year U.S. Treasury rate unchanged from last year and continue to grade to a rate of 3.75% over ten years. ThisAs part of our market performance related adjustmentexperience updates, in the second quarter of 2019, we updated our near-term projections of interest rates to our estimate of total gross profits resultsreflect a decrease in a cumulative adjustment to prior amortization, reflecting the application of the new required rate of amortization to all prior periods’ gross profits.current rates.






Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements


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 Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes to the Consolidated 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. See Note 2 to our Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements for a more detailed discussion of ASU 2018-12, as well as othernewly adopted accounting pronouncements and accounting pronouncements issued but not yet adopted and newly adopted accounting pronouncements.adopted.












Changes in Financial Position


SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 versus December 31, 20172018


Total assets decreased $5.4increased $4.1 billion from $60.0$54.7 billion at December 31, 20172018 to $54.6$58.8 billion at SeptemberJune 30, 2018.2019. Significant components were:


Total investments and cashCash and cash equivalents decreased $2.7increased $2.2 billion primarily driven by liquidity needs to meetderivative collateral requirements, unrealized losses on investments due to an increase in rates and a return of capital to PAI partially offset bypostings, an increase in cash flows from insurance operations;
Separate account assets decreased $2.5 billion primarily driven by net outflows and policy charges partially offset by favorable market performance; and
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 businessoperations and unrealized gains ason investments due to a result of rising interest rates.

Total liabilities decreased $5.5 billion, from $53.7 billion at December 31, 2017 to $48.2 billion at September 30, 2018. Significant components were:

Separate account liabilities decreased $2.5 billion, corresponding to the decrease in separate account assets described above; and
Future policy benefits decreased $3.1 billion primarily driven by rising interest rates, favorable equity markets and credit spread widening.

Total equity increased $0.1 billion from $6.3 billion at December 31, 2017 to $6.4 billion at September 30, 2018, primarily driven by after-tax net income of $1.3 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 partially offset by a return of capital, settlement timing of $0.8investment payable on open trades and debt repayment;
Separate account assets increased $1.8 billion primarily driven by favorable market performance, partially offset by net outflows and policy charges;

Total liabilities increased $5.2 billion, from $47.9 billion at December 31, 2018 to $53.1 billion at June 30, 2019. Significant components were:

Future policy benefits increased $3.4 billion primarily driven by declining rates and non-performance risk ("NPR") spread tightening, partially offset by favorable equity markets;
Separate account liabilities increased $1.8 billion, corresponding to the increase in separate account assets described above;
Policyholders' account balances increased $0.4 billion primarily driven by general account product sales;
Payables to parent and affiliates increased $0.2 billion primarily driven by an increase in derivatives payable.


Partially offsetting these increases to total liabilities were the following:

Other liabilities decreased $0.4 billion primarily driven by a decrease in investment payable on open trades as a result of settlement timing; and
Short-term and Long-term debt decreased $0.3 billion driven by maturities and debt repayments.

Total equity decreased $1 billion from $6.7 billion at December 31, 2018 to $5.7 billion at June 30, 2019, primarily driven by after-tax loss of $1.1 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2019 and a return of capital of $0.5 billion, partially offset by unrealized lossesgains on investments of $0.4$0.6 billion, as discussed above.




Results of Operations


Income (loss) from Operations before Income Taxes


20182019 to 20172018 Three Months Comparison


Income (loss) from operations before income taxes decreased $1.1$0.8 billion from income of $1.4$0.3 billion for the three months ended June 30, 2018 to a loss of $0.5 billion for the three months ended June 30, 2019, including a favorable comparative net impact from our annual reviews and update of assumptions and other refinements. Results from this annual review included a net charge of $11 million and a net charge of $160 million in the thirdsecond quarter of 2017 to2019 and 2018, respectively. Excluding this item, income of $0.3(loss) from operations before income taxes decreased $0.9 billion, in the third quarter of 2018, primarily driven by less favorablean unfavorable impact from living benefit results in the current year quarter as a result of widening credit spreads in the third quarter of 2017 and higher realized lossesdeclining interest rates in the current quarter compared to rising interest rates in the prior year quarter. Also contributing to the decrease was an unfavorable comparative impact of Realized gains (losses) related to our capital hedge program, primarily driven by $245 millionmore favorable equity markets in capitalthe second quarter of 2019. Capital hedge losses.impacts are excluded from the table below.


2019 to 2018 to 2017 NineSix Months Comparison


Income (loss) from operations before income taxes increased $0.1decreased $2.4 billion from income of $1.2$1.0 billion for the first ninesix months ended June 30, 2018 to a loss of 2017 to income of $1.3$1.4 billion for the first ninesix months ended June 30, 2019, including a favorable comparative net impact from our annual reviews and update of assumptions and other refinements. Results from this annual review included a net charge of $11 million and a net charge of $160 million in the second quarter of 2019 and 2018, respectively. Excluding this item, income (loss) from operations before income taxes decreased $2.5 billion primarily driven by an unfavorable impact from living benefit results in the priorcurrent year as a result of significant NPR losses due todeclining interest rates and spread tightening andin comparison to a favorable impact from rising interest rates favorable equity markets and spread widening in the currentprior year. Also contributing to the decrease was an unfavorable comparative impact of realized gains (losses) related to our capital hedge program, primarily driven by more favorable equity markets in 2019. Capital hedge impacts are excluded from the table below.







The following table illustrates the net impact on our results of operations from changes in the U.S. GAAP embedded derivative liability and hedge positions, under the ALM strategy, and the related amortization of DAC and other costs, for the periods indicated:
Three Months Ended Nine Months EndedThree Months Ended Six Months Ended
September 30, 2018
September 30, 2017 September 30, 2018
September 30, 2017June 30, 2019
June 30, 2018 June 30, 2019 June 30, 2018
(in millions)(1) (in millions)(1)(in millions)(1) (in millions)(1)
Excluding impact of assumption updates and other refinements:              
Net hedging impact(2)$(42) $79
 $(154) $433
$(54) $9
 $(137) $(112)
Change in portions of U.S. GAAP liability, before NPR(3)562
 1,832
 1,011
 2,109
(737) 120
 (431) 449
Change in the NPR adjustment(258) (814) (144) (2,872)207
 (51) (756) 114
Net impact from changes in the U.S. GAAP embedded derivative and hedge positions262
 1,097
 713
 (330)(584) 78
 (1,324) 451
Related benefit (charge) to amortization of DAC and other costs(60) (251) (215) 64
80
 (55) 231
 (155)
Net impact of assumption updates and other refinements0
 0
 (159) (75)13
 (159) 13
 (159)
Net impact from changes in the U.S. GAAP embedded derivative and hedge positions, after the impact of NPR, DAC and other costs.$202
 $846
 $339
 $(341)$(491) $(136) $(1,080) $137


(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)Represents risk margins and valuation methodology differences between the economic liability managed by the 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.liability.


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For the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2019, the net impact from changes in the U.S. GAAP embedded derivative and hedge positions, after the impact of NPR, DAC and other costs, was a charge of $491 million, which primarily reflects the impact of a net charge of $584 million due to changes in the U.S. GAAP embedded derivative and hedge positions as a result of declining interest rates used in measuring our living benefit contracts, partially offset by $80 million of a related benefit to amortization of DAC and other costs as well as the impact of a $13 million net benefit from our annual reviews and update of assumptions and other refinements.

For the six months ended June 30, 2019, the net impact from changes in the U.S. GAAP embedded derivative and hedge positions, after the impact of NPR, DAC and other costs, was a charge of $1,080 million, which primarily reflects the impact of a net charge of $1,324 million due to changes in the U.S. GAAP embedded derivative and hedge positions as a result of declining interest rates and spread tightening used in measuring our living benefit contracts, partially offset by $231 million of a related benefit to amortization of DAC and other costs as well as the impact of a $13 million net benefit from our annual reviews and update of assumptions and other refinements.

For the three months ended June 30, 2018, the net impact from changes in the U.S. GAAP embedded derivative and hedge positions, after the impact of non-performance risk ("NPR"),NPR, DAC and other costs, was a benefitcharge of $202$136 million, which primarily reflects the impact of $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. The impact also includes $55 million of related charges to amortization of DAC and other costs. These charges were partially offset by a net benefit of $262$78 million due to changes in the U.S. GAAP embedded derivative and hedge positions as a result of rising interest rates used in measuring our living benefit contracts partially offset by $60 million of related charges to amortization of DAC and other costs.contracts.


For the ninesix months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2018, the net impact from changes in the U.S. GAAP embedded derivative and hedge positions, after the impact of NPR, DAC and other costs, was a benefit of $339$137 million which primarily reflected a $713$451 million net impact from changes in the U.S. GAAP embedded derivative and hedge positions as a result of rising interest rates, favorable equity markets and widening credit spreads used in measuring our living benefit contracts. Partial offsets include $215$155 million of related charges to amortization of DAC and other costs and the net impact from assumption updates and other refinements, as discussed above.


Revenues, Benefits and Expenses

2019 to 2018 Three Months Comparison

Revenues decreased $0.9 billion, from $0.8 billion for the three months ended June 30, 2018 to a $159 millionloss of $0.1 billion for the three months ended June 30, 2019. Excluding a $0.2 billion net charge fromincrease related to our impacts of our annual reviews and update of assumptions and other refinements, including updates to expected withdrawalas discussed above, revenues decreased $1.1 billion primarily driven by a decrease of $1.1 billion in Realized investment gains (losses) as a result of unfavorable living benefit results and the impact from declining interest rates, as well as economic assumptions.discussed above.


ForBenefits and expenses decreased $0.1 billion, from $0.5 billion for the three months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2017,2018 to $0.4 billion for the net impact from changes in the U.S. GAAP embedded derivative and hedge positions, after the impact of NPR, DAC and other costs, was a benefit of $846 million which primarily reflected the impact of a net benefit of $1,097 million due to changes in the U.S. GAAP embedded derivative and hedge positions as a result of spread widening used in measuring our living benefit contracts partially offset by $251 million of related charges to amortization of DAC and other costs.

For the ninethree months ended SeptemberJune 30, 2017, the2019. Excluding a $0.1 billion net impact from changes in the U.S. GAAP embedded derivative and hedge positions, after the impactincrease related to our impacts of NPR, DAC and other costs, was a charge of $341 million which primarily reflected the impact from changes in the NPR adjustment as a result of tightening credit spreads and a $75 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. Partial offsets are included in the $64 million related benefits to amortization of DAC and other costs.

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Revenues, Benefits and Expenses

2018 to 2017 Three Months Comparison

Revenuesdiscussed above, expenses decreased $1.1$0.2 billion from $1.9 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2017 to $0.8 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2018, primarily driven by a decrease of $1.1$0.1 billion in realized investment gains (losses), as discussed above.

Benefits and expenses remained flat from prior year quarter, from $0.6 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2017 to $0.6 billion for the three months ended September 30, 2018.

2018 to 2017 Nine Months Comparison

Revenues increased $0.9 billion, from $2.0 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 to $2.9 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, primarily driven by an increase of $1.0 billion in realized investment gains (losses), as discussed above.

Benefits and expenses increased $0.8 billion, from $0.8 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 to $1.6 billion for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, primarily driven by an increase of $0.6 billion primarily related to the amortization of DAC and other costs due to changes in the living benefit reserves as a result of credit spread tighteningdeclining interest rates in the priorcurrent year quarter and a favorable impact from rising rates, favorable equity markets and spread widening in the currentprior year quarter, as discussed above.


2019 to 2018 Six Months Comparison

Revenues decreased $2.8 billion, from $2.1 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2018 to a loss of $0.7 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2019. Excluding the impacts of our annual reviews and update of assumptions and other refinements, as discussed above, revenues decreased $3.0 billion primarily driven by a decrease of $3.0 billion in Realized investment gains (losses) as a result of unfavorable living benefit results and the impact from declining interest rates, as discussed above.

Benefits and expenses decreased $0.4 billion, from $1.1 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2018 to $0.7 billion for the six months ended June 30, 2019. Excluding the impacts of our annual reviews and update of assumptions and other refinements, as discussed above, expenses decreased $0.5 billion primarily driven by a decrease of $0.4 billion related to the amortization of DAC and other costs due to changes in the living benefit reserves, as discussed above.

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Variable Annuity Risks and Risk Mitigants


The following is a summary of: (i) certain risks associated with individual annuity products;products and (ii) certain strategies in mitigating those risks, including any updates to those strategies since the previous year end; and (iii) the related financial results.end. For a more detailed description of these items and their related accounting treatment, refer to the complete descriptions provided in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.2018.
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 ALM Strategy and a capital hedge program.Capital Hedge Program.


Product Design Features


A portion of the variable annuity contracts that we have offered include 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 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.

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


Our current ALM strategy utilizes a combination of both traditional fixed income instruments and derivatives to defray potential claims associated with ourthe variable annuity living benefit guarantees. The economic liability we manage withUnder this ALM strategy, consists of expected living benefit claims under less severe market conditions which are managed using a traditional ALM strategy through the accumulation of fixed income and derivative instruments and potential living benefit claims resulting from more severe market conditions which 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 over-the-counter (“OTC”("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 valuation of the economic liability we seek to defray 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) and valuation methodology differences. The following table provides a reconciliation between the liability reported under U.S. GAAP and the economic liability the Company intends to manage through our ALM strategy.strategy as of the dates indicated:
As of September 30, 2018 As of December 31, 2017As of June 30, 2019 As of December 31, 2018
(in millions) (in millions)(in millions) (in millions)
U.S. GAAP liability (including non-performance risk)$4,995
 $8,152
$11,738
 $8,332
Non-performance risk adjustment2,777
 2,998
3,462
 4,275
Subtotal7,772
 11,150
15,200
 12,608
Adjustments including risk margins and valuation methodology differences(1,860) (2,603)(4,347) (3,831)
Economic liability managed by ALM strategy$5,912
 $8,546
$10,853
 $8,777


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As of SeptemberJune 30, 2018,2019, we have sufficient assets to cover our fixed income instruments and derivative assets exceed the economic liability in which the risks reside.liability.


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” below..


Capital Hedge Program


During 2017, we commencedWe employ 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.
Product Specific Risks and Risk Mitigants
For certain living benefit 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 benefit 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 benefit 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.
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Income Taxes


For information regarding income taxes, see Note 67 to the Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements.


Liquidity and Capital Resources


This section supplements and should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.2018.


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.


Our businesses are subject to comprehensive regulation and supervision by domestic and international regulators. These regulations currently include, or 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, credit exposure reporting and credit concentration. For information on these regulatory initiatives and their potential impact on us, see “Regulatory Developments” above and “Business—Regulation”Regulation" and “Risk Factors” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Regulatory Developments" within this Form 10-Q.2018.

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 variable annuity base contracts, along with the living benefit guarantees, from Pruco Life. 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 hedging portion of our risk management strategy related to the reinsured living benefit guarantees is being managed within the Company.


Capital


Our capital management framework is primarily based on statutory RBCRisk-Based Capital ("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 NAIC.National Association of Insurance Commissioners ("NAIC"). RBC considers, among other things, risks related to the type and quality of the invested assets, insurance-related risks associated with an insurer’s products and liabilities, interest rate risks and general business risks. RBC ratio calculations are intended to assist insurance regulators in measuring an insurer’s solvency and ability to pay future claims. The reporting of RBC measures is not intended for the purpose of ranking any insurance company or for use in connection with any marketing, advertising or promotional activities, but is available to the public. The RBC ratio is an annual calculation; however, as of September 30, 2018 we estimate that the Company’s RBC ratio exceedscapital levels substantially exceed the minimum level required by applicable insurance regulations.

In June 2018, Our regulatory capital levels may be affected in the Capital Adequacy Task Force of the NAIC approved revisionsfuture by changes to the NAIC RBC framework as a result of the adoption of the Tax Act of 2017applicable regulations, proposals for which are currently under consideration by both domestic and the corresponding reduction of the corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%. The revisions will apply to the calculation of our RBC ratios as of December 31, 2018. The reduction of the corporate tax rate under the Tax Act of 2017 has the effect of increasing certain RBC factors, resulting in an overall decrease in insurers’ RBC ratios. The Company expects to have the necessary resources to maintain its “AA” ratings targets under this proposed RBC framework.international insurance regulators.

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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 September 2018,June 2019, the Company returned capital of $250$247 million to its parent, Prudential Annuities Inc. ("PAI"). In June 2018, the Company returned capital of $250 million to PAI. In March 2018, June 2018, September 2018 December 2018, and March 2019, the Company returned capital of $300 million, to PAI. On June 7, 2017, September 6, 2017 and December 21, 2017, the Company returned capital of $100$250 million, $200$250 million, $225 million and $650$245 million, respectively, to PAI. On December 21, 2016, the Company returned capital of $1,140 million to PAI.


Capital Protection Framework


Prudential Financial and the Company employemploys a “CapitalCapital Protection Framework”Framework (the “Framework”"Framework”) to ensure that sufficient capital resources are available to maintain adequate capitalization and competitive RBC ratiosratio 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.


The Framework accommodates periodic volatility within ranges that are deemedwe 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 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, including company-specific and market-wide events. 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.


Cash Flow


The principal sources of the Company’s liquidity are premiums and certain annuity considerations, investment and fee income, investment maturities, sales of investments 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 and reinsurance activity and payments in connection with financing activities.

In March 2010,managing liquidity, we consider the Company ceased offering its existing variable annuity productsrisk of policyholder and contractholder withdrawals of funds earlier than our assumptions when selecting assets to new investors uponsupport these contractual obligations. We use surrender charges and other contract provisions to mitigate the launchextent, timing and profitability impact of a new product linewithdrawals of funds by certain affiliates, but has launched a new fixed indexed annuity in January 2018 and a new deferred income annuity in March 2018.customers.


Liquid Assets


Liquid assets include cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, U.S. Treasury fixed maturities and fixed maturities that are not designated as held-to-maturity, and public equity securities. As of SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and December 31, 2017,2018, the Company had liquid assets of $10.0$16.8 billion and $12.6$14.6 billion, respectively. The portion of liquid assets comprised of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments was $0.4$4.0 billion and $2.4$4.5 billion as of SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 and December 31, 2017,2018, respectively. As of SeptemberJune 30, 2018, $8.92019, $11.9 billion, or 95%97%, of the fixed maturity investments in Companycompany general account portfolios, were rated "1"high or highest quality or "2" high quality based on NAIC or equivalent rating.


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Hedging activities


For the portion of our ALM strategy executed through hedging, as well asPrudential Funding, LLC

Prudential Financial and Prudential Funding borrow funds in the capital hedge program, we enter into a rangemarkets primarily through the direct issuance of exchange-traded, cleared and other OTC equity and interest rate derivatives in order to hedge certain capital market risks related to more severe market conditions.  This portioncommercial paper. The borrowings serve as an additional source of our ALM strategy and capital hedge program requires access to liquidityfinancing to meet payment obligations relatingour working capital needs. Prudential Funding operates under a support agreement with Prudential Insurance whereby Prudential Insurance has agreed to these derivatives, such as payments for periodic settlements, purchases, maturities and terminations. These liquidity needs can vary materially due to, among other items, changes in interest rates, equity markets, mortality and policyholder behavior.maintain Prudential Funding’s positive tangible net worth at all times.


The hedging portion of our ALM strategy and capital hedge program may also result in derivative related collateral postings to (when we are in a net pay position) or from (when we are in a net receive position) 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 when we are in a net pay position. As of September 30, 2018, the derivatives comprising the hedging portion of our ALM strategy and capital hedge program were in a net receive position of $0.4 billion compared to a net receive position of $3.0billion as of December 31, 2017. The change in collateral position was primarily driven by an increase in interest rates.Hedging activities associated with living benefit guarantees


As noted above, effective April 1, 2016, theThe hedging portion of our risk management strategy associated with theour living benefit guarantees, recaptured from Pruco Re and Prudential Insurance, as well as the living benefit guarantees reinsuredincluding those assumed 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. 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 (when we are in a net pay position) or from (when we are in a net receive position) 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 when we are in a net pay position.


Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk


Market risk is the risk of fluctuations in the value of financial instruments as a result of absolute or relative changes in interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, equity prices or commodity prices. To varying degrees, our products and services, and the investment activities supporting them, generate exposure to market risk. The market risk incurred, and our strategies for managing this risk, vary by product. As of SeptemberJune 30, 2018,2019, there have been no material changes in our economic exposure to market risk from December 31, 2017,2018, a description of which may be found in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017,2018, Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk,” filed with the SEC. See Item 1A, “Risk Factors” included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017,2018, 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.


Item 4. Controls and Procedures


In order to ensure that the information we must disclose in our filings with the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized and reported on a timely basis, the Company’s management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, have reviewed and evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”) Rule 13a-15(e), as of SeptemberJune 30, 2018.2019. Based on such evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of SeptemberJune 30, 2018,2019, 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 SeptemberJune 30, 20182019 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.


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PART II—OTHER INFORMATION


Item 1. Legal Proceedings


See Note 10 to the Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements under “—Litigation and Regulatory Matters” for a description of certain pending litigation and regulatory matters affecting us, and certain risks to our business presented by such matters, which is incorporated herein by reference.


Item 1A. Risk Factors


You should carefully consider the risks described under “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.2018. These risks could materially affect our business, results of operations or financial condition, or cause our actual results to differ materially from those expected or those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company. These risks are not exclusive, and additional risks to which we are subject include, but are not limited to, the factors mentioned under “Forward-Looking Statements” above and the risks of our business described elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.


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Item 6. Exhibits
EXHIBIT INDEX
 
 
 
 
 
101.INS - XBRL Instance Document - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.
 
101.SCH - XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document.
 
101.CAL - XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
 
101.LAB - XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
 
101.PRE - XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
 
101.DEF - XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document





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


PRUDENTIAL ANNUITIES LIFE ASSURANCE CORPORATION
  
By: /s/    John Chieffo
Name John Chieffo
  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
  (Authorized Signatory and Principal Financial Officer)
Date: NovemberAugust 13, 20182019




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