Erin C. Schwerzmann Vice President & Corporate Counsel The Prudential Insurance Company of America 280 Trumbull Street, Hartford CT 06103 Tel 860 534-9177 Erin.Schwerzmann@prudential.com | |
September 26, 2013
Sally Samuel, Esq.
Office of Insurance Products
Division of Investment Management
Securities and Exchange Commission
100 F Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Re: | Pruco Life Variable Universal Account (“Registrant”) |
Pruco Life Insurance Company (“Depositor”) |
Post-Effective Amendment No.16 to Registration Statement on Form N-6 (File No. 333-112808)
Pruco Life of New Jersey Variable Appreciable Account (“Registrant”)
Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey (“Depositor”)
Post-Effective Amendment No.15 to Registration Statement on Form N-6 (File No. 333-112809)
Dear Ms. Samuel:
This letter responds to your additional comments on the above-referenced Post-effective amendments we filed on June 28, 2013, under Rule 485(a) under the Securities Act of 1933 on behalf of Pruco Life Insurance Company and Pruco Life Insurance Company on New Jersey.
Today we are making a correspondence filing through EDGAR, which consists of the prospectus for Pruco Life Variable Universal Account, File No. 333-112808 and Pruco Life of New Jersey Variable Appreciable Account, File No. 333-112809.
The Staff’s comments and our proposed responses are below.
1. | Comment: Make conforming changes to File No. 333-112809, as applicable. |
Response: Conforming changes have been made to File No. 333-112809, as applicable.
2. | Comment: Contract Variations, page 1. If possible, move the new disclosure which describes the contract variations (the last two sentences of the paragraph) to the cover page. The information can remain in the Contract Variations section on page 1 if there is not enough space on the cover. |
Response: We do not have enough space on the cover for the additional disclosure. We will leave the disclosure in the Contract Variations section.
3. | Comment: Expenses other than Portfolio Expenses, page 1. Please revise the heading of Table 1 to add the parenthetical, “for all Contract Forms.” |
Response: We revised the heading on Table 1 as follows: “Table 1: Transaction and Optional Rider Fees (for all Contract Forms).”
4. | Comment: Expenses other than Portfolio Expenses, page 2. Under the paragraph at the top of page, please add disclosure to the last sentence that states “depending on the contract form you purchased.” |
Response: We revised the paragraph to add the disclosure as follows: “The second, third, and fourth tables describe the maximum Contract fees and expenses that you may pay periodically during the time you own the Contract, not including the Funds’ fees and expenses, depending on the Contract Form you purchase.”
5. | Comment: Expenses other than Portfolio Expenses, page 2. Please revise the heading of Table 2 to indicate that Contract Form VUL-2013 was sold after October 7, 2013. |
Response: We revised the heading on Table 2 as follows: “Table 2: Periodic Contract and Optional Rider Charges Other Than The Fund’s Operating Expenses (Contract Form VUL-2013 for Contracts sold 10/7/13 or later, subject to state availability).”
6. | Comment: No-Lapse Guarantee Information, page 9. Under paragraph two, please add a cross reference to the Death Benefit section. |
Response: We revised the last sentence of paragraph two as follows: “See No-Lapse Guarantee, PREMIUMS, and DEATH BENEFITS.”
7. | Comment: No-Lapse Guarantee Information, page 9. Please clarify: a) whether a Contract owner must elect the benefit; and b) which Contracts do not have the Limited No-Lapse Guarantee period. |
Response: a) We added the following disclosure under paragraph one of the No-Lapse Guarantee Information section on page 9: “The No-Lapse Guarantee is based on your premium payments and is not a benefit you need to elect.” The same language was added to the first paragraph of the No-Lapse Guarantee section on page 38.
b) We added the following disclosure under paragraph two of the No-Lapse Guarantee section: “2. All Contracts without a Type C (return of premium) Death Benefit have a second, longer Limited No-Lapse Guarantee period with a corresponding Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premium”.
8. | Comment: Please clarify when you have to make premium payments to maintain the No-Lapse Guarantees. Please check the page reference on page 32 to the No-Lapse Guarantee section. |
Response: In order to clarify the timing of premium payments associated with the No-Lapse Guarantees we replaced references to “at the beginning of each Contract Year in the Available Types of Premium section on page 32 with “as described in the No-Lapse Guarantee section”. The page reference to the No-Lapse Guarantee section was changed to page 38.
The following language was added to the first paragraph under the section No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums and No-Lapse Guarantee Periods Available Under Your Contract on page 38: “The description below assumes you pay the No Lapse Guarantee Premium at the beginning of each Contract Year. If you make any premium payments after the beginning of each Contract Year you may need to pay more premiums because the Accumulated Net Payments will be less due to reduced interest accumulation than if you paid at the beginning of the Contract Year.”
9. | Comment: Available Types of Premium, page 32 and No-Lapse Guarantee, page 38. Please clarify what is meant by the term “accumulated basis.” |
Response: We deleted the term “accumulated basis” from the third paragraph of the Available Types of Premium section and the first paragraph of the No-Lapse Guarantee discussion on page 38. The information on page 38 in the How We Calculate and Determine if You Have a No-Lapse Guarantee describes how premiums accumulate.
10. | Comment: No-Lapse Guarantee, page 38. Paragraph nine states that the Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee period is 8 years. Please revise so the disclosure states, “8 years after issue.” |
Response: We revised the disclosure on page 38 to state, “The Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee period is 8 years after issue (6 years for ages 60 and older).” Similar references to the Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee period were revised on pages 39, 55 and 57.
11. | Comment: No-Lapse Guarantee, page 39. In paragraph three, clarify or give an example of how the Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee works. |
Response: In order to clarify the Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee discussion, we revised the paragraph and added an example as follows:
“Similarly, if you desire the Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee for lifetime protection, you may prefer to pay generally higher premiums in all years, rather than trying to make such payments on an as needed basis. If you pay only Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums until the end of the Limited No-Lapse Period a substantial amount may be required to meet the subsequent Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee Values and continue the guarantee.
For example assume: (1) an insured male age 32, Non-Smoker Plus underwriting class with no extra risk or substandard ratings; (2) a $250,000 Basic Insurance Amount; Type B Death Benefit; no extra benefit riders, (3) no loans; and (4) the Cash Value Accumulation Test has been elected for definition of life insurance testing. The Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premium would be $1665, which if paid at the beginning of each year from Contract issue would provide the Limited No-Lapse Guarantee until age 75. The accumulated premiums at 4% less withdrawals accumulated at 4% would be $189,253. The Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee premium would be $10,265, which if paid at the beginning of each year from Contract issue would provide the Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee to age 121. However, if the individual in this example paid $1665 annually from Contract issue to age 75 and then decided he wanted the Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee, he would have to pay enough premium so that the accumulated premiums at 4% less withdrawals accumulated at 4% would be $1,232,102. In addition, it is possible that the payment required to continue the guarantee beyond the Limited No-Lapse Guarantee period could exceed the premium payments allowed to be paid without causing the Contract to become a Modified Endowment Contract. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits.”
12. | Comment: Please include the Tandy Representation. |
Response: We have included the Tandy Representation below.
We urge all persons who are responsible for the accuracy and adequacy of the disclosure in the filings reviewed by the staff to be certain that they have provided all information investors require for an informed decision. Since the registrant and its management are in possession of all facts relating to the registrant’s disclosure, they are responsible for the accuracy and adequacy of the disclosures they have made.
Notwithstanding our comments, in the event the registrant requests acceleration of the effective date of the pending registration statement, it should furnish a letter, at the time of such request, acknowledging that:
· | should the Commission or the staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority, declare the filing effective, it does not foreclose the Commission from taking any action with respect to the filing |
· | the registrant is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the disclosure in the filing; the staff’s comments, the registrant’s changes to the disclosure in response to the staff’s comments or the action of the Commission or the staff, acting pursuant to delegated authority, in declaring the filing effective, does not relieve registrant from this responsibility; and |
· | the registrant may not assert this action or the staff’s comments as a defense in any proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the federal securities laws of the United States. |
In addition, please be advised that the Division of Enforcement has access to all information you provide to the staff of the Division of Investment Management in connection with our review of your filing or in response to our comments on your filing.
If you have any questions please contact the undersigned at 860-534-9177.
Sincerely,
Pruco Life Insurance Company
Pruco Life Insurance Company of New Jersey
By: __/s/ Erin Schwerzmann____________
Erin Schwerzmann
Vice President, Corporate Counsel
PROSPECTUS
October 7, 2013
PRUCO LIFE VARIABLE UNIVERSAL ACCOUNT
PruLife® Custom Premier II
This prospectus describes an individual flexible premium variable universal life insurance contract, the PruLife® Custom Premier II Contract (the “Contract”) offered by Pruco Life Insurance Company ("Pruco Life", "us", "we", or "our"), a stock life insurance company. Pruco Life is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Prudential Insurance Company of America.
Investment Choices:
PruLife® Custom Premier II offers a wide variety of Variable Investment Options managed by these asset managers. You may choose to invest your Contract's premiums and its earnings in one or more of the available Variable Investment Options of the Pruco Life Variable Universal Account (the “Account”). The prospectuses for the Variable Investment Options, including information about their investment objectives, fees, and investment advisers/subadvisers, are printed in the following order after this prospectus.
· Advanced Series Trust | · JPMorgan Insurance Trust |
· American Century Investments® | · Hartford HLS Series Fund II, Inc. |
· American Funds Insurance Series | · Hartford Series Fund, Inc. |
· Dreyfus Investment Portfolios | · MFS® Variable Insurance Trust |
· Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund, Inc. | · Neuberger Berman Advisers Management Trust |
· Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Funds | · Prudential Series Fund |
· Franklin Templeton Variable Insurance Products Trust | · TOPS – The Optimized Portfolio System |
· Janus Aspen Series |
For a complete list of the available Variable Investment Options, see The Funds.
You may also choose to invest your Contract’s premiums and its earnings in the Fixed Rate Option, which pays a guaranteed interest rate. See The Fixed Rate Option.
Please Read this Prospectus. Please read this prospectus before purchasing a PruLife® Custom Premier II variable universal life insurance Contract and keep it for future reference. Current prospectuses for each of the underlying Funds accompany this prospectus. These prospectuses contain important information about the Funds. Please read these prospectuses and keep them for reference.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined that this Contract is a good investment, nor has the SEC determined that this prospectus is complete or accurate. It is a criminal offense to state otherwise.
The Contract may be purchased through registered representatives located in banks and other financial institutions. Investment in a variable life insurance contract is subject to risk, including the possible loss of your money. An investment in PruLife® Custom Premier II is not a bank deposit and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other governmental agency.
Pruco Life Insurance Company
213 Washington Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102
Telephone: (800) 944-8786
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
SUMMARY OF CHARGES AND EXPENSES | 1 |
SUMMARY OF THE CONTRACT AND CONTRACT BENEFITS | 8 |
SUMMARY OF CONTRACT RISKS | 12 |
SUMMARY OF RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE VARIABLE INVESTMENT OPTIONS | 15 |
GENERAL DESCRIPTIONS OF PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, THE REGISTRANT, AND THE FUNDS | 15 |
CHARGES AND EXPENSES | 23 |
PERSONS HAVING RIGHTS UNDER THE CONTRACT | 28 |
OTHER GENERAL CONTRACT PROVISIONS | 28 |
RIDERS | 29 |
REQUIREMENTS FOR ISSUANCE OF A CONTRACT | 31 |
PREMIUMS | 31 |
DEATH BENEFITS | 35 |
CONTRACT VALUES | 41 |
LAPSE AND REINSTATEMENT | 44 |
TAXES | 45 |
DISTRIBUTION AND COMPENSATION | 47 |
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS | 48 |
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | 50 |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION | 50 |
DEFINITIONS OF SPECIAL TERMS USED IN THIS PROSPECTUS | 51 |
Appendix A: Contract Variations | Appendix A |
Advanced Series Trust: | |
AST Balanced Asset Allocation Portfolio | Appendix 1 |
AST BlackRock Global Strategies Portfolio | Appendix 2 |
AST Cohen & Steers Realty Portfolio | Appendix 3 |
AST Federated Aggressive Growth Portfolio | Appendix 4 |
AST Goldman Sachs Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio | Appendix 5 |
AST Herndon Large-Cap Value Portfolio | Appendix 6 |
AST J.P. Morgan International Equity Portfolio | Appendix 7 |
AST J.P. Morgan Strategic Opportunities Portfolio | Appendix 8 |
AST Large-Cap Value Portfolio | Appendix 9 |
AST Loomis Sayles Large-Cap Growth Portfolio | Appendix 10 |
AST MFS Global Equity Portfolio | Appendix 11 |
AST MFS Growth Portfolio | Appendix 12 |
AST Neuberger Berman Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio | Appendix 13 |
AST PIMCO Limited Maturity Bond Portfolio | Appendix 14 |
AST PIMCO Total Return Bond Portfolio | Appendix 15 |
AST Preservation Asset Allocation Portfolio | Appendix 16 |
AST Small-Cap Growth Portfolio | Appendix 17 |
AST Small-Cap Value Portfolio | Appendix 18 |
AST T. Rowe Price Large-Cap Growth Portfolio | Appendix 19 |
AST T. Rowe Price Natural Resources Portfolio | Appendix 20 |
AST Templeton Global Bond Portfolio | Appendix 21 |
AST Wellington Management Hedged Equity Portfolio | Appendix 22 |
American Century Investments®: | |
American Century VP Mid Cap Value Fund | Appendix 23 |
American Funds Insurance Series: | |
American Funds Growth Fund | Appendix 24 |
American Funds Growth-Income Fund | Appendix 25 |
American Funds International Fund | Appendix 26 |
Dreyfus Investment Portfolios: | |
Dreyfus MidCap Stock Portfolio | Appendix 27 |
Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund, Inc.: | |
Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund, Inc. | Appendix 28 |
Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Funds: | |
Fidelity® VIP Contrafund® Portfolio | Appendix 29 |
Fidelity® VIP Mid Cap Portfolio | Appendix 30 |
Franklin Templeton Variable Insurance Products Trust: | |
Franklin Income Securities Fund | Appendix 31 |
Mutual Shares Securities Fund | Appendix 32 |
Templeton Growth Securities Fund | Appendix 33 |
Hartford HLS Series Fund II, Inc: | |
Hartford Growth Opportunities HLS Fund | Appendix 34 |
Hartford Series Fund, Inc: | |
Hartford Capital Appreciation HLS Fund | Appendix 35 |
Harford Disciplined Equity HLS Fund | Appendix 36 |
Harford Dividend and Growth HLS Fund | Appendix 37 |
Janus Aspen Series: | |
Janus Aspen Series Overseas Portfolio | Appendix 38 |
JPMorgan Insurance Trust: | |
JPMorgan Insurance Trust Intrepid Mid Cap Portfolio | Appendix 39 |
MFS® Variable Insurance Trust: | |
MFS® Research Bond Series | Appendix 40 |
MFS® Utilities Series | Appendix 41 |
MFS® Value Series | Appendix 42 |
Neuberger Berman Advisers Management Trust: | |
Neuberger Berman AMT Socially Responsive Portfolio | Appendix 43 |
Prudential Series Fund: | |
PSF Diversified Bond Portfolio | Appendix 44 |
PSF Equity Portfolio | Appendix 45 |
PSF Global Portfolio | Appendix 46 |
PSF High Yield Bond Portfolio | Appendix 47 |
PSF Jennison Portfolio | Appendix 48 |
PSF Jennison 20/20 Focus Portfolio | Appendix 49 |
PSF Money Market Portfolio | Appendix 50 |
PSF Natural Resources Portfolio | Appendix 51 |
PSF Small Capitalization Stock Portfolio | Appendix 52 |
PSF SP International Growth Portfolio | Appendix 53 |
PSF SP International Value Portfolio | Appendix 54 |
PSF SP Prudential U.S. Emerging Growth Portfolio | Appendix 55 |
PSF SP Small Cap Value Portfolio | Appendix 56 |
PSF Stock Index Portfolio | Appendix 57 |
PSF Value Portfolio | Appendix 58 |
TOPS-The Optimized Portfolio SystemTM: | |
TOPSTM Aggressive Growth ETF Portfolio | Appendix 59 |
TOPSTM Balanced ETF Portfolio | Appendix 60 |
TOPSTM Capital Preservation ETF Portfolio | Appendix 61 |
TOPSTM Growth ETF Portfolio | Appendix 62 |
TOPSTM Managed Risk Balanced ETF Portfolio | Appendix 63 |
TOPSTM Managed Risk Growth ETF Portfolio | Appendix 64 |
TOPSTM Managed Risk Moderate Growth ETF Portfolio | Appendix 65 |
TOPSTM Moderate Growth ETF Portfolio | Appendix 66 |
SUMMARY OF CHARGES AND EXPENSES
Capitalized terms used in this prospectus are defined where first used or in the DEFINITIONS OF SPECIAL TERMS USED IN THIS PROSPECTUS, which is located at the end of this prospectus.
Contract Variations
Certain versions of PruLife Custom Premier II are no longer sold. Your Contract features, riders, rates and charges may vary depending on the version you purchased. Please contact your Pruco Life representative as well as reviewing Appendix A, later in this prospectus, for more information about the particular variations that apply to your Contract form number. Your Contract form number is located in the lower left hand corner on the first page of your Contract. If you purchased your contract prior to October 7, 2013, a description of contract variations that may apply to you is contained in the Expenses other than Portfolio Expenses section below and in Appendix A: Contract Variations for VUL-2008 (offered approximately 5/1/2008 - 10/6/2013), VUL-2005 (offered approximately 10/17/2005 - 4/30/2008), and VUL-2004 (offered approximately 5/17/2004 - 10/16/2005). The Contract may have been available in your state past the approximate end date indicated based on when your state approved the Contract.
Expenses other than Portfolio Expenses
The following tables describe the maximum fees and expenses that you could pay when buying, owning, and surrendering the Contract. Generally, our current fees and expenses are lower than the maximum fees and expenses reflected in the following tables. For more information about fees and expenses, see CHARGES AND EXPENSES.
The first table describes maximum fees and expenses that we deduct from each premium payment, and maximum fees we charge for transactions and riders.
Charge | When Charge is Deducted | Amount Deducted |
Maximum Sales Charge on Premiums (Load) | Deducted from premium payments. | 6% |
Premium Based Administrative Charge | Deducted from premium payments. | 7.5% |
Surrender Charge(1) (Percentage of first year Sales Load Target Premium less premiums for riders and extras.) | Upon lapse, surrender, or decrease in Basic Insurance Amount. | Up to 100% |
Transfer fee | Each transfer exceeding 12 in any Contract Year. | $25 |
Withdrawal fee (Based on the withdrawal amount.) | Upon withdrawal. | The lesser of $25 and 2%. |
Insurance Amount Change fee | Upon change in Basic Insurance Amount. | $25 |
Living Needs Benefit Rider fee | When benefit is paid. | $150 |
Overloan Protection Rider fee (Percentage of the Contract Fund amount.) | One time charge upon exercising the rider benefit. | 3.5% |
(1) | The maximum surrender charge percentage of 100% applies in the early durations for younger ages. The percentage varies by Contract form, issue age and duration, and reduces to zero by the end of the 10th year. For some older ages, the duration is as short as 3 years. For Contract Form VUL-2004 the maximum surrender charge percentage is 90%. See CHARGES AND EXPENSES. |
1
The second, third, and fourth tables describe the maximum Contract fees and expenses that you may pay periodically during the time you own the Contract, not including the Funds’ fees and expenses, depending on the Contract Form you purchased.
Table 2: Periodic Contract and Optional Rider Charges Other Than The Fund's Operating Expenses (Contract Form VUL-2013 for Contracts sold 10/7/13 or later, subject to state availability) | ||
Charge | When Charge is Deducted | Amount Deducted |
Cost of Insurance (“COI”) for the Basic Insurance Amount. Minimum and Maximum Charges per $1,000 of the net amount at risk _____________ Initial COI for a representative Contract Owner, male age 32 in the Non-smoker Plus underwriting class, no riders. (Charge per $1,000 of the net amount at risk.) | Monthly | From $.02 to $83.34(1)(2) _____________ $0.09 |
Mortality and Expense Risk fee (Effective annual rate calculated as a percentage of assets in the Variable Investment Options.) | Daily | 0.45%(3) |
Additional Mortality fees for risk associated with certain health conditions, occupations, avocations, or aviation risks. (Charged per $1,000 of Basic Insurance Amount.) | Monthly | From $0.10 to $2.08(4) |
Net interest on loans(5) | Annually | 1% for standard loans. 0.05% for preferred loans. |
Administrative fee for Basic Insurance Amount Minimum and Maximum Charges (Charge per $1,000 of Basic Insurance Amount plus a flat fee.) _____________ Initial fee for Basic Insurance Amount for a representative Contract Owner, male age 32 in the Non-smoker Plus underwriting class, no riders. (Charge per $1,000 of Basic Insurance Amount plus a flat fee.) | Monthly | $0.07 to $1.09; plus $30 in the first Contract Year and $9 thereafter. _____________ $0.10 plus $30 |
Administrative fee for an increase to Basic Insurance Amount Minimum and Maximum Charges (Charge per $1,000 of increase to the Basic Insurance Amount plus a flat fee per increase segment.) _____________ Initial fee for increase to Basic Insurance Amount for a representative Contract Owner, male age 32 in the Non-smoker Plus underwriting class, no riders (Charge per $1,000 of increase to the Basic Insurance Amount plus a flat fee per increase segment.) | Monthly | $0.07 to $1.09; plus $12 in the first 2 Contract Years and zero thereafter. _____________ $0.10 plus $12 |
2
Accidental Death Benefit Rider(6) Minimum and Maximum Charges per $1,000 of the coverage amount. _____________ Accidental Death Benefit Rider fee for a representative Contract Owner, male age 32 in the Non-smoker Plus underwriting class. (Charge per $1,000 of the coverage amount.) | Monthly | From $0.05 to $0.28(1) _____________ $0.07 |
Children Level Term Rider(6) (Charge per $1,000 of the coverage amount.) | Monthly | $0.42 |
Enhanced Disability Benefit Rider(1)(6) Minimum and Maximum Charges (Percentage of the greater of: 9% of the policy target premium or the total of monthly deductions.) _____________ Enhanced Disability Benefit Rider fee for a representative Contract Owner, male age 32 in the Non-smoker Plus underwriting class. (Percentage of the greater of: 9% of the policy target premium or the total of monthly deductions.) | Monthly | From 7.08% to 12.17% _____________ 7.52% |
(1) | The charge varies based on the individual characteristics of the insured, including such characteristics as: age, sex, and underwriting class. The charge shown in the table may not be representative of the charge that a particular contract owner will pay. You may obtain more information about the particular charges that apply to you by contacting your Pruco Life representative. |
(2) | For example, the highest COI rate is for an insured who is a male/female age 120. You may obtain more information about the particular COI charges that apply to you by contacting your Pruco Life representative. |
(3) | The daily charge is based on the effective annual rate shown. |
( 4) | The amount and duration of the charge will vary based on individual circumstances including issue age, type of risk, and the frequency of exposure to the risk, and is charged per $1,000 of Basic Insurance Amount. The charge shown in the table may not be representative of the charge that a particular contract owner will pay. You may obtain more information about the particular charges that apply to you by contacting your Pruco Life representative |
(5) | The maximum loan rate reflects the net difference between a standard loan with an effective annual interest rate of 2% and an effective annual interest credit equal to 1%. Preferred loans are charged a lower effective annual interest rate. See Loans. |
(6) | Duration of the charge is limited. See CHARGES AND EXPENSES. |
3
Table 3: Periodic Contract and Optional Rider Charges Other Than The Fund's Operating Expenses (Contract Form VUL-2008) | ||
Charge | When Charge is Deducted | Amount Deducted |
Cost of Insurance (“COI”) for the Basic Insurance Amount. Minimum and Maximum Charges per $1,000 of the net amount at risk _____________ Initial COI for a representative Contract Owner, male age 32 in the Non-smoker Plus underwriting class, no riders. (Charge per $1,000 of the net amount at risk.) | Monthly | From $.02 to $83.34(1)(2) _____________ $0.09 |
Mortality and Expense Risk fee (Effective annual rate calculated as a percentage of assets in the Variable Investment Options.) | Daily | 0.45%(3) |
Additional Mortality fees for risk associated with certain health conditions, occupations, avocations, or aviation risks. (Charged per $1,000 of Basic Insurance Amount.) | Monthly | From $0.10 to $2.08(4) |
Net interest on loans(5) | Annually | 1% for standard loans. 0.10% for preferred loans. |
Administrative fee for Basic Insurance Amount Minimum and Maximum Charges (Charge per $1,000 of Basic Insurance Amount plus a flat fee.) _____________ Initial fee for Basic Insurance Amount for a representative Contract Owner, male age 32 in the Non-smoker Plus underwriting class, no riders. (Charge per $1,000 of Basic Insurance Amount plus a flat fee.) | Monthly | $0.06 to $1.50; plus $30 in the first Contract Year and $9 thereafter. _____________ $0.13 plus $30 |
Administrative fee for an increase to Basic Insurance Amount Minimum and Maximum Charges (Charge per $1,000 of increase to the Basic Insurance Amount plus a flat fee per increase segment.) _____________ Initial fee for increase to Basic Insurance Amount for a representative Contract Owner, male age 32 in the Non-smoker Plus underwriting class, no riders (Charge per $1,000 of increase to the Basic Insurance Amount plus a flat fee per increase segment.) | Monthly | $0.06 to $1.50; plus $12 in the first 2 Contract Years and zero thereafter. _____________ $0.13 plus $12 |
4
Accidental Death Benefit Rider(6) Minimum and Maximum Charges per $1,000 of the coverage amount. _____________ Accidental Death Benefit Rider fee for a representative Contract Owner, male age 32 in the Non-smoker Plus underwriting class. (Charge per $1,000 of the coverage amount.) | Monthly | From $0.05 to $0.28(1) _____________ $0.07 |
Children Level Term Rider(6) (Charge per $1,000 of the coverage amount.) | Monthly | $0.42 |
Enhanced Disability Benefit Rider(1)(6) Minimum and Maximum Charges (Percentage of the greater of: 9% of the policy target premium or the total of monthly deductions.) _____________ Enhanced Disability Benefit Rider fee for a representative Contract Owner, male age 32 in the Non-smoker Plus underwriting class. (Percentage of the greater of: 9% of the policy target premium or the total of monthly deductions.) | Monthly | From 7.08% to 12.17% _____________ 7.52% |
1) | The charge varies based on the individual characteristics of the insured, including such characteristics as: age, sex, and underwriting class. The charge shown in the table may not be representative of the charge that a particular contract owner will pay. You may obtain more information about the particular charges that apply to you by contacting your Pruco Life representative. |
2) | For example, the highest COI rate is for an insured who is a male/female age 120. You may obtain more information about the particular COI charges that apply to you by contacting your Pruco Life representative. |
3) | The daily charge is based on the effective annual rate shown. |
4) | The amount and duration of the charge will vary based on individual circumstances including issue age, type of risk, and the frequency of exposure to the risk, and is charged per $1,000 of Basic Insurance Amount. The charge shown in the table may not be representative of the charge that a particular contract owner will pay. You may obtain more information about the particular charges that apply to you by contacting your Pruco Life representative. |
5) | The maximum loan rate reflects the net difference between a standard loan with an effective annual interest rate of 4% and an effective annual interest credit equal to 3%. Preferred loans are charged a lower effective annual interest rate. See Loans. |
6) | Duration of the charge is limited. See CHARGES AND EXPENSES. |
5
Table 4: Periodic Contract and Optional Rider Charges Other Than The Fund's Operating Expenses (Contract Forms VUL-2004 and VUL-2005) | ||
Charge | When Charge is Deducted | Amount Deducted |
Cost of Insurance (“COI”) for the Basic Insurance Amount. Minimum and Maximum Charges per $1,000 of the net amount at risk. _____________ Initial COI for a representative Contract Owner, male age 32 in the Non-smoker Plus underwriting class, no riders. (Charge per $1,000 of the net amount at risk.) | Monthly | From $.06 to $83.34(1)(2) _____________ $0.13 |
Cost of Insurance (“COI”) for Target Term Rider coverage. Minimum and Maximum Charges per $1,000 of the net amount at risk. _____________ Initial COI for a representative Contract Owner, male age 32 in the Non-smoker Plus underwriting class. | Monthly | From $.06 to $83.34(1)(2) _____________ $0.13 |
Mortality and Expense Risk fee (Calculated as a percentage of assets in Variable Investment Options.) | Daily | 0.45%(3) |
Additional Mortality fee for risk associated with certain health conditions, occupations, avocations, or aviation risks. (Charged per $1,000 of Basic Insurance Amount.) | Monthly | From $0.10 to $2.08(4) |
Net interest on loans(5) | Annually | 1% for standard loans. 0.10% for preferred loans. |
Administrative fee for Basic Insurance Amount Minimum and Maximum Charges (Charge per $1,000 of Basic Insurance Amount plus a flat fee.) _____________ Initial fee for Basic Insurance Amount for a representative Contract Owner, male age 32 in the Non-smoker Plus underwriting class, no riders. (Charge per $1,000 of Basic Insurance Amount plus a flat fee.) | Monthly | $0.04 to $1.40; plus $30 in the first Contract Year and $9 thereafter. _____________ $0.12 plus $30 |
6
Administrative fee for an increase to Basic Insurance Amount Minimum and Maximum Charges (Charge per $1,000 of increase to the Basic Insurance Amount plus a flat fee per increase segment.) _____________ Initial fee for increase to Basic Insurance Amount for a representative Contract Owner, male age 32 in the Non-smoker Plus underwriting class, no riders. (Charge per $1,000 of increase to the Basic Insurance Amount plus a flat fee per increase segment.) | Monthly | $0.04 to $1.40; plus $12 in the first 2 Contract Years and zero thereafter. _____________ $0.12 plus $12 |
The Target Term Rider or an increase to the Target Term Rider Minimum and Maximum Charges per $1,000 of the coverage amount. _____________ Target Term Rider fee for a representative Contract Owner, male age 32 in the Non-smoker Plus underwriting class. | Monthly | From $0.05 to $1.41(1) _____________ $0.13 |
Accidental Death Benefit Rider(6) Minimum and Maximum Charges per $1,000 of the coverage amount _____________ Accidental Death Benefit Rider fee for a representative Contract Owner, male age 32 in the Non-smoker Plus underwriting class. (Charge per $1,000 of the coverage amount.) | Monthly | From $0.05 to $0.28(1) _____________ $0.07 |
Children Level Term Rider(6) (Charge per $1,000 of the coverage amount.) | Monthly | $0.42 |
Enhanced Disability Benefit Rider(1)(6) Minimum and Maximum Charges (Percentage of the greater of: 9% of the policy target premium or the total of monthly deductions.) _____________ Enhanced Disability Benefit Rider fee for a representative Contract Owner, male age 32 in the Non-smoker Plus underwriting class. (Percentage of the greater of: 9% of the policy target premium or the total of monthly deductions.) | Monthly | From 7.08% to 12.17%(7) _____________ 7.52% |
(1) | The charge varies based on the individual characteristics of the insured, including such characteristics as: age, sex, and underwriting class. The charge shown in the table may not be representative of the charge that a particular contract owner will pay. You may obtain more information about the particular charges that apply to you by contacting your Pruco Life representative. |
(2) | For example, the highest COI rate is for an insured who is a male/female age 99. You may obtain more information about the particular COI charges that apply to you by contacting your Pruco Life representative. |
(3) | The daily charge is based on the effective annual rate shown. |
(4) | The amount and duration of the charge will vary based on individual circumstances including issue age, type of risk, and the frequency of exposure to the risk, and is charged per $1,000 of Basic Insurance Amount. The charge shown in the table may not be representative of the charge that a particular contract owner will pay. You may obtain more information about the particular charges that apply to you by contacting your Pruco Life representative. |
(5) | The maximum loan rate reflects the net difference between a standard loan with an effective annual interest rate of 4% and an effective annual interest credit equal to 3%. Preferred loans are charged a lower effective annual interest rate. See Loans. |
(6) | Duration of the charge is limited. See CHARGES AND EXPENSES. |
(7) | For Contracts issued on Contract Form VUL-2004, the amount deducted is 7.08% to 10.40% of the greater of 9% of the policy target premium or the total of monthly deductions. |
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Portfolio Expenses
This table shows the minimum and maximum total operating expenses charged by the Funds that you will pay periodically during the time you own the Contract. More detail concerning each Fund’s fees and expenses is contained in the prospectus for each of the Funds.
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | Minimum | Maximum |
(Expenses that are deducted from the Funds’ assets, including management fees, any distribution [and/or service] (12b-1) fees, and other expenses, but not including reductions for any fee waiver or other reimbursements.) | 0.37% | 1.29% |
SUMMARY OF THE CONTRACT
AND CONTRACT BENEFITS
Brief Description of the Contract
PruLife® Custom Premier II is a form of variable universal life insurance. A variable universal life insurance contract is a flexible form of life insurance. It has a Death Benefit and a Contract Fund, the value of which changes every day according to the investment performance of the investment options to which you have allocated your net premiums. You may invest net premiums in one or more of the available Variable Investment Options or in the Fixed Rate Option. Although the value of your Contract Fund may increase if there is favorable investment performance in the Variable Investment Options you select, investment returns in the Variable Investment Options are NOT guaranteed. There is a risk that investment performance will be unfavorable and that the value of your Contract Fund will decrease. The risk will be different, depending upon which investment options you choose. You bear the risk of any decrease. If you select the Fixed Rate Option, we credit your account with a declared rate of interest, but you assume the risk that the rate may change, although it will never be lower than an effective annual rate of 1%. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms. Transfers from the Fixed Rate Option may be restricted. The Contract is designed to be flexible to meet your specific life insurance needs. Within certain limits, the Contract will provide you with flexibility in determining the amount and timing of your premium payments. Some Contract forms, features and/or riders described in this prospectus may not be available in all states. Some Contract forms, features and/or Variable Investment Options described in this prospectus may not be available through all brokers. Your Contract's form number is located in the lower left hand corner on the first page of your Contract.
Types of Death Benefit Available Under the Contract
There are three types of Death Benefit available. You may choose a Contract with a Type A (fixed) Death Benefit under which the Death Benefit generally remains at the Basic Insurance Amount you initially chose. However, the Contract Fund (described below) may grow to a point where the Death Benefit may increase and vary with investment experience. If you choose a Contract with a Type B (variable) Death Benefit, your Death Benefit will vary with investment experience. For Contracts with Type A and Type B Death Benefits, as long as the Contract is in-force, the Death Benefit will never be less than the Basic Insurance Amount shown in your Contract. If you choose a Contract with a Type C (return of premium) Death Benefit, the Death Benefit is generally equal to the Basic Insurance Amount plus the total premiums paid into the Contract, less withdrawals. The total premiums, less withdrawals, is not accumulated with interest. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms. The Death Benefit on a Contract with a Type C Death Benefit is limited to the Basic Insurance Amount plus an amount equal to: the Contract Fund plus the Type C Limiting Amount (the initial Basic Insurance Amount) multiplied by the Type C Death Benefit Factor, both located in the Contract Limitations section of your Contract.
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Any type of Death Benefit, described above, may be increased to ensure that the Contract will satisfy the Internal Revenue Code's definition of life insurance.
You may change your Contract’s Death Benefit type after issue, however, if you choose a Contract with a Type A Death Benefit or Type B Death Benefit at issue, you will not be able to change to a Contract with a Type C Death Benefit thereafter. Also, if you change a Contract with a Type C Death Benefit to a Contract with a Type A Death Benefit or Type B Death Benefit after issue, you will not be able to change back to a Contract with a Type C Death Benefit. See Types of Death Benefit and Changing the Type of Death Benefit.
No-Lapse Guarantee Information
If you pay one of the three No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums described below, we will guarantee that your Contract will not lapse for the corresponding No-Lapse Guarantee Period as a result of unfavorable investment performance, and a Death Benefit will be paid upon the death of the insured, even if your Contract Fund value drops to zero. The No-Lapse Guarantee is based on your premium payments and is not a benefit you need to elect. Withdrawals and outstanding Contract loans may adversely affect the status of the No-Lapse Guarantee. See Withdrawals and Loans.
Generally there are three No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums and No-Lapse Guarantee Periods. The No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums vary by Basic Insurance Amount, definition of life insurance test, issue age, sex, underwriting class, and any substandard or additional mortality risk. See No-Lapse Guarantee, PREMIUMS, and DEATH BENEFITS.
1. | All Contracts have a Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee period, which has a corresponding Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee Premium. A Contract with a Type C (return of premium) Death Benefit will only have a Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee available. |
2. | All Contracts without a Type C (return of premium) Death Benefit have a second, longer Limited No-Lapse Guarantee period with a corresponding Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premium. |
3. | Additionally, there is a Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee period with a corresponding Lifetime Guarantee Premium for a Contract with a Type A (fixed) Death Benefit or a Contract with a Type B (variable) Death Benefit that has elected the Cash Value Accumulation Test for definition of life insurance. |
Unless a No-Lapse Guarantee is in effect, the Contract will go into default if the Contract Fund less any Contract Debt and less any applicable surrender charges falls to zero or less. Your Pruco Life representative can tell you the premium amounts you will need to pay to maintain these guarantees.
The Contract Fund
Your Contract Fund value changes daily, reflecting: (1) increases or decreases in the value of the Variable Investment Options; (2) interest credited on any amounts allocated to the Fixed Rate Option; (3) interest credited on any loan; and (4) the daily asset charge for mortality and expense risks assessed against the Variable Investment Options. The Contract Fund value also changes to reflect the receipt of premium payments, charges deducted from premium payments, and the monthly deductions described under CHARGES AND EXPENSES, and any added persistency credit. See Persistency Credit.
Premium Payments
You choose the timing and the amount of premium payments, with the exception of the minimum initial premium. All subsequent premium payments are subject to a minimum of $25 per payment. The Contract will remain in-force if the Contract Fund less any applicable surrender charges is greater than zero and more than any Contract Debt. Paying insufficient premiums, poor investment results, or the taking of loans or withdrawals from the Contract will increase the possibility that the Contract will lapse. However, if the premiums you paid, accumulated at an effective annual rate of 4%, less withdrawals also accumulated at 4% (“Accumulated Net Payments”) are at least equal to the amounts shown in the Table of No-Lapse Guarantee Values in your Contract Data pages, and there is no Contract Debt, we guarantee that your Contract will not lapse, even if investment experience is very unfavorable and the Contract Fund drops below zero. The length of time that the guarantee against lapse is available depends on your Contract's Death Benefit type. See PREMIUMS, No-Lapse Guarantee, and LAPSE AND REINSTATEMENT.
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If you pay more premium than permitted under section 7702A of the Internal Revenue Code, your Contract would be classified as a Modified Endowment Contract, which would affect the federal income tax treatment of loans and withdrawals. For more information, see Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits - Modified Endowment Contracts.
Allocation of Premium Payments
When you apply for the Contract, you tell us how to allocate your premiums. You may change the way in which subsequent premiums are allocated by giving written notice to a Service Office, by our website, provided you are enrolled to use Prudential Online® Account Access, or by telephoning a Service Office, provided you are enrolled to use the Telephone Transfer System. See The Pruco Life Variable Universal Account and the Allocation of Premiums sections.
On the later of the Contract Date and the end of the Valuation Period in which the initial premium is received, we deduct the charge for sales expenses and the premium based administrative charge from the initial premium. The remainder of the initial premium and any other net premium received in Good Order at the Payment Office during the 10 day period (or longer if required by state regulation) following your receipt of the Contract will be allocated to the Money Market investment option, then the first monthly deductions are made. After the tenth day, these funds, adjusted for any investment results, will be transferred out of the Money Market investment option and allocated among the Variable Investment Options and/or the Fixed Rate Option according to your current premium allocation.
The charge for sales expenses and the premium based administrative charge will also apply to all subsequent premium payments. The remainder of each subsequent premium payment will be invested as of the end of the Valuation Period in which it is received in Good Order at the Payment Office, in accordance with the allocation you previously designated.
Investment Choices
You may choose to invest your Contract's premiums and its earnings in one or more of the available Variable Investment Options. You may also invest in the Fixed Rate Option. See The Funds and The Fixed Rate Option. You may transfer money among your investment choices, subject to restrictions. See Transfers/Restrictions on Transfers.
We may add or remove Variable Investment Options in the future.
Transfers Among Investment Options
You may, up to 12 times each Contract Year, transfer amounts among the Variable Investment Options or to the Fixed Rate Option. Additional transfers may be made only with our consent. Currently, we allow you to make additional transfers. For the first 20 transfers in a calendar year, you may transfer amounts by proper written notice to a Service Office, by our website, provided you are enrolled to use Prudential Online® Account Access, or by telephone, provided you are enrolled to use the Telephone Transfer System.
After you have submitted 20 transfers in a calendar year, we will accept subsequent transfer requests only if they are in a form that meets our needs, bear an original signature in ink, and are sent to us by U.S. regular mail.
Multiple transfers that occur during the same day, but prior to the end of the Valuation Period for that day, will be counted as a single transfer.
We may charge an administrative transaction fee of up to $25 for each transfer made exceeding 12 in any Contract Year. No transaction fee is currently charged in connection with a transfer, but we reserve the right to charge such a fee.
Certain restrictions may apply to transfers from the Fixed Rate Option.
We reserve the right to prohibit transfer requests determined to be disruptive to the investment option or to the disadvantage of other Contract Owners.
Transfer restrictions will be applied in a uniform manner and will not be waived.
In addition, you may use our dollar cost averaging feature or our automatic rebalancing feature. For additional information, please see Transfers/Restrictions on Transfers, Dollar Cost Averaging, and Auto-Rebalancing.
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Increasing or Decreasing Basic Insurance Amount
Subject to conditions determined by us, after the issue of the Contract and after the first Contract Anniversary, you may increase the amount of insurance by increasing the Basic Insurance Amount of the Contract. When you do this, you create an additional Coverage Segment. Each Coverage Segment will be subject to its own monthly deductions, surrender charge, and surrender charge period, which begin on that segment’s effective date. See Increases in Basic Insurance Amount and Surrender Charges. In addition, if a significant premium is paid in conjunction with an increase, there is a possibility that the Contract will be classified as a Modified Endowment Contract. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits.
Subject to certain limitations, you also have the option of decreasing the Basic Insurance Amount of your Contract after the issue of the Contract. See Decreases in Basic Insurance Amount.
For Contracts with more than one Coverage Segment, a decrease in Basic Insurance Amount will reduce each Coverage Segment based on the proportion of the Coverage Segment amount to the total of all Coverage Segment amounts in effect just before the change. A decrease in Basic Insurance Amount may result in a surrender charge. See Surrender Charges.
We may decline a decrease in the Basic Insurance Amount if we determine it would cause the Contract to fail to qualify as "life insurance" for purposes of Section 7702 of the Internal Revenue Code. In addition, if the Basic Insurance Amount is decreased, there is a possibility that the Contract will be classified as a Modified Endowment Contract. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits. We may decline a decrease in the Basic Insurance Amount if the Contract Fund value is less than any applicable partial surrender charges.
No administrative processing charge is currently being made in connection with either an increase or a decrease in Basic Insurance Amount. However, we reserve the right to charge such a fee in an amount of up to $25. See CHARGES AND EXPENSES.
Access to Contract Values
A Contract may be surrendered for its Cash Surrender Value (the Contract Fund minus any Contract Debt and minus any applicable surrender charge) while the insured is living. To surrender a Contract, we may require you to deliver or mail the Contract with a written request in a form that meets our needs, to a Service Office. The Cash Surrender Value of a Contract will be determined as of the end of the Valuation Period in which such a request is received in a Service Office. Surrender of a Contract may have tax consequences. See Surrender of a Contract and Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits.
Under certain circumstances, you may withdraw a part of the Contract's Cash Surrender Value without surrendering the Contract. The amount withdrawn must be at least $500. There is an administrative processing fee for each withdrawal which is the lesser of: (a) $25 and; (b) 2% of the withdrawal amount. Withdrawal of the Cash Surrender Value may have tax consequences. See Withdrawals and Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits.
Contract Loans
You may borrow money from us using your Contract as security for the loan, provided the Contract is not in default. The maximum loan amount is equal to the sum of (1) 99% of the portion of the cash value attributable to the Variable Investment Options and (2) the balance of the cash value, provided the Contract is not in default. The cash value is equal to the Contract Fund less any surrender charge. A Contract in default has no loan value. There is no minimum loan amount. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms. See Loans.
Persistency Credit Information
If your Contract is not in default, on each Monthly Date on or following at least the 5th Contract Anniversary, we may credit your Contract Fund with an additional amount for keeping your Contract in-force. See the Persistency Credit section.
Canceling the Contract (“Free-Look”)
Generally, you may return the Contract for a refund within 10 days after you receive it (or within any longer period of time required by state law). In general, you will receive a refund of all premium payments made, less any applicable federal and/or state income tax withholding. However, if applicable law permits a market value free-look, you will receive the greater of (1) the Contract Fund (which includes any investment results) plus the amount of any charges that have been deducted or (2) all premium payments made (including premium payments made more than 10 days after you receive the Contract, but within any longer free-look period of time required by state law), less any applicable federal and/or state income tax withholding. A Contract returned according to this provision shall be deemed void from the beginning.
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SUMMARY OF CONTRACT RISKS
Contract Values are not Guaranteed
Your benefits (including life insurance) are not guaranteed, and may be entirely dependent on the investment performance of the Variable Investment Options you select. The value of your Contract Fund rises and falls with the performance of the Variable Investment Options you choose and the charges that we deduct. Poor investment performance or loans could cause your Contract to lapse and you could lose your insurance coverage. However, payment of the Death Benefit may be guaranteed under the No-Lapse Guarantee feature or may be protected under the Overloan Protection Rider. See No-Lapse Guarantee and Other Riders - Overloan Protection Rider.
The Variable Investment Options you choose may not perform to your expectations. Investing in the Contract involves risks including the possible loss of your entire investment. Only the Fixed Rate Option provides a guaranteed rate of return. For more detail, please see Risks Associated with the Variable Investment Options and The Fixed Rate Option.
Limitation of Benefits on Certain Riders for Claims Due to War or Service in the Armed Forces
We will not pay a benefit on any Accidental Death Benefit type rider or make payments for any disability type rider if the death or injury is caused or contributed to by war or act of war, declared or undeclared, including resistance to armed aggression. This restriction includes service in the armed forces of any country at war.
Increase in Charges
In several instances we will use the terms “maximum charge” and “current charge.” The “maximum charge,” in each instance, is the highest charge that we may make under the Contract. The “current charge,” in each instance, is the amount that we now charge, which may be lower than the maximum charge. If circumstances change, we reserve the right to increase each current charge, up to the maximum charge, without giving any advance notice.
Contract Lapse
Each month we determine the value of your Contract Fund. The Contract is in default if the Contract Fund, less any applicable surrender charges, is zero or less, unless it remains in-force under the No-Lapse Guarantee. See No-Lapse Guarantee. Your Contract will also be in default if at any time the Contract Debt equals or exceeds the Contract Fund less any applicable surrender charges. Should any event occur that would cause your Contract to lapse, we will notify you of the required payment to prevent your Contract from terminating. See Loans. Your payment must be received at the Payment Office within the 61-day grace period after the notice of default is mailed or the Contract will end and have no value. See LAPSE AND REINSTATEMENT. If you have an outstanding loan when your Contract lapses, you may have taxable income as a result. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits - Pre-Death Distributions.
Risks of Using the Contract as a Short Term Savings Vehicle
The Contract is designed to provide benefits on a long-term basis. Consequently, you should not purchase the Contract as a short-term investment or savings vehicle. Because of the long-term nature of the Contract, you should consider whether purchasing the Contract is consistent with the purpose for which it is being considered.
Because the Contract provides for an accumulation of a Contract Fund as well as a Death Benefit, you may wish to use it for various insurance planning purposes. Purchasing the Contract for such purposes may involve certain risks.
For example, a life insurance contract could play an important role in helping you to meet the future costs of a child’s education. The Contract’s Death Benefit could be used to provide for education costs should something happen to you, and its investment features could help you accumulate savings. However, if the Variable Investment Options you choose perform poorly, if you do not pay sufficient premiums, or if you access the values in your Contract through withdrawals or Contract loans, your Contract may lapse or you may not accumulate the value you need.
Risks of Taking Withdrawals
If your Contract meets certain requirements, you may make withdrawals from your Contract’s Cash Surrender Value while the Contract is in-force. The amount withdrawn must be at least $500. The withdrawal amount is limited by the requirement that the Cash Surrender Value after withdrawal may not be less than or equal to zero after deducting any charges associated with the withdrawal and an amount that we estimate will be sufficient to cover the Contract Fund deductions for two Monthly Dates following the date of withdrawal. There is a transaction fee for each withdrawal which is the lesser of: (a) $25 and; (b) 2% of the withdrawal amount. Withdrawal of the Cash Surrender Value may have tax consequences. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits.
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Whenever a withdrawal is made, the Death Benefit may immediately be reduced by at least the amount of the withdrawal. Withdrawals under Contracts with a Type B Death Benefit and Type C Death Benefit will not change the Basic Insurance Amount. However, under a Contract with a Type A Death Benefit, the withdrawal may require a reduction in the Basic Insurance Amount. A surrender charge may be deducted when any withdrawal causes a reduction in the Basic Insurance Amount. See CHARGES AND EXPENSES. No withdrawal will be permitted under a Contract with a Type A Death Benefit if it would result in a Basic Insurance Amount of less than the minimum Basic Insurance Amount. See REQUIREMENTS FOR ISSUANCE OF A CONTRACT. It is important to note, however, that if the Basic Insurance Amount is decreased, there is a possibility that the Contract might be classified as a Modified Endowment Contract. Accessing the values in your Contract through withdrawals may significantly affect current and future Contract values or Death Benefit proceeds and may increase the chance that your Contract will lapse. Before making any withdrawal that causes a decrease in Basic Insurance Amount, you should consult with your tax adviser and your Pruco Life representative. See Withdrawals and Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits.
Limitations on Transfers
You may, up to 12 times each Contract Year, transfer amounts among the Variable Investment Options or to the Fixed Rate Option. We may charge up to $25 for each transfer made exceeding 12 in any Contract Year.
Additional transfers may be made only with our consent. Currently, we allow you to make additional transfers. For the first 20 transfers in a calendar year, you may transfer amounts by proper written notice to a Service Office, by our website, provided you are enrolled to use Prudential Online® Account Access, or by telephone, provided you are enrolled to use the Telephone Transfer System. We use reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions given by telephone are genuine. However, we are not liable for following telephone instructions that we reasonably believe to be genuine. In addition, we cannot guarantee that you will be able to get through to complete a telephone transfer during peak periods such as periods of drastic economic or market change.
After you have submitted 20 transfers in a calendar year, we will accept subsequent transfer requests only if they are in a form that meets our needs, bear an original signature in ink, and are sent to us by U.S. regular mail. After you have submitted 20 transfers in a calendar year, a subsequent transfer request by telephone, fax, or electronic means will be rejected, even in the event that it is inadvertently processed.
Currently, certain transfers effected systematically under either a dollar cost averaging or an automatic rebalancing program described in this prospectus do not count towards the limit of 12 transfers per Contract Year or the limit of 20 transfers per calendar year. In the future, we may count such transfers towards the limit.
Multiple transfers that occur during the same day, but prior to the end of the Valuation Period for that day, will be counted as a single transfer.
Generally, only one transfer from the Fixed Rate Option is permitted during each Contract Year. The maximum amount per Contract you may transfer out of the Fixed Rate Option each year is the greater of: (a) 25% of the amount in the Fixed Rate Option; and (b) $2,000.
Your Contract may include Funds that are not currently accepting additional investments. See the section titled The Pruco Life Variable Universal Account.
We may modify your right to make transfers by restricting the number, timing and/or amount of transfers we find to be disruptive to the investment option or to the disadvantage of other Contract Owners. We also reserve the right to prohibit transfer requests made by an individual acting under a power of attorney on behalf of more than one Contract Owner. We will immediately notify you at the time of a transfer request if we exercise this right.
Transfer restrictions will be applied uniformly and will not be waived. See Transfers/Restrictions on Transfers.
Charges on Surrender of the Contract
You may surrender your Contract at any time for its Cash Surrender Value while the insured is living. We deduct a surrender charge from the surrender proceeds. In addition, the surrender of your Contract may have tax consequences. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits.
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We will assess a surrender charge if, during the first 10 Contract Years (or during the first 10 years of a Coverage Segment representing an increase in Basic Insurance Amount), the Contract lapses, is surrendered, or the Basic Insurance Amount is decreased (including as a result of a withdrawal or a Death Benefit type change). The surrender charge varies and is calculated as described in Surrender Charges. While the amount of the surrender charge decreases over time, it may be a substantial portion or even equal to your Contract Fund.
Risks of Taking a Contract Loan
Accessing the values in your Contract through Contract loans may significantly affect current and future Contract values or Death Benefit proceeds and may increase the chance that your Contract will lapse. Your Contract will be in default if, at any time, the Contract Debt equals or exceeds the Contract Fund less any applicable surrender charges, even if the No-Lapse Guarantee is in effect. If the Contract lapses or is surrendered, the amount of unpaid Contract Debt will be treated as a distribution and will be immediately taxable to the extent of the gain in the Contract. In addition, if your Contract is a Modified Endowment Contract for tax purposes, taking a Contract loan may have tax consequences. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits.
Potential Tax Consequences
Your Contract is structured to meet the definition of life insurance under Section 7702 of the Internal Revenue Code. At issue, the Contract Owner chooses one of the following definitions of life insurance tests: (1) Cash Value Accumulation Test or (2) Guideline Premium Test. Under the Cash Value Accumulation Test, there is a minimum Death Benefit to cash value ratio. Under the Guideline Premium Test, there is a limit to the amount of premiums that can be paid into the Contract, as well as a minimum Death Benefit to cash value ratio. Consequently, we reserve the right to refuse to accept a premium payment that would, in our opinion, cause this Contract to fail to qualify as life insurance. We also have the right to refuse to accept any payment that increases the Death Benefit by more than it increases the Contract Fund. Although we believe that the Contract should qualify as life insurance for tax purposes, there are some uncertainties, particularly because the Secretary of Treasury has not yet issued permanent regulations that bear on this question. Accordingly, we reserve the right to make changes -- which will be applied uniformly to all Contract Owners after advance written notice -- that we deem necessary to insure that the Contract will qualify as life insurance. We require the Guideline Premium Test as the definition of life insurance if you choose to have the Overloan Protection Rider. See the Other Riders - Overloan Protection Rider section.
Current federal tax law generally excludes all Death Benefits from the gross income of the beneficiary of a life insurance contract. However, your Death Benefit could be subject to estate tax. In addition, you generally are not subject to taxation on any increase in the Contract value until it is withdrawn. Generally, you are taxed on surrender proceeds and the proceeds of any partial withdrawals only if those amounts, when added to all previous distributions, exceed the total premiums paid. Amounts received upon surrender or withdrawal (including any outstanding Contract loans) in excess of premiums paid are treated as ordinary income.
Special rules govern the tax treatment of life insurance policies that meet the federal definition of a Modified Endowment Contract. The Contract could be classified as a Modified Endowment Contract if premiums in amounts that are too large are paid or a decrease in the Basic Insurance Amount is made (or a rider removed). The addition of a rider or an increase in the Basic Insurance Amount may also cause the Contract to be classified as a Modified Endowment Contract if a significant premium is paid in conjunction with an increase or the addition of a rider. We will notify you if a premium or a reduction in Basic Insurance Amount would cause the Contract to become a Modified Endowment Contract, and advise you of your options.
Under current tax law, Death Benefit payments under Modified Endowment Contracts, like Death Benefit payments under other life insurance contracts, generally are excluded from the gross income of the beneficiary. However, amounts you receive under the Contract before the insured's death, including loans and withdrawals, are included in income to the extent that the Contract Fund before surrender charges exceeds the premiums paid for the Contract increased by the amount of any loans previously included in income and reduced by any untaxed amounts previously received other than the amount of any loans excludible from income. An assignment of a Modified Endowment Contract is taxable in the same way. These rules also apply to pre-death distributions, including loans and assignments, made during the two-year period before the time that the Contract became a Modified Endowment Contract.
All Modified Endowment Contracts issued by us to you during the same calendar year are treated as a single Contract for purposes of applying these rules. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits.
Any taxable income on pre-death distributions (including full surrenders) is subject to a penalty of 10 percent unless the amount is received on or after age 59½, on account of your becoming disabled or as a life annuity. It is presently unclear how the penalty tax provisions apply to Contracts owned by businesses.
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Replacement of the Contract
The replacement of life insurance is generally not in your best interest. In most cases, if you require additional life insurance coverage, the benefits of your existing contract can be protected by increasing the insurance amount of your existing contract, or by purchasing an additional contract. If you are considering replacing a contract, you should compare the benefits and costs of supplementing your existing contract with the benefits and costs of purchasing a new contract and you should consult with a tax adviser.
SUMMARY OF RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH
THE VARIABLE INVESTMENT OPTIONS
You may choose to invest your Contract's premiums and its earnings in one or more of the available Variable Investment Options. You may also invest in the Fixed Rate Option. The Fixed Rate Option is the only investment option that offers a guaranteed rate of return. See The Funds and The Fixed Rate Option.
Risks Associated with the Variable Investment Options
The Separate Account invests in the shares of one or more open-end management investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Each Variable Investment Option has its own investment objective and associated risks, which are described in the accompanying Fund prospectuses. The income, gains, and losses of one Variable Investment Option have no effect on the investment performance of any other Variable Investment Option.
We do not promise that the Variable Investment Options will meet their investment objectives. Amounts you allocate to the Variable Investment Options may grow in value, decline in value or grow less than you expect, depending on the investment performance of the Variable Investment Options you choose. You bear the investment risk that the Variable Investment Options may not meet their investment objectives. It is possible to lose your entire investment in the Variable Investment Options. Although the Series Fund Money Market Portfolio is designed to be a stable investment option, it is possible to lose money in that Portfolio. For example, when prevailing short-term interest rates are very low, the yield on the Money Market Portfolio may be so low that, when Separate Account and Contract charges are deducted, you experience a negative return. See The Funds.
Learn More about the Variable Investment Options
Before allocating amounts to the Variable Investment Options, you should read the current Fund prospectuses for detailed information concerning their investment objectives, strategies, and investment risks.
GENERAL DESCRIPTIONS OF PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, THE REGISTRANT, AND THE FUNDS
Pruco Life Insurance Company
Pruco Life Insurance Company ("Pruco Life", “us”, “we”, or “our”) is a stock life insurance company, organized on December 23, 1971 under the laws of the state of Arizona. It is licensed to sell life insurance and annuities in the District of Columbia, Guam, and in all states except New York. Our principal Executive Office is located at 213 Washington Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102.
We have established a Separate Account, the Pruco Life Variable Universal Account (the "Account", or the "Registrant") to hold the assets that are associated with the Contracts. The Account was established on April 17, 1989 under Arizona law and is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as a unit investment trust, which is a type of investment company. The Account meets the definition of a "Separate Account" under the federal securities laws. The Account holds assets that are segregated from all of our other assets.
We are the legal owner of the assets in the Account. We will maintain assets in the Account with a total market value at least equal to the reserve and other liabilities relating to the variable benefits attributable to the Contracts. In addition to these assets, the Account's assets may include funds contributed by us to commence operation of the Account and may include accumulations of the charges we make against the Account. From time to time we will transfer capital contributions and earned fees and charges to its general account. We will consider any possible adverse impact the transfer might have on the Account before making any such transfer.
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Income, gains and losses credited to, or charged against, the Account reflect the Account’s own investment experience and not the investment experience of our other assets. The assets of the Account may not be charged with liabilities that arise from any other business we conduct.
We are obligated to pay all amounts promised to Contract Owners under the Contract. The obligations to Contract Owners and beneficiaries arising under the Contracts are our general corporate obligations. Guarantees and benefits within the Contract are subject to our claims paying ability.
You may invest in one or a combination of the available Variable Investment Options, including any investments currently in the AST Neuberger Berman Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio, but only if you are already invested in this portfolio. When you choose a Variable Investment Option, we purchase shares of a Fund or a separate investment series of a Fund which are held as an investment for that option. We hold these shares in the Account. We may remove or add additional Variable Investment Options in the future.
The Funds
Each of these Funds is detailed in separate prospectuses that are provided with this prospectus. You should read the Fund prospectuses before you decide to allocate assets to the Variable Investment Options. There is no assurance that the investment objectives of the Variable Investment Options will be met. There may be Portfolios or Funds described in the accompanying Fund prospectuses that are not available in this product. Please refer to the list below to see which Variable Investment Options you may choose.
The terms “Fund”, “Portfolio”, and “Variable Investment Option” are largely used interchangeably. Some of the Variable Investment Options use the term “Fund”, and others use the term “Portfolio” in their respective prospectuses. Funds of the series type, such as the Prudential Series Fund or Advanced Series Trust, are generally described as a "Fund" consisting of a number of underlying "Portfolios."
Investment Managers for The Prudential Series Fund and the Advanced Series Trust
Prudential Investments LLC serves as the investment manager for The Prudential Series Fund (PSF). Prudential Investments LLC and AST Investment Services, Inc. serve as co-investment managers of the Advanced Series Trust (AST).
The investment management agreements for PSF and AST provide that the investment manager or co-investment managers (the “Investment Managers”) will furnish each applicable Fund with investment advice and administrative services subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees and in conformity with the stated policies of the applicable Fund. The Investment Managers must also provide, or obtain and supervise, the executive, administrative, accounting, custody, transfer agent and shareholder servicing services that are deemed advisable by the Board.
The chart below reflects the Funds in which the Account invests, their investment objectives, and each Fund’s investment subadvisers. For Funds with multiple subadvisers, each subadviser manages a portion of the assets for that Fund. Your Contract may include Funds that are not currently accepting additional investments. See the section titled The Pruco Life Variable Universal Account.
Variable Investment Option | Investment Objective Summary | Subadviser |
Affiliated Funds | ||
THE ADVANCED SERIES TRUST | ||
AST Balanced Asset Allocation – Class 1 | The highest potential total return consistent with its specified level of risk tolerance. | Quantitative Management Associates, LLC |
Variable Investment Option | Investment Objective Summary | Subadviser |
AST BlackRock Global Strategies – Class 1 | A high total return consistent with a moderate level of risk. | BlackRock Investment Management, LLC |
AST Cohen & Steers Realty – Class 1 | Maximize total return. | Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc. |
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Variable Investment Option | Investment Objective Summary | Subadviser |
AST Federated Aggressive Growth – Class 1 | Capital growth. | Federated Equity Management Company of Pennsylvania / Federal Global Investment Management Corp, collectively |
AST Goldman Sachs Mid-Cap Growth – Class 1 | Long-term growth of capital. | Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. |
AST Herndon Large-Cap Value Portfolio – Class 1 (previously AST BlackRock Value) | Maximum growth of capital by investing primarily in the value stocks of larger companies. | Herndon Capital Management, LLC |
AST J.P. Morgan International Equity – Class 1 | Capital growth. | J.P. Morgan Investment Management, Inc. |
AST J.P. Morgan Strategic Opportunities – Class 1 | Maximize return compared to the benchmark through security selection and tactical asset allocation. | J.P. Morgan Investment Management, Inc. |
AST Large-Cap Value – Class 1 | Current income and long-term growth of income, as well as capital appreciation. | Hotchkis and Wiley Capital Management LLC |
AST Loomis Sayles Large-Cap Growth Portfolio – Class 1 (previously AST Marsico Capital Growth) | Capital growth. | Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. |
AST MFS Global Equity – Class 1 | Capital growth. | Massachusetts Financial Services Company |
AST MFS Growth – Class 1 | Long-term growth of capital and future, rather than current, income. | Massachusetts Financial Services Company |
AST Neuberger Berman Mid-Cap Growth – Class 1 | Capital growth. | Neuberger Berman Management, LLC |
AST PIMCO Limited Maturity Bond – Class 1 | Maximize total return, consistent with preservation of capital and prudent investment management. | Pacific Investment Management Company LLC |
AST PIMCO Total Return Bond – Class 1 | Maximize total return, consistent with preservation of capital and prudent investment management. | Pacific Investment Management Company LLC |
AST Preservation Asset Allocation – Class 1 | The highest potential total return consistent with its specified level of risk tolerance. | Quantitative Management Associates, LLC |
AST Small-Cap Growth – Class 1 | Long-term capital growth. | Eagle Asset Management, Inc. & Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Trust |
AST Small-Cap Value – Class 1 | Long-term capital growth. | ClearBridge Investments, LLC, J.P. Morgan Investment Management, Inc. & Lee Munder Capital Group, LLC |
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Variable Investment Option | Investment Objective Summary | Subadviser |
AST T. Rowe Price Large-Cap Growth – Class 1 | Long-term growth of capital. | T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. |
AST T. Rowe Price Natural Resources – Class 1 | Long-term capital growth. | T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. |
AST Templeton Global Bond – Class 1 | Current income with capital appreciation and growth of income. | Franklin Advisers, Inc. |
AST Wellington Management Hedged Equity – Class 1 | Outperform a mix of 50% Russell 3000 Index, 20% MSCI EAFE Index, and 30% Treasury Bill Index over a full market cycle by preserving capital in adverse markets. | Wellington Management Company, LLP |
THE PRUDENTIAL SERIES FUND | ||
PSF Diversified Bond – Class 1 | High level of income over a longer term while providing reasonable safety of capital. | Prudential Investment Management, Inc. |
PSF Equity – Class 1 | Long-term growth of capital. | Jennison Associates LLC |
PSF Global – Class 1 | Long-term growth of capital. | Brown Advisory, LLC, LSV Asset Management, Quantitative Management Associates, LLC, T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. & William Blair & Company LLC |
PSF High Yield Bond – Class 1 | High total return. | Prudential Investment Management, Inc. |
PSF Jennison – Class 1 | Long-term growth of capital. | Jennison Associates LLC |
PSF Jennison 20/20 Focus – Class 1 | Long-term growth of capital. | Jennison Associates LLC |
PSF Money Market – Class 1 | Maximum current income that is consistent with the stability of capital and the maintenance of liquidity. | Prudential Investment Management, Inc. |
PSF Natural Resources – Class 1 | Long-term growth of capital. | Jennison Associates LLC |
PSF Small Capitalization Stock – Class 1 | Long-term growth of capital. | Quantitative Management Associates, LLC |
PSF SP International Growth – Class 1 | Long-term growth of capital. | Jennison Associates LLC, Neuberger Berman Management, LLC, & William Blair & Company LLC |
PSF SP International Value – Class 1 | Long-term capital appreciation. | LSV Asset Management & Thornburg Investment Management, Inc. |
PSF SP Prudential U.S. Emerging Growth – Class 1 | Long-term capital appreciation. | Jennison Associates LLC |
PSF SP Small Cap Value – Class 1 | Long-term growth of capital. | ClearBridge Investments, LLC & Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. |
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Variable Investment Option | Investment Objective Summary | Subadviser |
PSF Stock Index – Class 1 | Investment results that generally correspond to the performance of publicly-traded common stocks. | Quantitative Management Associates, LLC |
PSF Value – Class 1 | Capital appreciation. | Jennison Associates LLC |
Unaffiliated Funds | ||
AMERICAN CENTURY VARIABLE PORTFOLIO, INC. | ||
American Century VP Mid Cap Value Fund - Class 1 | Long-term capital growth with income as a secondary objective. | American Century Investment Management, Inc. |
AMERICAN FUNDS INSURANCE SERIES | ||
American Funds Growth Fund - Class 2 | Seeks to provide growth of capital. | Capital Research and Management Company |
American Funds Growth-Income Fund - Class 2 | Seeks to provide growth of capital and income. | Capital Research and Management Company |
American Funds International Fund - Class 2 | Seeks long-term growth of capital. | Capital Research and Management Company |
DREYFUS INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS | ||
Dreyfus MidCap Stock Portfolio - Service Shares | Investment results that are greater than the total return performance of publicly traded common stocks of medium-size domestic companies in the aggregate, as represented by the Standard & Poor's MidCap 400® Index. | The Dreyfus Corporation |
Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund, Inc. - Service Shares | Capital growth, with current income as a secondary goal. | The Dreyfus Corporation |
FIDELITY VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS FUNDS | ||
Fidelity® VIP Contrafund® Portfolio - Service Class 2 | Seeks long-term capital appreciation. | Fidelity Management & Research Company/FMR Co., and other Fidelity affiliates |
Fidelity® VIP Mid Cap Portfolio - Service Class 2 | Seeks long-term growth of capital. | Fidelity Management & Research Company/FMR Co., and other Fidelity affiliates |
FRANKLIN TEMPLETON VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS TRUST | ||
Franklin Income Securities Fund - Class 2 | Seeks to maximize income while maintaining prospects for capital appreciation. | Franklin Advisers, Inc./Templeton Investment Counsel, LLC |
Mutual Shares Securities Fund - Class 2 | Seeks capital appreciation, with income as a secondary goal. | Franklin Mutual Advisers, LLC |
Variable Investment Option | Investment Objective Summary | Investment Adviser/Subadviser |
Templeton Growth Securities Fund - Class 2 | Seeks long-term capital growth. | Templeton Global Advisors Limited |
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Variable Investment Option | Investment Objective Summary | Subadviser |
HARTFORD HLS SERIES FUND II, INC. | ||
Hartford Growth Opportunities HLS Fund - Class IB | Seeks capital appreciation. | Hartford Funds Management Company, LLC/Wellington Management Company, LLP |
HARTFORD SERIES FUND, INC. | ||
Hartford Capital Appreciation HLS Fund - Class IB | Seeks growth of capital. | Hartford Funds Management Company, LLC/Wellington Management Company, LLP |
Hartford Disciplined Equity HLS Fund - Class IB | Seeks growth of capital. | Hartford Funds Management Company, LLC/Wellington Management Company, LLP |
Hartford Dividend and Growth HLS Fund - Class IB | Seeks a high level of current income consistent with growth of capital. | Hartford Funds Management Company, LLC/Wellington Management Company, LLP |
JANUS ASPEN SERIES | ||
Janus Aspen Overseas Portfolio - Service Shares | Long-term growth of capital. | Janus Capital Management LLC |
J.P. MORGAN INSURANCE TRUST | ||
JPMorgan Insurance Trust Intrepid Mid Cap Portfolio - Class 1 | Long-term capital growth by investing primarily in equity securities of companies with intermediate capitalizations. | J.P. Morgan Investment Management, Inc. |
MFS® VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST | ||
MFS® Research Bond Series - Initial Class | Seeks total return with an emphasis on current income, but also considering capital appreciation. | Massachusetts Financial Services Company |
MFS® Utilities Series - Initial Class | Total return. | Massachusetts Financial Services Company |
MFS® Value Series - Initial Class | Seeks capital appreciation. | Massachusetts Financial Services Company |
NEUBERGER BERMAN ADVISERS MANAGEMENT TRUST | ||
Neuberger Berman AMT Socially Responsive Portfolio - Class S | Long-term growth of capital by investing primarily in securities of companies that meet the Fund’s financial criteria and social policy. | Neuberger Berman Management, LLC/Neuberger Berman LLC |
TOPS - THE OPTIMIZED PORTFOLIO SYSTEM | ||
TOPSTM Aggressive Growth ETF Portfolio - Class 2 | Seeks capital appreciation. | ValMark Advisers, Inc. |
TOPSTM Balanced ETF Portfolio - Class 2 | Seeks income and capital appreciation. | ValMark Advisers, Inc. |
TOPSTM Capital Preservation ETF Portfolio - Class 2 | Seeks to preserve capital and provide moderate income and moderate capital appreciation. | ValMark Advisers, Inc. |
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Variable Investment Option | Investment Objective Summary | Subadviser |
TOPSTM Growth ETF Portfolio - Class 2 | Seeks capital appreciation. | ValMark Advisers, Inc. |
TOPSTM Managed Risk Balanced ETF Portfolio - Class 2 | Seeks to provide income and capital appreciation with less volatility than the fixed income and equity markets as a whole. | ValMark Advisers, Inc./Milliman Inc.. |
TOPSTM Managed Risk Growth ETF Portfolio - Class 2 | Seeks capital appreciation with less volatility than the equity markets as a whole. | ValMark Advisers, Inc./Milliman Inc.. |
TOPSTM Managed Risk Moderate Growth ETF Portfolio - Class 2 | Seeks capital appreciation with less volatility than the equity markets as a whole. | ValMark Advisers, Inc./Milliman Inc. |
TOPSTM Moderate Growth ETF Portfolio - Class 2 | Seeks capital appreciation. | ValMark Advisers, Inc. |
The investment managers and the investment subadvisers for the Funds charge a daily investment management fee as compensation for their services. These fees are more fully described in the prospectus for each Fund.
More detailed information is available in the attached Fund prospectuses.
The AST Balanced Asset Allocation Portfolio and the AST Preservation Asset Allocation Portfolio each invests primarily in shares of other underlying Fund Portfolios, which are managed by the subadvisers of those Portfolios.
In the future, it may become disadvantageous for Separate Accounts of variable life insurance and variable annuity contracts to invest in the same underlying Funds. Neither the companies that invest in the Funds nor the Funds currently foresee any such disadvantage. The Board of Directors for each Fund intends to monitor events in order to identify any material conflict between variable life insurance and variable annuity Contract Owners and to determine what action, if any, should be taken. Material conflicts could result from such things as:
(1) | changes in state insurance law; |
(2) | changes in federal income tax law; |
(3) | changes in the investment management of any Variable Investment Option; or |
(4) | differences between voting instructions given by variable life insurance and variable annuity Contract Owners. |
A Fund or Portfolio may have a similar name, investment objective, or investment policy resembling those of a mutual fund managed by the same investment adviser or subadviser that is sold directly to the public. Despite such similarities, there can be no assurance that the investment performance of any such Fund or Portfolio will resemble that of the publicly available mutual fund.
Service Fees Payable to Pruco Life
We have entered into agreements with the principal underwriter, transfer agent, investment adviser, distributor and/or other related entities of the underlying Funds. Under the terms of these agreements, We provide administrative and support services to the Funds, for which it receives an annual fee from the investment adviser, distributor and/or Fund based on the average assets allocated to the Fund. These agreements, including the fees paid and services provided, can vary for each Fund.
We and/or our affiliates may receive substantial and varying administrative service payments and Rule 12b-1 fees from certain underlying Funds or related parties. These types of payments and fees are sometimes referred to as “revenue sharing” payments. Rule 12b-1 fees and administrative service payments partially compensate for distribution, marketing, and/or servicing functions and for providing administrative services with respect to Contract Owners invested indirectly in the Funds, which include duties such as recordkeeping, shareholder services, and the mailing of periodic reports. We receive administrative services fees with respect to both affiliated underlying Funds and unaffiliated underlying Funds. The administrative services fees we receive from affiliates originate from the assets of the affiliated Fund itself and/or the assets of the Fund’s investment adviser. In either case, the existence of administrative services fees may tend to increase the overall cost of investing in the Fund. The existence of a 12b-1 fee will always increase the overall cost of investing in those Funds. In addition, because these fees are paid to us, allocations you make to these affiliated underlying Funds may benefit us financially if these fees exceed the costs of the administrative support services.
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The 12b-1 fees and administrative services fees that we receive may vary among the different Funds that are part of our investment platform. Thus, the fees we collect may be greater or smaller, based on the Funds that you select. In addition, we may consider these payments and fees, among a number of factors, when deciding to add or keep a Fund on the “menu” of Funds that we offer through the product.
As of May 1, 2013, the administrative service fees we receive range from 0.00% to 0.40% of the average assets allocated to the Fund. The service fees received from each of PSF and AST are 0.05% and 0.40%, respectively. Some Funds pay a 12b-1 fee instead of, or in addition to, the administrative services fees. The 12b-1 fee we receive will range from 0.10% to 0.25% of the average assets allocated to the Funds indicated below.
The following Funds currently pay a 12b-1 fee of 0.10%:
Affiliated Funds - Portfolio: | |
AST BlackRock Global Strategies | AST MFS Growth |
AST Cohen & Steers Realty | AST Neuberger Berman Mid-Cap Growth |
AST Federated Aggressive Growth | AST PIMCO Limited Maturity Bond |
AST Goldman Sachs Mid-Cap Growth | AST PIMCO Total Return Bond |
AST Herndon Large-Cap Value | AST Small-Cap Growth |
AST J.P. Morgan International Equity | AST Small-Cap Value |
AST J.P. Morgan Strategic Opportunities | AST T. Rowe Price Large-Cap Growth |
AST Large-Cap Value | AST T. Rowe Price Natural Resources |
AST Loomis Sayles Large-Cap Growth | AST Templeton Global Bond |
AST MFS Global Equity | AST Wellington Management Hedged Equity |
The following Funds currently pay a 12b-1 fee of 0.25%:
Unaffiliated Funds - Portfolio: | |
American Funds Growth Fund | Hartford Disciplined Equity HLS Fund |
American Funds Growth-Income Fund | Hartford Dividend and Growth HLS Fund |
American Funds International Fund | Janus Aspen Series Overseas Portfolio - Service Shares |
Dreyfus MidCap Stock | Neuberger Berman AMT Socially Responsive |
Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth | TOPSTM Aggressive Growth ETF Portfolio |
Fidelity VIP Contrafund Portfolio | TOPSTM Balanced ETF Portfolio |
Fidelity VIP Mid Cap Portfolio | TOPSTM Capital Preservation ETF Portfolio |
Franklin Income Securities Fund | TOPSTM Growth ETF Portfolio |
Mutual Shares Securities Fund | TOPSTM Managed Risk Balanced ETF Portfolio |
Templeton Growth Securities Fund | TOPSTM Managed Risk Growth ETF Portfolio |
Hartford Growth Opportunities HLS Fund | TOPSTM Managed Risk Moderate Growth ETF Portfolio |
Hartford Capital Appreciation HLS Fund | TOPSTM Moderate Growth ETF Portfolio |
In addition to the payments that we receive from underlying Funds and/or their affiliates, those same Funds and/or their affiliates may make payments to us and/or other insurers within the Prudential Financial group related to the offering of investment options within variable annuities or life insurance offered by different Prudential business units.
Voting Rights
We are the legal owner of the shares of the Funds associated with the Variable Investment Options. However, we vote the shares according to voting instructions we receive from Contract Owners. We will mail you a proxy, which is a form you need to complete and return to us, to tell us how you wish us to vote. When we receive those instructions, we will vote all of the shares we own on your behalf in accordance with those instructions. We vote shares for which we do not receive instructions, and any other shares that we own in our own right, in the same proportion as the shares for which instructions are received. We may change the way your voting instructions are calculated if it is required by federal or state regulation. We may also elect to vote shares that we own in our own right if the applicable federal securities laws or regulations, or their current interpretation, change so as to permit us to do so.
We may, if required by state insurance regulations, disregard voting instructions if they would require shares to be voted so as to cause a change in the sub-classification or investment objectives of one or more of the available Variable Investment Options or to approve or disapprove an investment advisory contract for the Fund. In addition, we may disregard voting instructions that would require changes in the investment policy or investment adviser of one or more of the Funds associated with the available Variable Investment Options, provided that we reasonably disapprove such changes in accordance with applicable federal or state regulations. If we disregard Contract Owner voting instructions, we will advise Contract Owners of our action and the reasons for such action in the next available annual or semi-annual report.
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Substitution of Variable Investment Options
We may substitute one or more of the available Variable Investment Options. We may also cease to allow investments in any existing Variable Investment Option. We will not do this without any necessary Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any necessary state insurance department approvals. You will be given specific notice in advance of any substitution we intend to make.
The Fixed Rate Option
You may choose to invest, initially or by transfer, all or part of your Contract Fund to the Fixed Rate Option. This amount becomes part of our general account. The general account consists of all assets owned by us other than those in the Account and in other Separate Accounts that have been or may be established by us. Subject to applicable law, we have sole discretion over the investment of the general account assets, and Contract Owners do not share in the investment experience of those assets. Instead, we guarantee that the part of the Contract Fund allocated to the Fixed Rate Option will accrue interest daily at an effective annual rate that we declare periodically, but not less than a minimum effective annual rate. The minimum effective annual rate is 1%. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms. The fulfillment of our guarantee under this benefit is dependent on our claims paying ability. We are not obligated to credit interest at a rate higher than an effective annual rate of 1%, although we may do so.
Transfers out of the Fixed Rate Option are subject to strict limits. See Transfers/Restrictions on Transfers. The payment of any Cash Surrender Value attributable to the Fixed Rate Option may be delayed up to six months. See When Proceeds Are Paid.
If you exercise the Overloan Protection Rider, any remaining unloaned Contract Fund value will be transferred to the Fixed Rate Option, and transfers out of the Fixed Rate Option and into the Variable Investment Options will no longer be permitted. See Loans.
Because of exemptive and exclusionary provisions, interests in the Fixed Rate Option under the Contract have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and the general account has not been registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Accordingly, interests in the Fixed Rate Option are not subject to the provisions of these Acts, and we have been advised that the staff of the SEC has not reviewed the disclosure in this prospectus relating to the Fixed Rate Option. Any inaccurate or misleading disclosure regarding the Fixed Rate Option is subject to certain generally applicable provisions of federal securities laws.
CHARGES AND EXPENSES
This section provides a more detailed description of each charge that is described briefly in the SUMMARY OF CHARGES AND EXPENSES beginning on page 1 of this prospectus. There are charges and other expenses associated with the Contract that reduce the return on your investment. These charges and expenses are described below.
The total amount invested in the Contract Fund, at any time, consists of the sum of the amount credited to the Variable Investment Options, the amount allocated to the Fixed Rate Option, plus any interest credited on amounts allocated to the Fixed Rate Option, and the principal amount of any Contract loan plus the amount of interest credited to the Contract upon that loan. See Loans. Most charges, although not all, are made by reducing the Contract Fund.
In several instances we use the terms "maximum charge" and "current charge." The "maximum charge", in each instance, is the highest charge that we may make under the Contract. The "current charge", in each instance, is the amount that we now charge, which may be lower than maximum charges. If circumstances change, we reserve the right to increase each current charge, up to the maximum charge, without giving any advance notice.
Current charges deducted from premium payments and the Contract Fund may change from time to time, subject to maximum charges. In deciding whether to change any of these current charges, we will periodically consider factors such as mortality, persistency, expenses, taxes and interest and/or investment experience to see if a change in our assumptions is needed. Premium based administrative charges will be set at one rate for all Contracts like this one. Changes in other charges will be by class. We will not recoup prior losses or distribute prior gains by means of these changes.
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The charges under the Contract are designed to cover, in the aggregate, our direct and indirect costs of selling, administering and providing benefits under the Contract. They are also designed, in the aggregate, to compensate us for the risks of loss we assume pursuant to the Contract. If, as we expect, the charges that we collect from the Contract exceed our total costs in connection with the Contract, we will earn a profit. Otherwise, we will incur a loss. The rates of certain of our charges have been set with reference to estimates of the amount of specific types of expenses or risks that we will incur. In most cases, this prospectus identifies such expenses or risks in the name of the charge; however, the fact that any charge bears the name of, or is designed primarily to defray a particular expense or risk does not mean that the amount we collect from that charge will never be more than the amount of such expense or risk. Nor does it mean that we may not also be compensated for such expense or risk out of any other charges we are permitted to deduct by the terms of the Contract. We may reduce stated fees under particular contracts as to which, due to economies of scale and other factors, our administrative costs are reduced.
We may charge up to 6% of premiums received in all Contract Years. This charge, often called a “sales load”, is deducted to compensate us for the costs of selling the Contracts, including commissions, advertising and the printing and distribution of prospectuses and sales literature. Currently, we charge less than 6% and we only deduct the charge for premiums received in the first 10 years of each Coverage Segment. This charge is made up of two rates. We apply one percentage on the amount of premium received up to the Sales Load Target Premium and a second percentage on the excess of premium received over the Sales Load Target Premium. The chart below describes the sales load as a percentage of premiums received (Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms.):
Years 1-2 | Years 3-4 | Years 5-6 | Years 7-8 | Years 9-10 | |
Up to Sales Load Target Premium | 4% | 3.5% | 2.25% | 1.75% | 1.25% |
In Excess of Sales Load Target Premium | 4% | 3.5% | 2.25% | 1.75% | 1.25% |
The Sales Load Target Premium may vary from the No-Lapse Guarantee Premium, depending on the issue age and rating class of the insured, any extra risk charges, or additional riders. See PREMIUMS.
Attempting to structure the timing and amount of premium payments to reduce the potential sales load may increase the risk that your Contract will lapse without value. Delaying the payment of premium amounts to later years will adversely affect the No-Lapse Guarantee if the accumulated premium payments do not reach the No-Lapse Guarantee Values shown on your Contract Data pages. See No-Lapse Guarantee. In addition, there are circumstances where payment of premiums that are too large may cause the Contract to be characterized as a Modified Endowment Contract, which could be significantly disadvantageous. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits.
Premium Based Administrative Charge
We may charge up to 7.5% of premiums received for a premium based administrative charge, which includes any federal, state or local income, premium, excise, business tax or any other type of charge (or component thereof) measured by or based upon the amount of premium we receive.
This charge is made up of two parts, which currently equal a total of 3.25%, of the premiums received. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms.
The first part is a charge for state and local premium taxes. The current amount for this first part is 2.5% of the premium and is our estimate of the average burden of state taxes generally. Tax rates vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and generally range from 0% to 5% (but may exceed 5% in some instances). The rate applies uniformly to all Contract Owners without regard to location of residence. We may collect more for this charge than we actually pay for state and local premium taxes.
The second part is a charge for federal income taxes measured by premiums. The current amount for this second part is 0.75% of the premium. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms. We believe that this charge is a reasonable estimate of an increase in our federal income taxes resulting from a change in the Internal Revenue Code. It is intended to recover this increased tax.
Under current law, we may incur state and local taxes (in addition to premium taxes) in several states. Currently, these taxes are not significant and they are not charged against the Account. If there is a material change in the applicable state or local tax laws, we may impose a corresponding charge against the Account.
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Cost of Insurance
We deduct a monthly cost of insurance ("COI") charge. The charge is determined by multiplying the amount by which the Contract’s Death Benefit exceeds the Contract Fund ("net amount at risk") by a monthly COI rate. The purpose of this charge is to provide insurance coverage. When an insured dies, the amount payable to the beneficiary (assuming there is no Contract Debt) is larger than the Contract Fund - significantly larger if the insured dies in the early years of a Contract. The COI charges collected from all Contract Owners enables us to pay this larger Death Benefit. The maximum COI charge is determined by multiplying the amount by which the Contract’s Death Benefit exceeds the Contract Fund ("net amount at risk") under a Contract by maximum COI rates. The COI charge is generally deducted proportionately (or as you directed, see Allocated Charges) from the dollar amounts held in each of the chosen investment options.
The net amount at risk is based on your Death Benefit, and your Contract Fund, therefore it is impacted by such factors as investment performance, premium payments and charges and fees. The current COI rates vary by issue age, sex, underwriting class, contract form, and Coverage Segment amount. The rates generally increase over time but are never more than the maximum charges listed in the Contract data pages of your Contract. The maximum COI rates are based upon the 2001 Commissioner's Standard Ordinary ("CSO") Mortality Tables. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms.
Our current COI charges range from $0.01 to $83.34 per $1,000 of net amount at risk. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms. For information regarding COI charges where there are two or more Coverage Segments in effect, see Increases in Basic Insurance Amount.
In addition to the COIs, we generally deduct the following monthly charges proportionately from the dollar amount held in each of the chosen investment option[s] or you may select up to two Variable Investment Options from which we deduct your Contract's monthly charges. See Allocated Charges.
(a) | We deduct an administrative charge for the Basic Insurance Amount. This charge is made up of two parts and is intended to compensate us for things like processing claims, keeping records, and communicating with Contract Owners. |
(1) | Currently, the first part of the charge is a flat monthly fee of $30 per month in the first year and $9 per month thereafter for all Contract Forms. |
(2) | The second part of the fee is currently an amount per $1,000 of the Basic Insurance Amount for the first six Contract Years and zero thereafter. The fee varies by issue age, sex, and smoker/non-smoker status. Generally, the per $1,000 rate is higher for older issue ages and for higher risk classifications. The amount of the maximum charge that applies to your particular Contract is shown on the Contract Data pages under the heading “Adjustments to the Contract Fund.” |
The following tables provide sample per $1,000 rates (please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms.):
Administrative Charge: Per $1,000 rates
Issue Age | Male Nonsmoker | Male Smoker | Female Nonsmoker | Female Smoker |
35 | $0.12 | $0.17 | $0.10 | $0.13 |
45 | $0.20 | $0.22 | $0.16 | $0.19 |
55 | $0.32 | $0.39 | $0.24 | $0.29 |
65 | $0.59 | $0.73 | $0.47 | $0.53 |
(b) | Similarly, we charge a monthly administrative charge for each Coverage Segment representing an increase in Basic Insurance Amount. This charge is also made up of two parts. Currently, the first part of the charge is a flat monthly fee of $12 per segment representing an increase in Basic Insurance Amount for the first two years of the Coverage Segment and zero thereafter. The second part of the fee is based on the Coverage Segment insurance amount. The sample per $1,000 charges are the same as those shown in (a) above. The amount per $1,000 of increase in Basic Insurance Amount varies by the effective date of the increase. |
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In either of the instances described above, the highest charge per thousand is $1.09 and applies to male, smokers age 85. The lowest charge per thousand is $0.07 and applies to ages under 8. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms.
You may add one or more riders to the Contract. Some riders are charged for separately. If you add such a rider to the basic Contract, additional charges will be deducted. See Charges for Optional Rider Coverage.
If an insured is in a substandard risk classification (for example, a person with a health condition), additional charges may be deducted.
The earnings of the Account are taxed as part of our operations. Currently, no charge is being made to the Account for our federal income taxes, other than the 0.75% charge for federal income taxes measured by premiums. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms. See Premium Based Administrative Charge. We periodically review the question of a charge to the Account for our federal income taxes. We may charge such a fee in the future for any federal income taxes that would be attributable to the Contracts.
Daily Deduction from the Variable Investment Options
Each day we deduct a charge from the assets of the Variable Investment Options in an amount equivalent to an effective annual rate of up to 0.45%. Currently, we charge 0.10%. This charge is intended to compensate us for assuming mortality and expense risks under the Contract. The mortality risk we assume is that insureds may live for shorter periods of time than we estimated when mortality charges were determined. The expense risk we assume is that expenses incurred in issuing and administering the Contract will be greater than we estimated in fixing our administrative charges. This charge is not assessed against amounts allocated to the Fixed Rate Option.
Surrender Charges
We assess a surrender charge if, during the first 10 Contract Years (or during the first 10 years of a Coverage Segment representing an increase in Basic Insurance Amount), the Contract lapses, is surrendered, or the Basic Insurance Amount is decreased (including as a result of a withdrawal or a Death Benefit type change). These surrender charges compensate us for costs associated with the Contracts, such as: processing applications, conducting examinations, determining insurability and the insured’s rating class, and establishing records. The surrender charge is a percentage of the first year’s Sales Load Target Premium, less premiums for riders, and is determined at the time the Contract is issued. A separate surrender charge is based on the first year’s Sales Load Target Premium for each new Coverage Segment and is determined at the time each new Coverage Segment is issued. The percentage and duration of a surrender charge vary by issue age. The surrender charge is reduced to zero by the end of the 10th Contract Year. While the amount of the surrender charge decreases over time, it may be a substantial portion of, or even equal to, your Contract Fund.
The chart below shows maximum percentages for all ages at the beginning of the first Contract Year and the end of the last Contract Year that a surrender charge may be payable. We do not deduct a surrender charge from the Death Benefit if the insured dies during this period. A schedule showing maximum surrender charges for a full surrender occurring each year that a surrender charge may be payable is found in the Contract Data pages of your Contract. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms.
Percentages for Determining Surrender Charges | ||
Issue Age | Percentage of Sales Load Target Premium, less premiums for riders, at start of year 1 | Reduces to zero at the end of year |
0-49 | 100% | 10 |
50-60 | 90% | 10 |
61-65 | 65% | 10 |
66 and above | 55% | 10 |
We will show a surrender charge threshold for each Coverage Segment in the Contract Data pages. This threshold amount is the segment’s lowest coverage amount since its effective date. If during the first 10 Contract Years (or during the first 10 years of a Coverage Segment representing an increase in Basic Insurance Amount), the Basic Insurance Amount is decreased (including as a result of a withdrawal or a change in type of Death Benefit), and the new Basic Insurance Amount for any Coverage Segment is below the threshold for that segment, we will deduct a percentage of the surrender charge for that segment. The percentage will be the amount by which the new Coverage Segment is less than the threshold, divided by the Basic Insurance Amount at issue. After this transaction, the threshold will be updated and a corresponding new surrender charge schedule will also be determined to reflect that portion of surrender charges deducted in the past.
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Transaction Charges
(a) | We may charge a transaction fee of up to $25 for each transfer exceeding 12 in any Contract Year. |
(b) | We charge a transaction fee equal to the lesser of $25 and 2% of the withdrawal amount in connection with each withdrawal. |
(c) | We may charge a transaction fee of up to $25 for any change in Basic Insurance Amount. Currently, we do not charge for a change in the Basic Insurance Amount. |
(d) | We charge a transaction fee of 3.5% of your Contract Fund amount for exercising the Overloan Protection Rider. |
(e) | We charge a transaction fee of up to $150 for Living Needs Benefit payments. |
Allocated Charges
You may select up to two Variable Investment Options from which we deduct your Contract's monthly charges. Monthly charges include: (1) monthly administrative charges, (2) COI charges, (3) any rider charges, and (4) any charge for substandard risk classification. Allocations must be designated in whole percentages and total 100%. For example, 33% can be selected but 331/3% cannot. The Fixed Rate Option is not available as one of your allocation options. See Monthly Deductions from the Contract Fund.
If there are insufficient funds in one or both of your selected Variable Investment Options to cover the monthly charges, the selected Variable Investment Option(s) will be reduced to zero. Any remaining charge will generally be deducted from your other Variable Investment Options and the Fixed Rate Option in proportion to the dollar amount in each. Furthermore, if you do not specify an allocation of monthly charges, we will generally deduct monthly charges proportionately from all your Variable Investment Options and the Fixed Rate Option.
Charges After Age 121
Beginning on the first Contract Anniversary on or after the insured’s 121st birthday, we will no longer accept premiums or deduct monthly charges from the Contract Fund. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms. You may continue the Contract until the insured's death, or until you surrender the Contract for its Cash Surrender Value. You may continue to make transfers, loans and withdrawals, subject to the limitations on these transactions described elsewhere in this prospectus. We will continue to make daily deductions for mortality and expense risk charges, and investment advisory fees if you have amounts in the Variable Investment Options. Any Contract loan will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest until it is repaid.
Portfolio Charges
We deduct charges from and pay expenses out of the Variable Investment Options as described in the Fund prospectuses.
Charges for Optional Rider Coverage
· | Accidental Death Benefit Rider - We deduct a monthly charge for this rider, which provides an additional Death Benefit if the insured’s death is accidental. The current charge ranges from $0.05 to $0.28 per $1,000 of coverage based on issue age and sex of the insured, and is charged until the first Contract Anniversary on or after the insured’s 100th birthday. |
· | Children Level Term Rider - We deduct a monthly charge for this rider, which provides term life insurance on all dependent children that are covered under this rider. The current charge is $0.42 per $1,000 of coverage and is charged until the earliest of: the primary insured’s death, and the first Contract Anniversary on or after the primary insured’s 75th birthday, or you notify us to discontinue the rider coverage. |
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· | Enhanced Disability Benefit Rider - We deduct a monthly charge for this rider, which provides invested premium amounts while the insured is totally disabled. The current charge is based on issue age, issue date, sex, and underwriting class of the insured. It ranges from 7.08% to 12.17% of the greater of: 9% of the Contract's Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premium and the total of all monthly deductions, and is charged until the first Contract Anniversary on or after the insured’s 60th birthday. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms. |
· | Living Needs Benefit Rider - We deduct a transaction fee of up to $150 for this rider if benefits are paid. |
· | Overloan Protection Rider - We deduct a transaction fee of 3.5% of your Contract Fund amount if you exercise this rider. |
PERSONS HAVING RIGHTS UNDER THE CONTRACT
Contract Owner
There are circumstances when the Contract Owner is not the insured. There may also be more than one Contract Owner. If the Contract Owner is not the insured or there is more than one Contract Owner, they will be named in an endorsement to the Contract. This ownership arrangement will remain in effect unless you ask us to change it.
You may change the ownership of the Contract by sending us a request in a form that meets our needs. We may ask you to send us the Contract to be endorsed. If we receive your request in a form that meets our needs, and the Contract if we ask for it, we will file and record the change, and it will take effect as of the date the request is received in our Service Office.
While the insured is living, the Contract Owner is entitled to any Contract benefit and value. Only the Contract Owner is entitled to exercise any right and privilege granted by the Contract or granted by us. For example, the Contract Owner is entitled to surrender the Contract, access Contract values through loans or withdrawals, assign the Contract, and to name or change the beneficiary.
Beneficiary
The beneficiary is entitled to receive any benefit payable on the death of the insured. You may designate or change a beneficiary by sending us a request in a form that meets our needs. We may ask you to send us the Contract to be endorsed. If we receive your request in a form that meets our needs, and the Contract if we ask for it, we will file and record the change and it will take effect as of the date you sign the request. However, if we make any payment(s) before we receive the request, we will not have to make the payment(s) again. When we are made aware of an assignment, we will recognize the assignee’s rights before any claim payments are made to the beneficiary. When a beneficiary is designated, any relationship shown is to the insured, unless otherwise stated.
OTHER GENERAL CONTRACT PROVISIONS
This Contract may not be assigned if the assignment would violate any federal, state or local law or regulation prohibiting sex distinct rates for insurance. Generally, the Contract may not be assigned to an employee benefit plan or program without our consent. We assume no responsibility for the validity or sufficiency of any assignment. We will not be obligated to comply with any assignment unless we receive a copy at a Service Office.
Incontestability
We will not contest the Contract after it has been in-force during the insured’s lifetime for two years from the issue date, the reinstatement date, or the effective date of any change made to the Contract that requires our approval and would increase our liability.
Misstatement of Age or Sex
If the insured's stated age or sex or both are incorrect in the Contract, we will adjust the Death Benefit payable and any amount to be paid, as required by law, to reflect the correct age and sex. Any such benefit will be based on what the most recent deductions from the Contract Fund would have provided at the insured's correct age and sex.
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Settlement Options
The Contract grants to most Contract Owners, or to the beneficiary, a variety of optional ways of receiving Contract proceeds. Under the Contract, the Death Benefit may be paid in a single sum or under one of the optional modes of settlement. Any Pruco Life representative authorized to sell this Contract can explain these options upon request.
Suicide Exclusion
Generally, if the insured, whether sane or insane, dies by suicide within two years from the Contract Date, the Contract will end and we will return the premiums paid, less any Contract Debt, and less any withdrawals. Generally, if the insured, whether sane or insane, dies by suicide after two years from the issue date, but within two years of the effective date of an increase in the Basic Insurance Amount, we will pay, as to the increase in amount, no more than the sum of the premiums paid on and after the effective date of an increase.
RIDERS
Contract Owners may be able to obtain extra fixed benefits, which may require additional charges. These optional insurance benefits will be described in what is known as a "rider" to the Contract. Charges applicable to the riders will be deducted from the Contract Fund on each Monthly Date, with the exception of the Overloan Protection Rider, and the Living Needs Benefit Rider. The amounts of these benefits do not depend on the performance of the Account, although they will no longer be available if the Contract lapses, or you choose to keep the Contract in-force under the Overloan Protection Rider. Certain restrictions may apply and are clearly described in the applicable rider. A Pruco Life representative can explain all of these extra benefits further. We will provide samples of the provisions upon receiving a written request.
We will not pay a benefit on any Accidental Death Benefit type rider or make payments for any disability type rider if the death or injury is caused or contributed to by war or act of war, declared or undeclared, including resistance to armed aggression. This restriction includes service in the armed forces of any country at war.
Overloan Protection Rider - The Overloan Protection Rider guarantees protection against lapse due to loans, even if the Contract Debt exceeds the accumulated Cash Surrender Value of your Contract. Currently, the rider may be added only at the time your Contract is issued; however, this rider is not available on Contracts that have the Accidental Death Benefit Rider. There is no charge for adding the Overloan Protection Rider to your Contract, however, a one-time fee will apply when this rider is exercised.
The following eligibility requirements must be met to exercise the rider:
(1) | we must receive a written request in Good Order to exercise the rider benefits; |
(2) | Contract Debt must exceed the Basic Insurance Amount. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms; |
(3) | the Contract must be in-force for the later of 15 years and the Contract Anniversary after the insured’s 75th birthday; |
(4) | the Guideline Premium test must be used as the Contract’s definition of life insurance; |
(5) | Contract Debt must be a minimum of 95% of the cash value; |
(6) | the Cash Surrender Value must be sufficient to pay the cost of exercising the rider; and |
(7) | your Contract must not be classified as a Modified Endowment Contract and must not qualify as a Modified Endowment Contract as a result of exercising this rider. |
We will send you a notification upon your becoming eligible for this benefit.
We deduct a transaction fee of 3.5% of your Contract Fund amount if you exercise this rider.
When you exercise the rider, the effective date will be the next date that monthly charges are deducted following our receipt of your request in Good Order at a Service Office. The charges and benefits of other riders available under your Contract will be discontinued, except for the Living Needs Benefit Rider. Any benefits you may currently be receiving under the Enhanced Disability Benefit Rider will also be discontinued.
Any remaining unloaned Contract Fund value will be transferred to the Fixed Rate Option. Additionally, fund transfers into or out of any of the Variable Investment Options will no longer be permitted. Any Auto Rebalance, Dollar Cost Averaging, directed charges, or premium allocation instructions will be discontinued.
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Premium payments will no longer be accepted for the Contract. Instead, all payments received will be applied as loan or loan interest repayments. We will no longer send any regularly scheduled bills, and Electronic Fund Transfer of Premium Payments will be cancelled.
If you have a Type B Death Benefit, we will change it to a Type A Death Benefit. You will no longer be permitted to make Death Benefit changes as long as your Contract remains in-force under the Overloan Protection Rider. The Basic Insurance Amount will be changed to the greater of the Type A Death Benefit and the amount of the Contract Debt multiplied by the Attained Age factor that applies. The Attained Age factors are shown in your Contract.
Increases and decreases to your Basic Insurance Amount, rating reductions, and withdrawals, will no longer be permitted.
Please note that the Internal Revenue Service may take a position that the outstanding loan balance should be treated as a distribution when the Contract Owner elects the Overloan Protection benefit. Distributions are subject to income tax. Were the Internal Revenue Service to take this position, we would take reasonable steps to attempt to avoid this result, including modifying the Contract's loan provisions, but cannot guarantee that such efforts would be successful. You should consult a tax advisor as to the tax risks associated with exercising the Overloan Protection Rider.
Accidental Death Benefit Rider - The Accidental Death Benefit Rider provides an additional Death Benefit that is payable if the insured's death is accidental, as defined in the benefit provision. This benefit will end on the earliest of: the end of the day before the first Contract Anniversary on or after the insured’s 100th birthday and the first Monthly Date on or after the date a request to discontinue the Rider is received in Good Order at a Service Office. This rider is not available on Contracts that have the Overloan Protection Rider.
Children Level Term Rider - The Children Level Term Rider provides term life insurance coverage on the life of the insured's children. The rider coverage will end on the earliest of: (1) the primary insured’s death, (2) the first Contract Anniversary on or after the primary insured’s 75th birthday, (3) the first Monthly Date on or after the date a request to discontinue the Rider is received in Good Order at a Service Office, (4) the first Contract Anniversary on or after the child’s 25th birthday, and (5) the date a rider is converted to a new Contract.
Enhanced Disability Benefit Rider - The Enhanced Disability Benefit Rider pays certain amounts into the Contract if the insured is totally disabled, as defined in the benefit provision. This rider is not available on Contracts with a Type C Death Benefit. The rider coverage will end as of the first Contract Anniversary on or after the insured’s 60th birthday. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms.
Living Needs Benefit Rider - The Living Needs BenefitSM Rider may be available on your Contract. The benefit may vary by state. There is no charge for adding the benefit to a Contract. However, when a claim is paid under this rider, a reduction for early payment is applied and a processing fee of up to $150 per Contract will be deducted. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms.
Subject to state regulatory approval, the Living Needs Benefit allows you to elect to receive an accelerated payment of all or part of the Contract's Death Benefit, adjusted to reflect current value, at a time when certain special needs exist. The adjusted Death Benefit will always be less than the Death Benefit, but will not be less than the Contract’s Cash Surrender Value. One or both of the following options may be available. You should consult with a Pruco Life representative about whether additional options may be available.
The Terminal Illness Option is available on the Living Needs Benefit Rider when a licensed physician certifies the insured as terminally ill with a life expectancy of six months or less. When that evidence is provided and confirmed by us, we will provide an accelerated payment of the portion of the Death Benefit selected by the Contract Owner as a Living Needs Benefit. The Contract Owner may (1) elect to receive the benefit in a single sum or (2) receive equal monthly payments for six months. If the insured dies before all the payments have been made, the present value of the remaining payments will be paid to the beneficiary designated in the Living Needs Benefit claim form.
The Nursing Home Option is available on the Living Needs Benefit Rider after the insured has been confined to an eligible nursing home for six months or more. When a licensed physician certifies that the insured is expected to remain in an eligible nursing home until death, and that is confirmed by us, we will provide an accelerated payment of the portion of the Death Benefit selected by the Contract Owner as a Living Needs Benefit. The Contract Owner may (1) elect to receive the benefit in a single sum or (2) receive equal monthly payments for a specified number of years (not more than 10 nor less than two), depending upon the age of the insured. If the insured dies before all of the payments have been made, the present value of the remaining payments will be paid to the beneficiary designated in the Living Needs Benefit claim form in a single sum.
Subject to state approval, all or part of the Contract's Death Benefit may be accelerated under the Living Needs Benefit. If the benefit is only partially accelerated, a Death Benefit of at least $25,000 must remain under the Contract. The minimum amount that may be accelerated for a Living Needs Benefit claim is $50,000. However, we currently have an administrative practice to allow a reduced minimum of $25,000. We reserve the right to discontinue this administrative practice in a non-discriminatory manner.
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No benefit will be payable if you are required to elect it in order to meet the claims of creditors or to obtain a government benefit. We can furnish details about the amount of Living Needs Benefit that is available to an eligible Contract Owner, and the effect on the Contract if less than the entire Death Benefit is accelerated.
You should consider whether adding this settlement option is appropriate in your given situation. Adding the Living Needs Benefit to the Contract has no adverse consequences; however, electing to use it could. With the exception of certain business-related Contracts, the Living Needs Benefit is excluded from income if the insured is terminally ill or chronically ill as defined in any applicable tax law (although the exclusion in the latter case may be limited). You should consult a tax adviser before electing to receive this benefit. Receipt of a Living Needs Benefit payment may also affect your eligibility for certain government benefits or entitlements.
Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for riders available on other Contract Forms.
REQUIREMENTS FOR ISSUANCE OF A CONTRACT
Generally, the Contract may be issued on insureds through age 85 (please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms) for Contracts with Type A (fixed) and Type B (variable) Death Benefits, through age 70 for Contracts with Type C (return of premium) Death Benefit. Currently, the minimum Basic Insurance Amount is $75,000 ($50,000 for insureds below the issue age of 18, $100,000 for insureds issue ages 76-80, and $250,000 for insureds issue ages 81 and above). The minimum Basic Insurance Amount for Contracts issued with a Type C (return of premium) Death Benefit is $250,000. See Types of Death Benefit. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms.
We require evidence of insurability, which may include a medical examination, before issuing any Contract. Preferred Best nonsmokers are offered more favorable cost of insurance rates than smokers. We charge a higher cost of insurance rate and/or an extra amount if an additional mortality risk is involved. We will not allow a change to your Contract if it will cause the Death Benefit to exceed our retention limits or violate any other underwriting rule. These are the current underwriting requirements. We reserve the right to change them on a non-discriminatory basis.
PREMIUMS
Minimum Initial Premium
The Contract offers flexibility in paying premiums. ��The minimum initial premium is due on or before the Contract Date. It is the premium needed to start the Contract. The minimum initial premium is equal to 9% of the Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premium, including all extras, riders, and Enhanced Disability Benefit premium for Contracts with Type A (fixed) and Type B (variable) Death Benefits. The minimum initial premium is equal to 9% of the Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee Premium for Contracts with Type C (return of premium) Death Benefit. There is no insurance under the Contract unless the minimum initial premium is paid. Thereafter, you decide when to make premium payments and, subject to a $25 minimum, in what amounts. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms.
We may require an additional premium if adjustments to premium payments exceed the minimum initial premium or there are Contract Fund charges due on or before the payment date. We reserve the right to refuse to accept any payment that increases the Death Benefit by more than it increases the Contract Fund. Furthermore, there are circumstances under which the payment of premiums in amounts that are too large may cause the Contract to be characterized as a Modified Endowment Contract, which could be significantly disadvantageous. If you make a payment that would cause the Contract to be characterized as a Modified Endowment Contract, we will send you a letter to advise you of your options. Generally, you have 60 days from when we received your payment to remove the excess premiums and any accrued interest. If you choose not to remove the excess premium and accrued interest, your Contract will become permanently characterized as a Modified Endowment Contract. We will not accept a premium payment that exceeds the Guideline Premium limit if your Contract uses the Guideline Premium definition of life insurance. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits.
Generally, your initial net premium is applied to your Contract as of the Contract Date. If we do not receive your initial premium before the Contract Date, we apply the initial premium to your Contract as of the end of the Valuation Period in which it is received in Good Order at the Payment Office.
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Available Types of Premium
After the minimum initial premium is paid, no other specific premiums are required and you have a certain amount of flexibility with respect to the amount and timing for future premium payments. Several suggested patterns of premiums are described below. Contracts with no riders or extra risk charges will have level premiums for each premium type described below. Understanding them may help you understand how the Contract works.
· | Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums are premiums that, if paid as described in the No-Lapse Guarantee section, will keep the Contract in-force during the Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee period regardless of investment performance and assuming no loans or withdrawals. All Contracts offer a Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee period. If you choose to continue a No-Lapse Guarantee beyond this period, you will have to begin paying premiums higher than the Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee Premium. However, not all Contracts offer a guarantee beyond the Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee period. |
· | Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums are premiums that, if paid as described in the No-Lapse Guarantee section, will keep the Contract in-force during the Limited No-Lapse Guarantee period regardless of investment performance and assuming no loans or withdrawals. If you choose to continue the No-Lapse Guarantee beyond this period, you will have to begin paying premiums substantially higher than the Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premium. However, not all Contracts offer the No-Lapse Guarantee for this period or beyond. |
· | Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums are premiums that, if paid as described in the No-Lapse Guarantee section, will keep the Contract in-force during the lifetime of the insured, regardless of investment performance and assuming no loans or withdrawals (not applicable to all Contracts). However, not all Contracts offer the No-Lapse Guarantee for this period. |
The No-Lapse Guarantee periods are described under No-Lapse Guarantee on page 38. The length of the No-Lapse Guarantee depends on your Contract Form, the Contract’s Death Benefit type, and the definition of life insurance test selected at issue. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms. See No-Lapse Guarantee. When you purchase a Contract, your Pruco Life representative can tell you the Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee, Limited No-Lapse Guarantee, and Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee Premium amounts.
We can bill you for the amount you select annually, semi-annually, or quarterly. Because the Contract is a flexible premium Contract, there are no scheduled premium due dates. When you receive a premium notice, you are not required to pay this amount. The Contract will remain in-force if: (1) the Contract Fund, less any applicable surrender charges, is greater than zero and more than any Contract Debt or (2) you have paid sufficient premiums, as described in the No-Lapse Guarantee section, to meet the No-Lapse Guarantee conditions and Contract Debt is not equal to or greater than the Contract Fund, less any applicable surrender charges. You may also pay premiums automatically through pre-authorized monthly electronic fund transfers from a bank checking account. If you elect to use this feature, you choose the day of the month on which premiums will be paid and the premium amount. We will then draft the same amount from your account on the same date each month. When you apply for the Contract, you and your Pruco Life representative should discuss how frequently you would like to be billed (if at all) and for what amount.
Allocation of Premiums
On the later of the Contract Date and the end of the Valuation Period in which the initial premium is received, we deduct the charge for sales expenses and the premium based administrative charge from the initial premium. The remainder of the initial premium and any other net premium received in Good Order at the Payment Office during the 10 day period (or longer if required by state regulation) following your receipt of the Contract will be allocated to the Money Market investment option, then the first monthly deductions are made. After the tenth day (or longer if required by state regulation), these funds, adjusted for any investment results, will be transferred out of the Money Market investment option and allocated among the Variable Investment Options and/or the Fixed Rate Option according to your current premium allocation. Your Contract may include Funds that are not currently accepting additional investments. See the section titled The Pruco Life Variable Universal Account. The transfer from the Money Market investment option on the tenth day following receipt of the Contract will not be counted as one of your 12 free transfers per Contract Year or the 20 transfers per calendar year described under Transfers/Restrictions on Transfers. If the first premium is received before the Contract Date, there will be a period during which the Contract Owner's initial premium will not be invested.
The charge for sales expenses and the premium based administrative charge will also apply to all subsequent premium payments. The remainder of each subsequent premium payment will be invested as of the end of the Valuation Period in which it is received in Good Order at the Payment Office, in accordance with the allocation you previously designated. The “Valuation Period” means the period of time from one determination of the value of the amount invested in a Variable Investment Option to the next. Such determinations are made when the net asset values of the Variable Investment Options are calculated, which is as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). With respect to any initial premium payment received before the contract date and any premium payment that is not in Good Order, we may temporarily hold the premium in a suspense account and we may earn interest on such amount. You will not be credited interest during that period. The monies held in the suspense account may be subject to claims of our general creditors. The premium payment will not be reduced nor increased due to market fluctuations during that period.
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Provided the Contract is neither in default, nor in-force under the provisions of the Overloan Protection Rider, you may change the way in which subsequent premiums are allocated by giving written notice to a Service Office, by our website, provided you are enrolled to use Prudential Online® Account Access, or by telephoning a Service Office, provided you are enrolled to use the Telephone Transfer System. There is no charge for reallocating future premiums. All percentage allocations must be in whole numbers. For example, 33% can be selected but 33⅓% cannot. Of course, the total allocation to all selected investment options must equal 100%.
Transfers/Restrictions on Transfers
You may, up to 12 times each Contract Year, transfer amounts among the Variable Investment Options or to the Fixed Rate Option. Additional transfers may be made only with our consent. Currently, we will allow you to make additional transfers. For the first 20 transfers in a calendar year, you may transfer amounts by proper written notice to a Service Office, by our website, provided you are enrolled to use Prudential Online® Account Access, or by telephone, provided you are enrolled to use the Telephone Transfer System. You will automatically be enrolled to use the Telephone Transfer System unless the Contract is jointly owned or you elect not to have this privilege. Telephone transfers may not be available on Contracts that are assigned, depending on the terms of the assignment. See Assignment.
After you have submitted 20 transfers in a calendar year, we will accept subsequent transfer requests only if they are in a form that meets our needs, bear an original signature in ink, and are sent to us by U.S. regular mail. After you have submitted 20 transfers in a calendar year, a subsequent transfer request by telephone, fax or electronic means will be rejected, even in the event that it is inadvertently processed.
Multiple transfers that occur during the same day, but prior to the end of the Valuation Period for that day, will be counted as a single transfer.
There is no transaction charge for the first 12 transfers per Contract Year among investment options. We may charge up to $25 for each transfer made exceeding 12 in any Contract Year.
Currently, certain transfers effected systematically under a dollar cost averaging or an automatic rebalancing program do not count towards the limit of 12 transfers per Contract Year or the limit of 20 transfers per calendar year. In the future, we may count such transfers towards the limit.
Transfers out of the Money Market investment option will not be made until 10 days after you receive the Contract. Such transfers and any transfers due to any fund closures or mergers will not be considered towards the 12 transfers per Contract Year or the 20 transfers per calendar year.
Transfers among Variable Investment Options will take effect as of the end of the Valuation Period in which a transfer request is received in Good Order at a Service Office. The request may be in terms of dollars, such as a request to transfer $5,000 from one Variable Investment Option to another, or may be in terms of a percentage reallocation among Variable Investment Options. In the latter case, as with premium reallocations, the percentages must be in whole numbers.
We will use reasonable procedures, such as asking you to provide certain personal information provided on your application for insurance, to confirm that instructions given by telephone are genuine. We will not be held liable for following telephone instructions that we reasonably believe to be genuine. We cannot guarantee that you will be able to get through to complete a telephone transfer during peak periods such as periods of drastic economic or market change.
Your Contract may include Funds that are not currently accepting additional investments. See the section titled The Pruco Life Variable Universal Account.
Only one transfer from the Fixed Rate Option will be permitted during each Contract Year. The maximum amount per Contract you may transfer out of the Fixed Rate Option each year is the greater of: (a) 25% of the amount in the Fixed Rate Option; and (b) $2,000.
If you exercise the Overloan Protection Rider, we will then transfer any amounts you have in the Variable Investment Options to the Fixed Rate Option. The transfer is not counted as one of the 12 transfers we allow per Contract Year and there is no charge. Transfers out of the Fixed Rate Option and into the Variable Investment Options will not be permitted while your Contract is kept in-force under the Overloan Protection Rider.
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The Contract was not designed for professional market timing organizations, other organizations, or individuals using programmed, large, or frequent transfers. Large or frequent transfers among Variable Investment Options in response to short-term fluctuations in markets, sometimes called “market timing”, can make it very difficult for Fund advisers/sub-advisers to manage the Variable Investment Options. Large or frequent transfers may cause the Fund to hold more cash than otherwise necessary, disrupt management strategies, increase transaction costs, or affect performance to the disadvantage of other Contract Owners. If we (in our own discretion) believe that a pattern of transfers or a specific transfer request, or group of transfer requests, may have a detrimental effect on the performance of the Variable Investment Options, or we are informed by a Fund (e.g., by the Fund’s adviser/sub-advisers) that the purchase or redemption of shares in the Variable Investment Option must be restricted because the Fund believes the transfer activity to which such purchase or redemption relates would have a detrimental effect on the performance of the affected Variable Investment Option, we may modify your right to make transfers by restricting the number, timing, and amount of transfers. We reserve the right to prohibit transfer requests made by an individual acting under a power of attorney on behalf of more than one Contract Owner. We will immediately notify you at the time of a transfer request if we exercise this right.
Any restrictions on transfers will be applied in a uniform manner to all persons who own Contracts like this one, and will not be waived. However, due to the discretion involved in any decision to exercise our right to restrict transfers, it is possible that some Contract Owners may be able to effect transactions that could affect Fund performance to the disadvantage of other Contract Owners.
In addition, Contract Owners who own variable life insurance or variable annuity Contracts that do not impose the transfer restrictions described above, might make more numerous and frequent transfers than Contract Owners who are subject to such limitations. Contract Owners who are not subject to the same transfer restrictions may have the same underlying Variable Investment Options available to them, and unfavorable consequences associated with such frequent trading within the underlying Variable Investment Option (e.g., greater Portfolio turnover, higher transaction costs, or performance or tax issues) may affect all Contract Owners.
The Funds have adopted their own policies and procedures with respect to excessive trading of their respective shares, and we reserve the right to enforce these policies and procedures. The prospectuses for the Funds describe any such policies and procedures, which may be more or less restrictive than the policies and procedures we have adopted. Under SEC rules, we are required to: (1) enter into a written agreement with each Portfolio or its principal underwriter that obligates us to provide to the Fund promptly upon request certain information about the trading activity of individual Contract Owners, and (2) execute instructions from the Fund to restrict or prohibit further purchases or transfers by specific Contract Owners who violate the excessive trading policies established by the Fund. In addition, you should be aware that some Funds may receive “omnibus” purchase and redemption orders from other insurance companies or intermediaries such as retirement plans. The omnibus orders reflect the aggregation and netting of multiple orders from individual owners of variable insurance contracts and/or individual retirement plan participants. The omnibus nature of these orders may limit the Funds in their ability to apply their excessive trading policies and procedures. In addition, the other insurance companies and/or retirement plans may have different policies and procedures or may not have any such policies and procedures because of contractual limitations. For these reasons, we cannot guarantee that the Funds (and thus Contract Owners) will not be harmed by transfer activity relating to other insurance companies and/or retirement plans that may invest in the Funds.
The Funds may assess a short term trading fee in connection with a transfer out of any available Variable Investment Option if the transfer occurs within a certain number of days following the date of allocation to the Variable Investment Option. Each Fund determines the amount of the short term trading fee and when the fee is imposed. The fee is retained by or paid to the Fund and is not retained by us. The fee will be deducted from your Contract Value to the extent allowed by law. At present, no Fund has adopted a short-term trading fee.
Although our transfer restrictions are designed to prevent excessive transfers, they are not capable of preventing every potential occurrence of excessive transfer activity.
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Dollar Cost Averaging
As an administrative practice, we are currently offering a feature called Dollar Cost Averaging ("DCA"). Under this feature, either fixed dollar amounts or a percentage of the amount designated for use under the DCA option will be transferred periodically from the DCA Money Market investment option into other Variable Investment Options available under the Contract, excluding the Fixed Rate Option and any Funds that are not currently accepting additional investments. See the section titled The Pruco Life Variable Universal Account. If DCA allocates money to a Fund at a time when the Fund no longer accepts additional investments, automatic transfers to that Fund will be directed to the Money Market Portfolio. You may choose to have periodic transfers made monthly or quarterly. DCA transfers will not begin until the Monthly Date after 10 days following your receipt of the Contract.
Each automatic transfer will take effect as of the end of the Valuation Period on the date coinciding with the periodic timing you designate provided the New York Stock Exchange is open on that date. If the New York Stock Exchange is not open on that date, or if the date does not occur in that particular month, the transfer will take effect as of the end of the Valuation Period, which immediately follows that date. Automatic transfers will continue until: (1) $50 or less remains of the amount designated for Dollar Cost Averaging, at which time the remaining amount will be transferred; or (2) you give us notification of a change in DCA allocation or cancellation of the feature. Currently, a transfer that occurs under the DCA feature is not counted towards the 20 transfers permitted each calendar year or the 12 free transfers permitted each Contract Year. We reserve the right to change this practice, modify the requirements, or discontinue the feature. Dollar cost averaging will not be available on Contracts kept in-force under the provisions of the Overloan Protection Rider.
Auto-Rebalancing
As an administrative practice, we are currently offering a feature called Auto-Rebalancing. This feature allows you to automatically rebalance Variable Investment Option assets at specified intervals based on percentage allocations that you choose. For example, suppose your initial investment allocation of Variable Investment Options X and Y is split 40% and 60%, respectively, and investment results cause that split to change. You may instruct that those assets be rebalanced to your original or different allocation percentages. Auto-Rebalancing is not available until the Monthly Date after 10 days following your receipt of the Contract.
Auto-Rebalancing can be performed on a quarterly, semi-annual, or annual basis. Each rebalance will take effect as of the end of the Valuation Period on the date coinciding with the periodic timing you designate, provided the New York Stock Exchange is open on that date. If the New York Stock Exchange is not open on that date, or if the date does not occur in that particular month, the transfer will take effect as of the end of the Valuation Period immediately following that date. The Fixed Rate Option cannot participate in this administrative procedure, nor can any Funds that are no longer accepting additional investments. See the section titled The Pruco Life Variable Universal Account. If Auto-Rebalancing involves allocating to a Fund that became closed to additional investments, the Auto-Rebalancing feature will be turned off. Currently, a transfer that occurs under the Auto-Rebalancing feature is not counted towards the 20 transfers permitted each calendar year or the 12 free transfers permitted each Contract Year. We reserve the right to change this practice, modify the requirements, or discontinue the feature. Auto-rebalancing will not be available on Contracts kept in-force under the provisions of the Overloan Protection Rider.
DEATH BENEFITS
Contract Date
There is no insurance under this Contract until the minimum initial premium is paid. If a medical examination is required, the Contract Date will ordinarily be the date the examination is completed. Under certain circumstances, we may allow the Contract to be backdated up to six months prior to the application date for the purpose of lowering the insured's issue age. This may be advantageous for some Contract Owners as a lower issue age may result in lower current charges.
When Proceeds Are Paid
Generally, we will pay any Death Benefit, Cash Surrender Value, loan proceeds or withdrawal within seven days after all the documents required for such a payment are received in Good Order at a Service Office. Other than the Death Benefit, which is determined as of the date of death, the amount will be determined as of the end of the Valuation Period in which the necessary documents are received in Good Order at a Service Office. However, we may delay payment of proceeds from the Variable Investment Option[s] and the variable portion of the Death Benefit due under the Contract if the disposal or valuation of the Account's assets is not reasonably practicable because the New York Stock Exchange is closed for other than a regular holiday or weekend, trading is restricted by the SEC, or the SEC declares that an emergency exists.
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We have the right to delay payment of the Cash Surrender Value attributable to the Fixed Rate Option for up to six months (or a shorter period if required by applicable law). We will pay interest of at least 3% per year if such a payment is delayed for more than 30 days (or a shorter period if required by applicable law).
Death Claim Settlement Options
The beneficiary may choose to receive death claim proceeds by any of the settlement options described in the Contract or by payment of a lump sum check. In addition to the settlement options described in your Contract, currently, in certain circumstances, the beneficiary may choose the payment of death claim proceeds by way of Prudential's Alliance Account settlement option (the "Alliance Account"). If the Alliance Account is selected, Prudential will provide a kit to the beneficiary, which includes: (1) an account confirmation describing the death claim proceeds, the current interest rate, and the terms of the Alliance Account; and (2) a guide that explains how the Alliance Account works. Amounts in an Alliance Account may be withdrawn by the beneficiary at any time. Any Pruco Life representative authorized to sell this Contract can explain this option upon request.
Types of Death Benefit
You may select from three types of Death Benefit at issue. A Contract with a Type A (fixed) Death Benefit has a Death Benefit, which will generally equal the Basic Insurance Amount. Favorable investment results and additional premium payments will generally increase the Cash Surrender Value and decrease the net amount at risk and result in lower charges. This type of Death Benefit does not vary with the investment performance of the investment options you selected, except when the premiums you pay or favorable investment performance causes the Contract Fund to grow to the point where we may increase the Death Benefit to ensure that the Contract will satisfy the Internal Revenue Code’s definition of life insurance. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms. See How a Contract's Cash Surrender Value Will Vary.
A Contract with a Type B (variable) Death Benefit has a Death Benefit, which will generally equal the Basic Insurance Amount plus the Contract Fund. Favorable investment performance and additional premium payments will generally increase your Contract's Death Benefit and Cash Surrender Value. However, the increase in the Cash Surrender Value for a Contract with a Type B Death Benefit may be less than the increase in Cash Surrender Value for a Contract with a Type A Death Benefit because a Type B Death Benefit has a greater cost of insurance charge due to a greater net amount at risk. As long as the Contract is not in default, there have been no withdrawals, and there is no Contract Debt, the Death Benefit may not fall below the Basic Insurance Amount stated in the Contract. We may increase the Death Benefit to ensure that the Contract will satisfy the Internal Revenue Code’s definition of life insurance. See How a Contract's Cash Surrender Value Will Vary.
A Contract with a Type C (return of premium) Death Benefit has a Death Benefit. The Death Benefit is generally equal the Basic Insurance Amount plus the total premiums paid into the Contract less withdrawals. The total premiums, less withdrawals, is not accumulated with interest. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms. The Death Benefit on a Contract with a Type C Death Benefit is limited to the Basic Insurance Amount plus an amount equal to the: Type C Limiting Amount multiplied by the Type C Death Benefit Factor plus the Contract Fund. See the Contract Limitations section of your Contract. Within limits, this Death Benefit type allows the beneficiary, in effect, to recover the cost of the Contract, plus a predetermined rate of return, upon the death of the insured. Favorable investment performance and payment of additional premiums will generally increase the Contract's Cash Surrender Value. However, the increase in the Cash Surrender Value for a Type C Death Benefit may be less than the increase in Cash Surrender Value for a Contract with a Type A Death Benefit because a Type C Death Benefit has a greater cost of insurance charge due to a greater net amount at risk. The increase in Cash Surrender Value for a Contract with a Type C Death Benefit may be more or less than the increase in Cash Surrender Value for a Contract with a Type B Death Benefit depending on earnings, the Type C interest rate you chose, and the amount of any withdrawals. If you take a withdrawal, it is possible for a Contract with a Type C Death Benefit to fall below the Basic Insurance Amount. We may increase the Death Benefit to ensure that the Contract will satisfy the Internal Revenue Code’s definition of life insurance. See How a Contract’s Cash Surrender Value Will Vary.
Contract Owners of Contracts with a Type A Death Benefit should note that any withdrawal may result in a reduction of the Basic Insurance Amount and the deduction of any applicable surrender charges. We will not allow you to make a withdrawal that will decrease the Basic Insurance Amount below the minimum Basic Insurance Amount. For Contracts with a Type B Death Benefit and Contracts with a Type C Death Benefit, withdrawals will not change the Basic Insurance Amount. See Withdrawals.
The way in which the Cash Surrender Value and Death Benefit will change depends significantly upon the investment results that are actually achieved.
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You may change the type of Death Benefit any time after issue and subject to our approval. We will increase or decrease the Basic Insurance Amount so that the Death Benefit immediately after the change matches the Death Benefit immediately before the change. The Basic Insurance Amount after a change may not be lower than the minimum Basic Insurance Amount applicable to the Contract. See REQUIREMENTS FOR ISSUANCE OF A CONTRACT. We may deduct a transaction charge of up to $25 for any change in the Basic Insurance Amount, although we do not currently do so. A type change that reduces the Basic Insurance Amount may result in the assessment of surrender charges. See CHARGES AND EXPENSES.
If you are changing your Contract from a Type A Death Benefit to a Type B Death Benefit, we will reduce the Basic Insurance Amount by the amount in your Contract Fund on the date the change takes place.
If you are changing your Contract from a Type B Death Benefit to a Type A Death Benefit, we will increase the Basic Insurance Amount by the amount in your Contract Fund on the date the change takes place.
If you are changing your Contract from a Type C Death Benefit to a Type A Death Benefit, we will change the Basic Insurance Amount by adding the lesser of (a) the total premiums paid minus total withdrawals to this Contract, both accumulated with interest at the rate(s) displayed in your Contract Data pages and (b) the Contract Fund before deduction of any monthly charge due on that date plus the product of the Type C Limiting Amount multiplied by the Type C Death Benefit Factor. The Type C Limiting Amount and the Type C Death Benefit Factor are both found in the Contract Limitations section of your Contract Data pages.
If you are changing your Contract from a Type C Death Benefit to a Type B Death Benefit, we first find the difference between: (1) the Contract Fund and (2) the lesser of (a) the total premiums paid minus total withdrawals to this Contract both accumulated with interest at the rate(s) displayed in your Contract Data pages and (b) the Contract Fund before deduction of any monthly charge due on that date plus the product of the Type C Limiting Amount multiplied by the Type C Death Benefit Factor. The Type C Limiting Amount and the Type C Death Benefit Factor are both found in the Contract Limitations section of your Contract Data pages. If (2) is larger than (1), we will increase the Basic Insurance Amount by that difference. If (1) is larger than (2), we will reduce the Basic Insurance Amount by that difference.
You may change your Contract’s Death Benefit type after issue, however, if you choose a Type A Death Benefit or a Type B Death Benefit at issue, you will not be able to change to a Type C Death Benefit thereafter. If you change a Type C Death Benefit to a Type A Death Benefit or a Type B Death Benefit after issue, you will not be able to change back to a Type C Death Benefit. We will not allow a change to your Contract if it will cause the Death Benefit to exceed our retention limits or violate any other underwriting rule.
The following chart illustrates the changes in Basic Insurance Amount with each change of Death Benefit type described above. The chart assumes a $50,000 Contract Fund and a $300,000 Death Benefit. For changes from a Type C Death Benefit, the chart assumes $40,000 in total premiums minus total withdrawals and the rate chosen to accumulate premiums is 0%.
Basic Insurance Amount | ||
FROM | TO | |
Type A $300,000 | Type B $250,000 | Type C N/A |
Type B $250,000 | Type A $300,000 | Type C N/A |
Type C $260,000 | Type A $300,000 | Type B $250,000 |
You may request a change in the type of Death Benefit by sending us a request in a form that meets our needs. If the change is approved, we will recalculate the Contract's charges and appropriate tables and send you new Contract Data pages. We may require you to send us your Contract before making the change. There may be circumstances under which a change in the Death Benefit type may cause the Contract to be classified as a Modified Endowment Contract, which could be significantly disadvantageous. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits.
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If you pay one of the three No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums as described below, we will guarantee that your Contract will not lapse as a result of unfavorable investment performance, and a Death Benefit will be paid upon the death of the insured, even if your Contract Fund value drops to zero. The No-Lapse Guarantee is based on premium payments and is not a benefit you need to elect. Withdrawals and outstanding Contract loans may adversely affect the status of the No-Lapse Guarantee. See Withdrawals and Loans.
How We Calculate and Determine if You Have a No-Lapse Guarantee
We calculate your Contract's Accumulated Net Payments on the Contract Date and on each Monthly Date . Accumulated Net Payments equal the premiums you paid, accumulated at an effective annual rate of 4%, less withdrawals accumulated at 4%. For Contracts that had previously lapsed because of excess Contract Debt, also subtract the Contract Debt in effect at the time of lapse accumulated at 4% starting at the date of default. If you have an outstanding Contract loan, a No-Lapse Guarantee will not keep the Contract in-force.
We also calculate No-Lapse Guarantee Values. These are values used solely to determine if a No-Lapse Guarantee is in effect and vary by Basic Insurance Amount, definition of life insurance test, issue age, sex, underwriting class, optional benefits and any additional or substandard mortality risk. These are not cash values that you can realize by surrendering the Contract, nor are they payable Death Benefits.
On each Monthly Date, we will compare your Accumulated Net Payments to the No-Lapse Guarantee Value. If your Accumulated Net Payments equal or exceed the No-Lapse Guarantee Value, and the Contract Debt does not equal or exceed the Contract Fund less any applicable surrender charges, then the Contract is kept in-force, regardless of the amount in the Contract Fund.
No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums and No-Lapse Guarantee Periods Available Under Your Contract
There are three No Lapse Guarantee Premiums that correspond to the No Lapse Guarantee periods; The Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums, Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums, and Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums which are payment levels that are compared to the No-Lapse Guarantee Values. This is a flexible premium payment Contract and you may make payments at any time. The description below assumes you pay the No Lapse Guarantee Premium at the beginning of each Contract Year. If you make any premium payments after the beginning of each Contract Year you may need to pay more premiums because the Accumulated Net Payments will be less due to reduced interest accumulation than if you paid at the beginning of the Contract Year.
1) All Contracts have a Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee period. A Contract with a Type C Death Benefit will only have a Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee available Payment of the Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee Premium at the beginning of each Contract Year guarantees that your Contract will not lapse during the Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee period, assuming there are no loans or withdrawals. However, continued payment of the Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee Premium after this period will not assure that your Contract's Accumulated Net Payments will continue to meet the No-Lapse Guarantee Values and prevent the Contract from lapsing. See PREMIUMS.
2) The Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Period is available for all contracts other than those with a Type C Death Benefit. If you want a longer No-Lapse Guarantee, paying the Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premium at the beginning of each Contract Year guarantees your Contract against lapse during the Limited No-Lapse Guarantee period, assuming no loans or withdrawals. However, payment of the Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premium after this Limited No-Lapse Guarantee period, will not assure that your Contract's Accumulated Net Payments will continue to meet the No-Lapse Guarantee Values and prevent the Contract from lapsing.
3) The Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee period is available only for Contracts with Type A or Type B Death Benefits that have elected the Cash Value Accumulation Test for definition of life insurance. If you want a No-Lapse Guarantee to last the lifetime of the insured, then you should expect to pay at least the Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee Premium at the start of each Contract Year. Paying the Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee Premium at the beginning of each Contract Year guarantees your Contract against lapse for the insured's lifetime, assuming no loans or withdrawals.
The Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee period is 8 years after issue (6 years for ages 60 and older). The Limited No-Lapse Guarantee period lasts until the later to occur of Attained Age 75 or 10 years after issue. The Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee period requires payments of the Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee Premium to Attained Age 121. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms.
The following tables provide sample Short Term No-Lapse, Limited No-Lapse, and Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums (to the nearest dollar). Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms. The examples assume: (1) the insured is a male, Preferred Best, with no extra risk or substandard ratings; (2) a $250,000 Basic Insurance Amount; (3) no extra benefit riders have been added to the Contract; and (4) the Cash Value Accumulation Test has been elected for definition of life insurance testing.
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Illustrative Annual Premiums | ||||
Age of insured at issue | Type of Death Benefit Chosen | Short Term No- Lapse Guarantee Premium | Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premium | Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee Premium |
40 | Type A | $1,338 | $2,138 | $4,765 |
40 | Type B | $1,340 | $2,220 | $14,185 |
40 | Type C | $1,340 | N/A | N/A |
60 | Type A | $4,878 | $6,458 | $12,963 |
60 | Type B | $4,900 | $6,510 | $33,195 |
60 | Type C | $4,900 | N/A | N/A |
80 | Type A | $16,203 | $37,385 | $47,235 |
80 | Type B | $22,353 | $41,788 | $83,015 |
80 | Type C | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Maintaining the No-Lapse Guarantee
Paying the Short Term No-Lapse, Limited No-Lapse, or Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums at the start of each Contract Year is one way of reaching the No-Lapse Guarantee Values; it is certainly not the only way. The No-Lapse Guarantee allows considerable flexibility as to the timing of premium payments. Your Pruco Life representative can supply sample illustrations of various premium amount and frequency combinations that correspond to the No-Lapse Guarantee Values.
When determining what premium amounts to pay and the frequency of your payments, you should consider carefully the value of maintaining a No-Lapse Guarantee. For example, if you desire the Limited No-Lapse Guarantee until the later to occur of the insured's Attained Age 75 or 10 years after issue, you may prefer to pay at least the Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premium in all years, rather than paying the lower Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee Premium in the first eight years after issue (six years for issue ages 60 and above). If you pay only the Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee Premium in the first eight years (six years for issue ages 60 and above), you will need to pay more than the Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premium at the beginning of the 9th year (7th year for issue ages 60 and above) in order to continue the No-Lapse Guarantee.
Similarly, if you desire the Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee for lifetime protection, you may prefer to pay generally higher premiums in all years, rather than trying to make such payments on an as needed basis. If you pay only Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums until the end of the Limited No-Lapse Period a substantial amount may be required to meet the subsequent Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee Values and continue the guarantee.
For example assume: (1) an insured male age 32, Non-Smoker Plus underwriting class with no extra risk or substandard ratings; (2) a $250,000 Basic Insurance Amount; Type B Death Benefit; no extra benefit riders, (3) no loans; and (4) the Cash Value Accumulation Test has been elected for definition of life insurance testing. The Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premium would be $1665, which if paid at the beginning of each year from Contract issue would provide the Limited No-Lapse Guarantee until age 75. The accumulated premiums at 4% less withdrawals accumulated at 4% would be $189,253. The Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee premium would be $10,265, which if paid at the beginning of each year from Contract issue would provide the Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee to age 121. However, if the individual in this example paid $1665 annually from Contract issue to age 75 and then decided he wanted the Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee, he would have to pay enough premium so that the accumulated premiums at 4% less withdrawals accumulated at 4% would be $1,232,102. In addition, it is possible that the payment required to continue the guarantee beyond the Limited No-Lapse Guarantee period could exceed the premium payments allowed to be paid without causing the Contract to become a Modified Endowment Contract. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits.
Increases in Basic Insurance Amount
After your first Contract Anniversary, you may increase the amount of insurance by increasing the Basic Insurance Amount of the Contract, thus creating an additional Coverage Segment. The increase will be subject to the underwriting requirements we determine.
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The following conditions must be met:
(1) | you must ask for the change in a form that meets our needs; |
(2) | the amount of the increase must be at least equal to the minimum increase in Basic Insurance Amount shown under Contract Limitations in your Contract Data pages; |
(3) | you must prove to us that the insured is insurable for any increase; |
(4) | the Contract must not be in default; |
(5) | we must not be paying premiums into the Contract as a result of the insured's total disability; |
(6) | if we ask you to do so, you must send us the Contract to be endorsed; and |
(7) | your Contract must not be in-force under the provisions of the Overloan Protection Rider. |
If we approve the change, we will send you new Contract Data pages showing the amount and effective date of the change and the recalculated charges, values and limitations. If the insured is not living on the effective date, the change will not take effect. Currently, no transaction charge is being made in connection with an increase in Basic Insurance Amount. However, we reserve the right to charge such a fee in an amount of up to $25.
The Sales Load Target Premium is calculated separately for each Coverage Segment. When premiums are paid, each payment is allocated to each Coverage Segment based on the proportion of the Sales Load Target Premium in each segment to the total Sales Load Target Premiums of all segments. The current sales load charges are detailed in the chart in the section titled Sales Load Charges. We do not apply a sales load charge after the tenth Contract Year. See the definition of Contract Year for an increase in Basic Insurance Amount under DEFINITIONS OF SPECIAL TERMS USED IN THIS PROSPECTUS.
Each Coverage Segment will have its own surrender charge period beginning on that segment’s effective date and its own surrender charge threshold. The surrender charge threshold is the segment’s lowest coverage amount since its effective date. See Decreases in Basic Insurance Amount and Surrender Charges.
The maximum COI rates for a Coverage Segment representing an increase in Basic Insurance Amount are based upon 2001 CSO Mortality Tables, the age at the effective date of the increase and the number of years since then, sex (except where unisex rates apply), underwriting class, smoker/nonsmoker status, and extra rating class, if any. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms. The net amount at risk for the whole Contract (the Death Benefit minus the Contract Fund) is allocated to each Coverage Segment based on the proportion of its Basic Insurance Amount to the total of all Coverage Segments. In addition, the Attained Age factor for a Contract with an increase in Basic Insurance Amount is based on the insured's Attained Age for the initial Coverage Segment.
If you elect to increase the Basic Insurance Amount of your Contract, you will receive a "free-look" right that will apply only to the increase in Basic Insurance Amount, not the entire Contract. This right is comparable to the right afforded to the purchaser of a new Contract, except that, any COI charge for the increase in the Basic Insurance Amount will be returned to the Contract Fund instead of a refund of premium. Generally, the "free-look" right must be exercised no later than 10 days after receipt of the Contract with an increase.
Payment of a significant premium in conjunction with an increase in Basic Insurance Amount may cause the Contract to be classified as a Modified Endowment Contract. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits. Therefore, before increasing the Basic Insurance Amount, you should consult with your tax adviser and your Pruco Life representative.
You have the option of decreasing the Basic Insurance Amount of your Contract without withdrawing any Cash Surrender Value. If a change in circumstances causes you to determine that your amount of insurance is greater than needed, a decrease will reduce your insurance protection and the monthly deductions for the cost of insurance.
The following conditions must be met:
(1) | the amount of the decrease must be at least equal to the minimum decrease in the Basic Insurance Amount shown under Contract Limitations in your Contract Data pages; |
(2) | the Basic Insurance Amount after the decrease must be at least equal to the minimum Basic Insurance Amount shown under Contract Limitations in your Contract Data pages; |
(3) | the Contract must not be in default; |
(4) | the surrender charge on the decrease, if any, plus any transaction charge for the decrease may not exceed the Contract Fund; |
(5) | if we ask you to do so, you must send us the Contract to be endorsed; and |
(6) | your Contract must not be in-force under the provisions of the Overloan Protection Rider. |
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If we approve the decrease, we will send you new Contract Data pages showing the amount and effective date of the change and the recalculated charges, values, and limitations. Currently, no transaction charge is being made in connection with a decrease in the Basic Insurance Amount. However, we reserve the right to charge such a fee in an amount of up to $25.
For Contracts with more than one Coverage Segment, a decrease in Basic Insurance Amount will reduce each Coverage Segment based on the proportion of each Coverage Segment amount to the total of all Coverage Segment amounts before the decrease. Each Coverage Segment will have its own surrender charge threshold equal to the segment’s lowest coverage amount since its effective date. If the decrease in Basic Insurance Amount reduces a Coverage Segment to an amount less than its surrender charge threshold, we will deduct a surrender charge. See Surrender Charges.
We may decline a decrease in the Basic Insurance Amount if we determine it would cause the Contract to fail to qualify as "life insurance" for purposes of Section 7702 of the Internal Revenue Code. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits.
It is important to note, however, that if the Basic Insurance Amount is decreased, there is a possibility that the Contract will be classified as a Modified Endowment Contract. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits. You should consult with your tax adviser and your Pruco Life representative before requesting any decrease in Basic Insurance Amount.
CONTRACT VALUES
Surrender of a Contract
You may surrender your Contract at any time for its Cash Surrender Value (referred to as Net Cash Value in the Contract) while the insured is living. To surrender your Contract, we may require you to deliver or mail the following items in Good Order to a Service Office; the Contract, a signed request for surrender, and any tax withholding information required under federal or state law. Generally, we will pay your Contract’s Cash Surrender Value within seven days after all the documents required for such a payment are received in Good Order at a Service Office. Surrender of a Contract may have tax consequences. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits.
Additional requirements exist if you are exchanging your Contract for a new one at another insurance company. We specifically require a properly signed assignment to change ownership of your Contract to the new insurer and a request for surrender, signed by an authorized officer of the new insurer. The new insurer should submit these documents directly to us by sending them in Good Order to our Service Office. Generally, we will pay your Contract’s Cash Surrender Value to the new insurer within seven days after all the documents required for such a payment are received in Good Order at our Service Office.
The Cash Surrender Value will be determined as of the end of the Valuation Period in which a surrender request is received in Good Order at a Service Office. The Contract's Cash Surrender Value on any date will be the Contract Fund less any applicable surrender charges and less any Contract Debt. The Contract Fund value changes daily, reflecting:
(1) | increases or decreases in the value of the Variable Investment Option[s]; |
(2) | interest credited on any amounts allocated to the Fixed Rate Option; |
(3) | interest credited on any loan; and |
(4) | the daily asset charge for mortality and expense risks assessed against the Variable Investment Options. |
The Contract Fund value also changes to reflect the receipt of premium payments after any charges are deducted and the monthly deductions described under CHARGES AND EXPENSES, and any added persistency credit. See Persistency Credit, below. Upon request, we will tell you the Cash Surrender Value of your Contract. It is possible for the Cash Surrender Value of a Contract to decline to zero because of unfavorable investment performance or outstanding Contract Debt.
Persistency Credit
On each Monthly Date on or following at least your 5th Contract Anniversary, if your Contract is not in default, we may credit your Contract Fund with an additional amount (“persistency credit”) for keeping your Contract in-force. The persistency credit is based on reduced costs in later Contract Years and applies to Contracts that remain in-force. This will not increase any charges and expenses applicable to your Contract or riders. No persistency credit will be calculated on the amount of any Contract loan.
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The following chart illustrates an example of a Contract with $100,000 of Contract Fund, net of outstanding loans. In this example, the persistency credit starts after the 6th Contract Anniversary and is calculated using an annual rate equal to 0.15% of the Contract Fund, net of outstanding loans, but is expressed as a monthly rate to reflect that the amount is credited monthly. The credited amount will be allocated to the investment options in the same manner as premiums are allocated.
Determination of Sample Persistency Credit | |
Contract Fund (net of outstanding loans) | $100,000.00 |
Monthly Credit Rate | 0.012491% |
Persistency Credit Amount | $12.49 |
New Contract Fund (net of outstanding loans) | $100,012.49 |
If your Contract is in default or has lapsed, we will not credit your Contract with the persistency credit. The calculated amount that would have been credited during the time your Contract was in default or lapsed will not be made up if your Contract is reinstated. However, if your Contract remains in-force to the next Monthly Date, we will credit your Contract Fund with the calculated monthly amount for that Monthly Date. The persistency credit amount is not guaranteed, and we reserve the right to change this practice, modify the requirements, or discontinue the feature.
Loans
You may borrow an amount up to the current loan value of your Contract less any existing Contract Debt using the Contract as the only security for the loan. The loan value at any time is equal to the sum of (1) 99% of the portion of the cash value attributable to the Variable Investment Options and (2) the balance of the cash value, provided the Contract is not in default. The cash value is equal to the Contract Fund less any surrender charge. A Contract in default has no loan value. There is no minimum loan amount. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms.
Interest charged on a loan accrues daily. We charge interest on the full loan amount, including all unpaid interest. Interest is due on each Contract Anniversary or when the loan is paid back, whichever comes first. If interest is not paid when due, we will increase the loan amount by any unpaid interest. We charge interest at an effective annual rate of 2% for standard loans. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms.
Any amount you borrow on or after the 10th Contract Anniversary will be considered a preferred loan. On the tenth Contract Anniversary, if the insured is living and the Contract is in force, any existing loan amount will automatically be converted to a preferred loan. Preferred loans are charged interest at an effective annual rate of 1.05%. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms.
When a loan is made, an amount equal to the loan proceeds is transferred out of the Variable Investment Options and/or the Fixed Rate Option, as applicable. Unless you ask us to take the loan amount from specific Variable Investment Options and we agree, the reduction will be made in the same proportions as the value in each Variable Investment Option and the Fixed Rate Option bears to the total value of the Contract. While a loan is outstanding, the amount that was transferred will continue to be treated as part of the Contract Fund. It will be credited with interest at an effective annual rate of 1%. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms. On each Monthly Date, we will increase the portion of the Contract Fund in the investment options by interest credits accrued on the loan since the last Monthly Date.
The Contract Debt is the amount of all outstanding loans plus any interest accrued but not yet due. If, on any Monthly Date, the Contract Debt equals or exceeds the Contract Fund less any applicable surrender charges, the Contract will go into default. The No-Lapse Guarantee will not prevent default under those circumstances. We will notify you of a 61-day grace period, within which time you may repay all or enough of the loan to obtain a positive Cash Surrender Value and thus keep the Contract in-force. If you send us a payment during the grace period and we receive it after a Monthly Date has occurred, we will credit interest to the Contract Fund from the date your Contract went into default to the date we received your payment, and then return to crediting interest on subsequent Monthly Dates. If the Contract lapses or is surrendered, the amount of unpaid Contract Debt will be treated as a distribution and will be immediately taxable to the extent of gain in the Contract. Reinstatement of the Contract after lapse will not eliminate the taxable income, which we are required to report to the Internal Revenue Service. See LAPSE AND REINSTATEMENT and Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits - Pre-Death Distributions.
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If your Contract includes the Overloan Protection Rider and you meet the requirements to exercise the rider, you may have protection against lapse due to excessive Contract Debt. See the Other Riders - Overloan Protection Rider section.
No persistency credit will be calculated on the amount of any Contract loans. See the Persistency Credit section.
Loans you take against the Contract are ordinarily treated as debt and are not considered distributions subject to tax. However, you should know that the Internal Revenue Service may take the position that the loan should be treated as a distribution for tax purposes because of the relatively low differential between the loan interest rate and the Contract’s crediting rate. Distributions are subject to income tax. Were the Internal Revenue Service to take this position, we would take reasonable steps to attempt to avoid this result, including modifying the Contract’s loan provisions, but cannot guarantee that such efforts would be successful.
A loan will not cause the Contract to lapse as long as Contract Debt does not equal or exceed the Contract Fund, less any applicable surrender charges. Loans from Modified Endowment Contracts may be treated for tax purposes as distributions of income. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits.
Any Contract Debt will directly reduce a Contract's Cash Surrender Value and will be subtracted from the Death Benefit to determine the amount payable. In addition, even if the loan is fully repaid, it may have an effect on future Death Benefits because the investment results of the selected investment options will apply only to the amount remaining invested under those options. The longer the loan is outstanding, the greater the effect is likely to be. The effect could be favorable or unfavorable. If investment results are greater than the rate being credited on the amount of the loan while the loan is outstanding, values under the Contract will not increase as rapidly as they would have if no loan had been made. If investment results are below that rate, Contract values will be higher than they would have been had no loan been made.
Loan repayments are applied to reduce the total outstanding Contract Debt, which is equal to the principal plus accrued interest. Interest accrues daily on the total outstanding Contract Debt, and making a loan repayment will reduce the amount of interest accruing.
Loan repayments will be applied towards the loan according to when they are received. Loan interest is due 21 days prior to your Contract Anniversary. If we receive your loan repayment within 21 days prior to your Contract Anniversary, we will apply the repayment towards interest due on a standard loan first, then towards the interest due on a preferred loan, if applicable. Any loan repayment amount exceeding the interest due is applied towards the existing principal amount of a standard loan first, then towards the principal amount of a preferred loan, if applicable.
If we receive your loan repayment at any time outside of 21 days prior to your Contract Anniversary, we will apply the repayment towards the principal amount of a standard loan first, then to the principal amount of a preferred loan, if applicable. We will apply the remainder of the loan repayment towards the interest due on a standard loan, then towards the interest due on a preferred loan, if applicable.
When you repay all or part of a loan, we will increase the portion of the Contract Fund in the investment options by the amount of the loan you repay plus interest credits accrued on the loan since the last transaction date. We will apply the loan repayment to the investment allocation used for future premium payments as of the loan repayment date. If loan interest is paid when due, it will not change the portion of the Contract Fund allocated to the investment options. We reserve the right to change the manner in which we allocate loan repayments.
You may withdraw a portion of the Contract's Cash Surrender Value without surrendering the Contract, subject to the following restrictions:
(a) | We must receive a request for the withdrawal in a form that meets our needs. |
(b) | Your Contract’s Cash Surrender Value after the withdrawal may not be less than or equal to zero after deducting any charges associated with the withdrawal. |
(c) | The Cash Surrender Value after the withdrawal must be an amount that we estimate will be sufficient to cover two months of Contract Fund deductions. |
(d) | The withdrawal amount must be at least $500. |
(e) | The Basic Insurance Amount after withdrawals must be at least equal to the minimum Basic Insurance Amount shown in the Contract. |
(f) | Your Contract must not be in-force under the provisions of the Overloan Protection Rider. |
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There is a transaction fee for each withdrawal, which is the lesser of: (a) $25 and; (b) 2% of the withdrawal amount. A withdrawal may not be repaid except as a premium subject to the applicable charges. Upon request, we will tell you how much you may withdraw. Withdrawal of the Cash Surrender Value may have tax consequences. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits.
Whenever a withdrawal is made, the Death Benefit may immediately be reduced by at least the amount of the withdrawal. Withdrawals under Contracts with a Type B Death Benefit and Contracts with a Type C Death Benefit, will not change the Basic Insurance Amount. However, under Contracts with a Type A Death Benefit, the withdrawal may require a reduction in the Basic Insurance Amount. If a decrease in Basic Insurance Amount reduces a Coverage Segment below its surrender charge threshold, a surrender charge may be deducted. See Surrender Charges. No withdrawal will be permitted under a Contract with a Type A Death Benefit if it would result in a Basic Insurance Amount of less than the minimum Basic Insurance Amount shown under Contract Limitations in your Contract Data pages. It is important to note, however, that if the Basic Insurance Amount is decreased, there is a possibility that the Contract might be classified as a Modified Endowment Contract. Before making any withdrawal that causes a decrease in Basic Insurance Amount, you should consult with your tax adviser and your Pruco Life representative. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits.
Currently, we will provide an authorization form if your withdrawal request causes a decrease in Basic Insurance Amount that results in your Contract being classified as a Modified Endowment Contract. The authorization form will confirm that you are aware of your Contract becoming a Modified Endowment Contract if the transaction is completed. We will complete the transaction and send a confirmation notice after we receive the completed authorization form in Good Order at a Service Office.
When a withdrawal is made, the Contract Fund is reduced by the withdrawal amount and any charges associated with the withdrawal. An amount equal to the reduction in the Contract Fund will be withdrawn proportionally from the investment options unless you direct otherwise. Withdrawal of any portion of the Cash Surrender Value increases the risk that the Contract Fund may be insufficient to provide Contract benefits. If such a withdrawal is followed by unfavorable investment experience, the Contract may go into default. Withdrawals may also affect whether a Contract is kept in-force under the No-Lapse Guarantee, since withdrawals decrease your Accumulated Net Payments. See No-Lapse Guarantee.
Generally, we will pay any withdrawal amount within seven days after all the documents required for such a payment are received in Good Order at a Service Office. See When Proceeds Are Paid.
A Contract returned during the “free-look” period shall be deemed void from the beginning, and not considered a surrender or withdrawal.
We will determine the value of the Contract Fund on each Monthly Date. If the Contract Fund less any applicable surrender charges is zero or less, the Contract is in default unless it remains in-force under a No-Lapse Guarantee, assuming there are no outstanding loans. See No-Lapse Guarantee. Separately, if the Contract Debt ever grows to be equal to or more than the Contract Fund less any applicable surrender charges, the Contract will be in default. Should this happen, we will send you a notice of default setting forth the payment which we estimate will keep the Contract in-force for three months from the date of default. This payment must be received at the Payment Office within the 61-day grace period after the notice of default is mailed or the Contract will end and have no value. A Contract that lapses with an outstanding Contract loan may have tax consequences. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits. We reserve the right to change the requirements to reinstate a lapsed Contract.
A Contract that ended in default may be reinstated within five years from the date of default, if the following conditions are met:
(1) | we receive a written request for reinstatement; |
(2) | renewed evidence of insurability is provided on the insured; |
(3) | submission of certain payments sufficient to bring the Contract up to date plus a premium that we estimate will cover all charges and deductions for three months from the date of reinstatement (Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms);and |
(4) | the Insured is living on the date the Contract is reinstated. |
The reinstatement date will be the date we approve your request. We will deduct all required charges from your payment and the balance will be placed into your Contract Fund. If we approve the reinstatement, we will credit the Contract Fund with an amount equal to the surrender charge applicable as of the date of reinstatement.
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TAXES
This summary provides general information on the federal income tax treatment of the Contract. It is not a complete statement of what the federal income taxes will be in all circumstances. It is based on current law and interpretations, which may change. It does not cover state taxes or other taxes. It is not intended as tax advice. You should consult your own tax adviser for complete information and advice.
Treatment as Life Insurance. The Contract must meet certain requirements to qualify as life insurance for tax purposes. These requirements include certain definitional tests and rules for diversification of the Contract’s investments. For further information on the diversification requirements, see Taxation of the Fund in the statement of additional information for the Series Fund.
In order to meet the definition of life insurance rules for federal income tax purposes, the Contract must satisfy one of the two following tests: (1) Cash Value Accumulation Test or (2) Guideline Premium Test. At issue, the Contract Owner chooses which of these two tests will apply to their Contract. This choice cannot be changed thereafter.
Under the Cash Value Accumulation Test, the Contract must maintain a minimum ratio of Death Benefit to cash value. Therefore, in order to ensure that the Contract qualifies as life insurance, the Contract's Death Benefit may increase as the Contract Fund value increases. The Death Benefit, at all times, must be at least equal to the Contract Fund multiplied by the applicable Attained Age factor. A listing of Attained Age factors can be found on your Contract Data pages.
Under the Guideline Premium Test, there is a limit as to the amount of premium that can be paid into the Contract in relation to the Death Benefit. In addition, there is a minimum ratio of Death Benefit to cash value associated with this test. This ratio, however, is less than the required ratio under the Cash Value Accumulation Test. Therefore, the Death Benefit required under this test is generally lower than that of the Cash Value Accumulation Test.
The selection of the definition of life insurance test most appropriate for you is dependent on several factors, including the insured’s age at issue, actual Contract earnings, and whether or not the Contract is classified as a Modified Endowment Contract. In addition, the Guideline Premium Test is required for the definition of life insurance if you choose to have the Overloan Protection Rider. See the Other Riders - Overloan Protection Rider section. You should consult your own tax adviser for complete information and advice with respect to the selection of the definition of life insurance test.
We believe we have taken adequate steps to insure that the Contract qualifies as life insurance for tax purposes.
Generally speaking, this means that:
· | you will not be taxed on the growth of the funds in the Contract, unless you receive a distribution from the Contract, or if the Contract lapses or is surrendered, and |
· | the Contract's Death Benefit will generally be income tax free to your beneficiary. However, your Death Benefit may be subject to estate taxes, and |
· | we may refuse to accept any payment that increases the Death Benefit by more than it increases the Contract Fund. |
Although we believe that the Contract should qualify as life insurance for tax purposes, there are some uncertainties, particularly because the Secretary of Treasury has not yet issued permanent regulations that bear on this question. Accordingly, we reserve the right to make changes -- which will be applied uniformly to all Contract Owners after advance written notice -- that we deem necessary to insure that the Contract will qualify as life insurance.
Pre-Death Distributions. The tax treatment of any distribution you receive before the insured’s death depends on whether the Contract is classified as a Modified Endowment Contract.
Contracts Not Classified as Modified Endowment Contracts
· | If you surrender the Contract or allow it to lapse, you will be taxed on the amount you received in excess of the premiums you paid less the untaxed portion of any prior withdrawals. For this purpose, you will be treated as receiving any portion of the Cash Surrender Value used to repay Contract Debt. In other words, you will immediately have taxable income to the extent of gain in the Contract. Reinstatement of the Contract after lapse will not eliminate the taxable income, which we are required to report to the Internal Revenue Service. The tax consequences of a surrender may differ if you take the proceeds under an income payment settlement option. |
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· | Generally, you will be taxed on a withdrawal to the extent the amount you receive exceeds the premiums you paid for the Contract less the untaxed portion of any prior withdrawals. However, under some limited circumstances, in the first 15 Contract Years, all or a portion of a withdrawal may be taxed if the Contract Fund exceeds the total premiums paid less the untaxed portions of any prior withdrawals, even if total withdrawals do not exceed total premiums paid. |
· | Extra premiums for optional benefits and riders generally do not count in computing the premiums paid for the Contract for the purposes of determining whether a withdrawal is taxable. |
· | Loans you take against the Contract are ordinarily treated as debt and are not considered distributions subject to tax. However, you should know that the Internal Revenue Service may take the position that the preferred loan should be treated as a distribution for tax purposes because of the relatively low differential between the loan interest rate and Contract’s crediting rate. Were the Internal Revenue Service to take this position, we would take reasonable steps to avoid this result, including modifying the Contract’s loan provisions. |
· | The rules change if the Contract is classified as a Modified Endowment Contract. The Contract could be classified as a Modified Endowment Contract if premiums in amounts that are too large are paid or a decrease in the Basic Insurance Amount is made (or a rider removed). The addition of a rider or an increase in the Basic Insurance Amount may also cause the Contract to be classified as a Modified Endowment Contract if a significant premium is paid in conjunction with an increase or the addition of a rider. We will notify you if a premium or a change in Basic Insurance Amount would cause the Contract to become a Modified Endowment Contract, and advise you of your options. You should first consult a tax adviser and your Pruco Life representative if you are contemplating any of these steps. |
· | If the Contract is classified as a Modified Endowment Contract, then amounts you receive under the Contract before the insured's death, including loans and withdrawals, are included in income to the extent that the Contract Fund before surrender charges exceeds the premiums paid for the Contract increased by the amount of any loans previously included in income and reduced by any untaxed amounts previously received other than the amount of any loans excludible from income. An assignment of a Modified Endowment Contract is taxable in the same way. These rules also apply to pre-death distributions, including loans and assignments, made during the two-year period before the time that the Contract became a Modified Endowment Contract. |
· | Any taxable income on pre-death distributions (including full surrenders) is subject to a penalty of 10 percent unless the amount is received on or after age 59½, on account of your becoming disabled or as a life annuity. It is presently unclear how the penalty tax provisions apply to Contracts owned by businesses. |
· | All Modified Endowment Contracts issued by us to you during the same calendar year are treated as a single Contract for purposes of applying these rules. |
Investor Control. Treasury Department regulations do not provide specific guidance concerning the extent to which you may direct your investment in the particular Variable Investment Options without causing you, instead of us, to be considered the owner of the underlying assets. Because of this uncertainty, we reserve the right to make such changes as we deem necessary to assure that the Contract qualifies as life insurance for tax purposes. Any such changes will apply uniformly to affected Contract Owners and will be made with such notice to affected Contract Owners as is feasible under the circumstances.
Withholding. You must affirmatively elect that no taxes be withheld from a pre-death distribution. Otherwise, the taxable portion of any amounts you receive will be subject to withholding. You are not permitted to elect out of withholding if you do not provide a social security number or other taxpayer identification number. You may be subject to penalties under the estimated tax payment rules if your withholding and estimated tax payments are insufficient to cover the tax due.
Other Tax Considerations. If you transfer or assign the Contract to someone else, there may be gift, estate and/or income tax consequences. If you transfer the Contract to a person two or more generations younger than you (or designate such a younger person as a beneficiary), there may be Generation Skipping Transfer tax consequences. Deductions for interest paid or accrued on Contract Debt or on other loans that are incurred or continued to purchase or carry the Contract may be denied. Your individual situation or that of your beneficiary will determine the federal estate taxes and the state and local estate, inheritance and other taxes due if you or the insured dies.
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Business-Owned Life Insurance. If a business, rather than an individual, is the owner of the Contract, there are some additional rules. Business Contract Owners generally cannot deduct premium payments. Business Contract Owners generally cannot take tax deductions for interest on Contract Debt paid or accrued after October 13, 1995. An exception permits the deduction of interest on Contract loans on Contracts for up to 20 key persons. The interest deduction for Contract Debt on these loans is limited to a prescribed interest rate and a maximum aggregate loan amount of $50,000 per key insured person. The corporate alternative minimum tax also applies to business-owned life insurance. This is an indirect tax on additions to the Contract Fund or Death Benefits received under business-owned life insurance policies.
For business-owned life insurance coverage issued after August 17, 2006, Death Benefits will generally be taxable as ordinary income to the extent it exceeds cost basis. Life insurance Death Benefits will continue to be generally income tax free if, prior to Contract issuance, the employer provided a prescribed notice to the proposed insured/employee, obtained the employee's consent to the life insurance, and one of the following requirements is met: (a) the insured was an employee at any time during the 12-month period prior to his or her death; (b) the insured was a director or highly compensated employee or individual (as defined in the Code) at the time the Contract was issued; or (c) the Death Benefits are paid to the insured's heirs or his or her designated beneficiaries (other than the employer), either directly as a Death Benefit or received from the purchase of an equity (or capital or profits) interest in the applicable contract holder. Annual reporting and record keeping requirements will apply to employers maintaining such business-owned life insurance.
DISTRIBUTION AND COMPENSATION
Pruco Securities, LLC (“Prusec”), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential Financial, acts as the principal underwriter of the Contract. Prusec, organized on September 22, 2003 under New Jersey law, is registered as a broker and dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is a registered member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA). (Prusec is a successor company to Pruco Securities Corporation, established on February 22, 1971.) Prusec’s principal business address is 751 Broad Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102. Prusec serves as principal underwriter of the individual variable insurance Contracts issued by us. The Contract is sold by registered representatives of Prusec who are also our appointed insurance agents under state insurance law. The Contract may also be sold through other broker-dealers authorized by Prusec and applicable law to do so. Prusec received gross distribution revenue for its variable life insurance products of $56,178,356 in 2012, $60,952,205 in 2011, and $61,514,049 in 2010. Prusec passes through the gross distribution revenue it receives to broker-dealers for their sales and does not retain any portion of it in return for its services as distributor for the Contracts. However, Prusec does retain a portion of compensation it receives with respect to sales by its representatives. Prusec retained compensation of $2,168,552 in 2012, $2,477,021 in 2011, and $2,379,140 in 2010. Prusec offers the Contract on a continuous basis.
Compensation (commissions, overrides, and any expense reimbursement allowance) is paid to broker-dealers that are registered under the Exchange Act and/or entities that are exempt from such registration (“firms”) according to one or more schedules. The individual representative will receive all or a portion of the compensation, depending on the practice of the firm. Compensation is based on a premium value referred to as the Commissionable Target Premium. The Commissionable Target Premium is equal to the first year's surrender charge (which is found in your Contract Data pages) divided by the Percentage of Sales Load Target Premium at start of year one from the table in the Surrender Charges section of this prospectus. The Commissionable Target Premium will vary by issue age, sex, smoker/nonsmoker, substandard rating class, and any riders selected by the Contract Owner. For Type B Death Benefit Contracts, the Commissionable Target Premium, Sales Load Target Premium and Surrender Charge Target Premiums will vary from Contracts with Type A or Type C Death Benefit. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms.
Broker-dealers will receive compensation of up to 122% of premiums received in the first 24 months following the Contract Date on total premiums received since issue up to the first year’s Commissionable Target Premium, up to 5% on premiums received in excess of the first year's Commissionable Target Premium. Broker-dealers will receive compensation up to 6% of the Commissionable Target Premium received in Contract Years two through four and up to 4% of the Commissionable Target Premium received in years five through 10. Moreover, broker-dealers will receive compensation up to 3% on premiums received in years two through four and up to 2.5% on premiums received in years five through 10 to the extent that premiums paid in any year exceed the Commissionable Target Premium. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms.
If the Basic Insurance Amount is increased, broker-dealers will receive compensation of up to 122% on premiums received up to the Commissionable Target Premium for the increase received in the first 12 months following the effective date of the increase, up to 6% of premiums received in years two through four, and up to 4% on premiums received in years five through 10 up to the Commissionable Target Premium for the increase. Moreover, broker-dealers will receive compensation of up to 5% on premiums received in year one, and up to 3% on premiums received in years two through four, and up to 2.5% on premiums received in years five through 10 following the effective date of the increase to the extent that premiums paid in any year exceed the Commissionable Target Premium.
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Prusec registered representatives who sell the Contract are also our life insurance agents, and may be eligible for various cash bonuses and insurance benefits and non-cash compensation programs that we or our affiliates offer such as conferences, trips, prizes and awards, subject to applicable regulatory requirements. In some circumstances and to the extent permitted by applicable regulatory requirements, we may also reimburse certain sales and marketing expenses.
In addition, in an effort to promote the sale of our variable products (which may include the placement of our Contracts on a preferred or recommended company or product list and/or access to a broker-dealer’s registered representatives), we or Prusec may enter into compensation arrangements with certain broker-dealer firms authorized by Prusec to sell the Contract, or branches of such firms, with respect to certain or all registered representatives of such firms under which such firms may receive separate compensation or reimbursement for, among other things, training of sales personnel, marketing and/or administrative and/or other services they provide to us or our affiliates. To the extent permitted by applicable rules, laws, and regulations, Prusec may pay or allow other promotional incentives or payments in the form of cash or non-cash compensation. These arrangements may not be offered to all firms, and the terms of such arrangements may differ between firms. You should note that firms and individual registered representatives and branch managers within some firms participating in one of these compensation arrangements might receive greater compensation for selling the Contract than for selling a different Contract that is not eligible for these compensation arrangements.
A list of the names of the firms (or their affiliated broker/dealers) that we are aware of (as of December 31, 2012) that received payment or accrued a payment amount with respect to variable product business during 2012 may be found in the Statement of Additional Information. The least amount paid or accrued and the greatest amount paid or accrued during 2012 were $0.88 and $4,151,007, respectively.
While compensation is generally taken into account as an expense in considering the charges applicable to a variable life insurance product, any such compensation will be paid by us, and will not result in any additional charge to you or to the Separate Account. Your registered representative can provide you with more information about the compensation arrangements that apply upon the sale of the Contract.
In addition, we or our affiliates may provide such compensation, payments and/or incentives to firms arising out of the marketing, sale and/or servicing of variable annuities or life insurance offered by different Prudential business units.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Pruco Life is subject to legal and regulatory actions in the ordinary course of our business. Pending legal and regulatory actions include proceedings specific to Pruco Life and proceedings generally applicable to business practices in the industry in which we operate. Pruco Life 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. Pruco Life 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 some of the pending legal and regulatory actions, plaintiffs are seeking large and/or indeterminate amounts, including punitive or exemplary damages. In addition, Pruco Life, along with other participants in the businesses in which we engage, 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 Pruco Life’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 following is a summary of certain pending proceedings.
Pruco Life 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, including matters discussed below. As of June 30, 2013, the aggregate range of reasonably possible losses in excess of accruals established is not currently estimable. Pruco Life 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.
In January 2013, a qui tam action on behalf of the State of Florida, Total Asset Recovery Services v. Met Life Inc., et al., Manulife Financial Corporation, et. al., Prudential Financial, Inc., The Prudential Insurance Company of America, and Prudential Insurance Agency, LLC, filed in the Circuit Court of Leon County, Florida, was served on Prudential Insurance. The complaint alleges that Prudential Insurance failed to escheat life insurance proceeds to the State of Florida in violation of the Florida False Claims Act and seeks injunctive relief, compensatory damages, civil penalties, treble damages, prejudgment interest, attorneys’ fees and costs. In March 2013, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the complaint.
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In October 2012, the State of West Virginia, through its State Treasurer, filed a lawsuit, State of West Virginia ex. rel. John D. Perdue v. PRUCO Life Insurance Company, in the Circuit Court of Putnam County, West Virginia. The complaint alleges violations of the West Virginia Uniform Unclaimed Property Fund Act by failing to properly identify and report all unclaimed insurance policy proceeds which should either be paid to beneficiaries or escheated to West Virginia. The complaint seeks to examine the records of Pruco Life to determine compliance with the West Virginia Uniform Unclaimed Property Fund Act, and to assess penalties and costs in an undetermined amount. In April 2013, Pruco Life filed a motion to dismiss the complaint.
In January 2012, a Global Resolution Agreement entered into by Pruco Life and a third party auditor became effective upon its acceptance by the unclaimed property departments of 20 states and jurisdictions. Under the terms of the Global Resolution Agreement, the third party auditor acting on behalf of the signatory states will compare expanded matching criteria to the Social Security Master Death File (“SSMDF”) to identify deceased insureds and contractholders where a valid claim has not been made. In February 2012, a Regulatory Settlement Agreement entered into by Pruco Life to resolve a multi-state market conduct examination regarding its adherence to state claim settlement practices became effective upon its acceptance by the insurance departments of 20 states and jurisdictions. The Regulatory Settlement Agreement applies prospectively and requires Pruco Life to adopt and implement additional procedures comparing its records to the SSMDF to identify unclaimed death benefits and prescribes procedures for identifying and locating beneficiaries once deaths are identified. Other jurisdictions that are not signatories to the Regulatory Settlement Agreement are considering proposals that would apply prospectively and require life insurance companies to take additional steps to identify unreported deceased policy and contract holders. These prospective changes and any escheatable property identified as a result of the audits and inquiries could result in: (1) additional payments of previously unclaimed death benefits; (2) the payment of abandoned funds to U.S. jurisdictions; and (3) changes in Pruco Life’s practices and procedures for the identification of escheatable funds and beneficiaries, which would impact claim payments and reserves, among other consequences.
Pruco Life is one of several companies subpoenaed by the New York Attorney General regarding its unclaimed property procedures. Additionally, the New York Department of Financial Services (“NYDFS”) has requested that 172 life insurers (including Pruco Life) provide data to the NYDFS regarding use of the SSMDF. The New York Office of Unclaimed Funds is conducting an audit of Pruco Life’s compliance with New York’s unclaimed property laws. In February 2012, the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General requested information regarding Pruco Life’s unclaimed property procedures. In May 2013, Pruco Life entered into a settlement agreement with the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Insurance Division, which requires Pruco Life to take additional steps to identify deceased insureds and contract holders where a valid claim has not been made.
In December 2010, a purported state-wide class action complaint, Phillips v. Prudential Financial, Inc., was filed in state court and removed to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. The complaint makes allegations under Illinois law, substantially similar to the Garcia cases, on behalf of a class of Illinois residents whose death benefit claims were settled by retained assets accounts. In March 2011, the complaint was amended to drop Prudential Financial as a defendant and add Pruco Life and the Prudential Insurance Company of America as a defendant. The matter is now captioned Phillips v. Prudential Insurance and Pruco Life Insurance Company. In November 2011, the complaint was dismissed. In December 2011, plaintiff appealed the dismissal. In May 2013, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s putative class action complaint.
In July 2010, Pruco Life, along with other life insurance industry participants, received a formal request for information from the State of New York Attorney General’s Office in connection with its investigation into industry practices relating to the use of retained asset accounts. In August 2010, Pruco Life received a similar request for information from the State of Connecticut Attorney General’s Office. Pruco Life is cooperating with these investigations. Pruco Life has also been contacted by state insurance regulators and other governmental entities, including the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Congressional committees regarding retained asset accounts. These matters may result in additional investigations, information requests, claims, hearings, litigation, adverse publicity and potential changes to business practices.
Pruco Life’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 Pruco Life’s results of operations or cash flow 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 flow for such period. In light of the unpredictability of Pruco Life’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 Pruco Life’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 Pruco Life’s financial position.
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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Our audited consolidated financial statements are shown in the Statement of Additional Information to this prospectus and should be considered only as bearing upon our ability to meet its obligations under the Contract.
The Account’s audited financial statements are available in the Statement of Additional Information to this prospectus.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We have filed a registration statement with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933, relating to the offering described in this prospectus. This prospectus does not include all the information set forth in the registration statement. Certain portions have been omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. The omitted information may, however, be obtained from the SEC's Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549, or by telephoning (202) 551-8090, upon payment of a prescribed fee.
To reduce costs, we now generally send only a single copy of prospectuses and shareholder reports to each household ("householding"), in lieu of sending a copy to each Contract Owner that resides in the household. You should be aware that you can revoke or "opt out" of householding at any time by calling 1-877-778-5008.
You may contact us for further information at the address and telephone number inside the front cover of this prospectus. For service or questions about your Contract, please contact our Service Office at the phone number on the back cover or at P.O. Box 7390, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19176.
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DEFINITIONS OF SPECIAL TERMS
USED IN THIS PROSPECTUS
Accumulated Net Payments - The actual premium payments you make, accumulated at an effective annual rate of 4%, less any withdrawals you make, also accumulated at an effective annual rate of 4%.
Attained Age - The insured's age on the Contract Date plus the number of years since then. For any Coverage Segment effective after the Contract Date, the insured's Attained Age is the issue age of that segment plus the length of time since its effective date.
Basic Insurance Amount - The total amount of life insurance as shown in the Contract, including any applicable increases, and no riders.
Cash Surrender Value - The amount payable to the Contract Owner upon surrender of the Contract. It is equal to the Contract Fund minus any Contract Debt and minus any applicable surrender charge. Also referred to in the Contract as “Net Cash Value.”
Contract - The variable universal life insurance Contract described in this prospectus.
Contract Anniversary - The same date as the Contract Date in each later year.
Contract Date -The date the Contract is effective, as specified in the Contract.
Contract Debt - The principal amount of all outstanding loans plus any interest accrued thereon.
Contract Fund - The total amount credited to a specific Contract. On any date it is equal to the sum of the amounts in all the Variable Investment Options and the Fixed Rate Option, and the principal amount of any Contract Debt plus any interest earned thereon.
Contract Owner - You. Unless a different owner is named in the application, the owner of the Contract is the insured.
Contract Year - A year that starts on the Contract Date or on a Contract Anniversary. For any Coverage Segment representing an increase, “Contract Year” is a year that starts on the effective date of the increase (referred to as “Target year” in the Contract).
Coverage Segment - The Basic Insurance Amount at issue is the first Coverage Segment. For each increase in Basic Insurance Amount, a new Coverage Segment is created for the amount of the increase.
Death Benefit - If the Contract is not in default, this is the amount we will pay upon the death of the insured, assuming no Contract Debt.
Fixed Rate Option - An investment option under which interest is accrued daily at a rate that we declare periodically, but not less than an effective annual rate of 3%.
Fund/Portfolio/Variable Investment Options - These are terms that may be used interchangeably and represent the underlying investments held in the Separate Account which you may select for your Contract.
Good Order - An instruction received at our Service Office utilizing such forms, signatures, and dating as we require, which is sufficiently clear and complete and for which we do not need to exercise any discretion to follow such instructions.
Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums - Premiums that, if paid at the beginning of each Contract Year, will keep a Type A or a Contract with a Type B (variable) Death Benefit in-force until the insured's Attained Age 75, or if later, during the first 10 Contract Years, regardless of investment performance and assuming no loans or withdrawals. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms.
Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums - Premiums that, if paid at the beginning of each Contract Year, will keep a Type A or a Contract with a Type B (variable) Death Benefit in-force for the lifetime of the insured, regardless of investment performance and assuming no loans or withdrawals.
Monthly Date - The Contract Date and the same date in each subsequent month.
No-Lapse Guarantee - Sufficient premium payments, on an accumulated basis, will guarantee that your Contract will not lapse for a specified duration and a Death Benefit will be paid upon the death of the insured, regardless of investment experience and assuming no loans or withdrawals. See No-Lapse Guarantee.
Payment Office - The address on your bill to which you are directed to send premium payments, loan payments, and payments to bring your Contract out of default.
Pruco Life Insurance Company - Pruco Life, us, we, our. The company offering the Contract.
Sales Load Target Premium - A premium that is used to determine sales load based on issue age and rating class of the insured, and any extra risk charges or riders, if applicable.
Separate Account - Amounts under the Contract that are allocated to the Fund held by us in a Separate Account called the Pruco Life Variable Universal Account (the "Account" or the "Registrant"). The Separate Account is set apart from all of our general assets.
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Service Office - The mailing address of our Service Office is: P.O. Box 7390, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19176.
Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums -Premiums that, if paid at the beginning of each Contract Year, will keep the Contract in-force during the first eight Contract Years (six Contract Years for issue ages 60 and above), regardless of investment performance and assuming no loans or withdrawals. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms.
Valuation Period - The period of time from one determination of the value of the amount invested in a Variable Investment Option to the next. Such determinations are made when the net asset values of the Variable Investment Options are calculated, which would be as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time).
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To Learn More About PruLife® Custom Premier II
The Statement of Additional Information (SAI) is legally a part of this prospectus, both of which are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the Securities Act of 1933, Registration No. 333-112808. The SAI contains additional information about the Pruco Life Variable Universal Account. All of these filings can be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the public reference room may be obtained by calling the Commission at (202) 551-8090. The SEC also maintains a Web site (http://www.sec.gov) that contains the PruLife® Custom Premier II SAI, material incorporated by reference, and other information about us. Copies of these materials can also be obtained, upon payment of duplicating fees, from the SEC’s Public Reference Room, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549.
You can call us at 1-800-944-8786 to ask us questions, request information about the Contract, and obtain copies of the SAI, and personalized illustrations, without charge, or other documents. You can also view the SAI located with the prospectus at www.prudential.com/eprospectus, or request a copy by writing to us at:
Pruco Life Insurance Company
213 Washington Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102
Investment Company Act of 1940: Registration No. 811-5826
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Appendix A: Contract Variations
Your Contract's options, features, riders and charges may vary depending on the Contract form number. This Appendix reflects Contract variations that differ from the Contract version that may have been in effect at the time your Contract was issued. Please contact your Pruco Life representative for more information about the particular variations that apply to your Contract form number. Your Contract's form number is located in the lower left hand corner on the first page of your Contract. If you purchased your contract prior to October 7, 2013, a description of contract variations that may apply to you is contained in this appendix for VUL-2008 (offered approximately 5/1/2008 - 10/6/2013), VUL-2005 (offered approximately 10/17/2005 - 4/30/2008), and VUL-2004 (offered approximately 5/17/2004 - 10/16/2005). The Contract may have been available in your state past the approximate end date indicated based on when your state approved the Contract.
VUL-2008 Contract
Section Headings | Variation |
The Fixed Rate Option | The Fixed Rate Option declared rate of interest will never be lower than an effective annual rate of 3%. |
Sales Load Charges | Sales Load charges are: |
Years 1 - 4 | Years 5 - 10 | |
Up to Sales Load Target Premium | 4% | 3% |
In Excess of Sales Load Target Premium | 3.5% | 2.5% |
Premium Based Administrative Charge | Currently the charge for Premium Based Administrative Charge is a total of 3.75% of the premiums received. The portion for federal income taxes is currently 1.25% of the premium. |
Cost of Insurance | The maximum COI rates are based on the 2001 CSO Mortality Tables. COI charges range from $0.01 to $83.34 per $1,000 of net amount at risk. |
Monthly Deductions from the Contract Fund | (a) (2) The second part of the administrative fee is currently an amount per $1,000 of the Basic Insurance Amount for the first six Contract Years and zero thereafter. The fee varies by issue age, sex, and smoker/non-smoker status. It also varies by substandard ratings. The following tables provide sample per $1,000 rates: |
Administrative Charge: Per $1,000 rates
Issue Age | Male Nonsmoker | Male Smoker | Female Nonsmoker | Female Smoker |
35 | $0.18 | $0.24 | $0.14 | $0.17 |
45 | $0.29 | $0.33 | $0.23 | $0.28 |
55 | $0.48 | $0.58 | $0.36 | $0.44 |
65 | $0.88 | $1.10 | $0.70 | $0.80 |
(b) The highest charge per thousand is $1.50 and applies to male, smokers above age 74 at certain rating classes. The lowest charge per thousand is $0.06 and applies to females age 0-09. Currently, no charge is being made to the Account for our federal income taxes, other than the 1.25% charge for federal income taxes measured by premiums. |
Charges After Age 121 | Beginning on the first Contract Anniversary on or after the insured’s 121st birthday, we will no longer accept premiums or deduct monthly charges from the Contract Fund. |
Charges for Optional Rider Coverage | Enhanced Disability Benefit Rider - We deduct a monthly charge for this rider, which provides invested premium amounts while the insured is totally disabled. The current charge is based on issue age, issue date, sex, and underwriting class of the insured. It ranges from 7.08% to 12.17%, of the greater of: 9% of the Contract's Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premium and the total of all monthly deductions, and is charged until the first Contract Anniversary on or after the insured’s 60th birthday. |
Target Term Rider | Target Term Rider is not available. |
Types of Death Benefit | If you choose a Contract with a Type C (return of premium) Death Benefit, the Death Benefit is generally equal to the Basic Insurance Amount plus the total premiums paid into the Contract, less withdrawals, accumulated at a chosen interest rate. The interest rate can be between 0% and 8%; in ½% increments. |
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No-Lapse Guarantee | The Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee period is 8 years after issue (6 years for ages 60 and older). The Limited No-Lapse Guarantee period lasts until the later to occur of Attained Age 75 or 10 years after issue. The Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee period requires payments of the Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee Premium to Attained Age 121. |
The following table provides sample Short Term No-Lapse, Limited No-Lapse, and Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums (to the nearest dollar). The examples assume: (1) the insured is a male, Preferred Best, with no extra risk or substandard ratings; (2) a $250,000 Basic Insurance Amount; (3) no extra benefit riders have been added to the Contract; and (4) the Cash Value Accumulation Test has been elected for definition of life insurance testing. |
Illustrative Annual Premiums | ||||
Age of insured at issue | Type of Death Benefit Chosen | Short Term No- Lapse Guarantee Premium | Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premium | Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee Premium |
40 | Type A | $1,338 | $2,138 | $4,765 |
40 | Type B | $1,340 | $2,220 | $14,185 |
40 | Type C | $1,340 | N/A | N/A |
60 | Type A | $4,878 | $6,458 | $12,963 |
60 | Type B | $4,900 | $6,510 | $33,195 |
60 | Type C | $4,900 | N/A | N/A |
80 | Type A | $16,203 | $37,385 | $47,235 |
80 | Type B | $22,353 | $41,788 | $83,015 |
80 | Type C | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Increases in Basic Insurance Amount | The maximum COI rates for a Coverage Segment representing an increase in Basic Insurance Amount are based upon 2001 CSO Mortality Tables. |
Loans | There is no minimum loan amount. We charge interest at an effective annual rate of 4% for standard loans. A portion of any amount you borrow on or after the 10th Contract Anniversary may be considered a preferred loan. The maximum preferred loan amount is the total amount you may borrow minus the total net premiums paid (net premiums equal premiums paid less total withdrawals, if any). If the net premium amount is less than zero, we will, for purposes of this calculation, consider it to be zero. On the 10th Contract Anniversary and each Contract Anniversary thereafter, if the insured is living and the Contract is not in default, any existing loan amount will automatically be converted to a preferred loan to the extent that there is a preferred loan amount available. Preferred loans are charged interest at an effective annual rate of 3.10%. While a loan is outstanding, the amount that was transferred will continue to be treated as part of the Contract Fund. It will be credited with interest at an effective annual rate of 3%. |
Distribution and Compensation | Type A, B, and C Death Benefits have the same Commissionable Target Premium, Sales Load Target Premium and Surrender Charge Target Premiums. Broker-dealers will also receive compensation in years two and beyond of up to 0.25% of the Contract Fund, net of Contract Debt. |
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VUL-2005 Contracts
Section Headings | Variation |
The Fixed Rate Option | The Fixed Rate Option declared rate of interest will never be lower than an effective annual rate of 3%. |
Sales Load Charges |
Years 1 - 4 | Years 5 - 10 | |
Up to Sales Load Target Premium | 4% | 3% |
In Excess of Sales Load Target Premium | 3.5% | 2.5% |
Paying more than the Sales Load Target Premium in any of the first 10 Contract Years could reduce your total sales load. For example, assume that a Contract with no riders or extra insurance charges, has a Sales Load Target Premium of $884.00 and the Contract Owner would like to pay 10 premiums. If you paid $1,768 (two times the amount of the Sales Load Target Premium) in every other Contract Year up to the ninth year (i.e. in years 1, 3, 5, 7, 9), the total sales load charge would be $278.46. If you paid $884.00 in each of the first 10 Contract Years, the total sales load would be $300.56. |
Premium Based Administrative Charge | Currently the charge for Premium Based Administrative Charge is a total of 3.75% of the premiums received. The portion for federal income taxes is currently 1.25% of the premium. |
Cost of Insurance | The maximum COI rates are based on the 1980 CSO Mortality Tables. Our current COI charges range from $0.03 to $83.34 per $1,000 of net amount at risk. |
Monthly Deductions from the Contract Fund | (a) (2) The second part of the administrative fee is currently an amount per $1,000 of the Basic Insurance Amount for the first six Contract Years and zero thereafter. The fee varies by issue age, sex, and smoker/non-smoker status. It also varies by substandard ratings. The following tables provide sample per $1,000 rates: |
Administrative Charge: Per $1,000 rates
Issue Age | Male Nonsmoker | Male Smoker | Female Nonsmoker | Female Smoker |
35 | $0.16 | $0.22 | $0.12 | $0.15 |
45 | $0.27 | $0.31 | $0.21 | $0.26 |
55 | $0.48 | $0.58 | $0.36 | $0.44 |
65 | $0.88 | $1.10 | $0.70 | $0.80 |
(b) The highest charge per thousand is $1.40 and applies to male, smokers above age 74 at certain rating classes. The lowest charge per thousand is $0.04 and applies to females age 0-14. Currently, no charge is being made to the Account for our federal income taxes, other than the 1.25% charge for federal income taxes measured by premiums. |
Surrender Charges | The chart below shows maximum percentages for all ages at the beginning of the first Contract Year and the end of the last Contract Year that a surrender charge may be payable. |
Issue Age | Percentage of Sales Load Target Premium, less premiums for riders, at start of year 1 | Reduces to zero at the end of year |
0-49 | 100% | 10 |
50-60 | 90% | 10 |
61-65 | 65% | 10 |
66 and above | 55% | 10 |
Transaction Charges | In addition to the Transaction Charges described in the prospectus, we may charge a transaction fee of up to $25 for any change in the rider coverage amount for Contracts with Target Term Rider. |
Charges After Age 121 | We will no longer accept premiums or deduct monthly charges from the Contract Fund after age 100. |
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Charges for Optional Rider Coverage | Enhanced Disability Benefit Rider - We deduct a monthly charge for this rider, which provides invested premium amounts while the insured is totally disabled. The current charge is based on issue age, issue date, sex, and underwriting class of the insured. It ranges from 7.08% to 12.17%, of the greater of (a) and (b) where (a) is: 9% of the Contract's Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premium and (b) is the total of all monthly deductions, and is charged until the first Contract Anniversary on or after the insured’s 60th birthday. Target Term Rider - We may deduct a monthly charge for the administration of this rider, which provides a flexible term insurance benefit to Attained Age 100 on the life of the insured. We currently deduct a COI charge for this rider, which ranges from $0.01 to $83.34 per $1,000 of rider Death Benefit, which is generally lower than the COI charge per $1,000 deducted for the Basic Insurance Amount, and is based on rider coverage duration, issue age, issue date, sex, and underwriting class of the insured. We currently do not deduct the monthly charge for the administration of this rider. |
Target Term Rider | Target Term Rider is available. See Target Term Rider details below. |
Other Riders | In addition to the Rider information described in the prospectus, the following may apply: Target Term Rider - See Target Term Rider details below. Overloan Protection Rider - The following eligibility requirement must be met to exercise the Overloan Protection Rider: Contract Debt must exceed the Basic Insurance Amount (Target Term Rider plus Basic Insurance Amount if you have a Target Term Rider). Enhanced Disability Rider – The Enhanced Disability Rider is not available on Contracts with the Target Term Rider. Livings Needs Benefit – The Living Needs Benefit does not apply to the portion of the Death Benefit that is attributable to the Target Term Rider. |
Requirements for Issuance of a Contract | In addition to the Requirements for Issuance of a Contract information described in the prospectus, the following may apply: Currently, the minimum Basic Insurance Amount for Contracts without a Target Term Rider is $75,000 ($50,000 for insureds below the issue age of 18, $100,000 for insureds issue ages 76-80, and $250,000 for insureds issue ages 81 and above). |
Premiums | In addition to the Premiums information described in the prospectus, the following may apply: Minimum Initial Premium The minimum initial premium is equal to 9% of the Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premium, including all extras, riders, and Enhanced Disability Benefit premium for Contracts with Type A (fixed) and Type B (variable) Death Benefits without the Target Term Rider. The minimum initial premium is equal to 9% of the Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee Premium for Contracts with Type A (fixed) and Type B (variable) Death Benefits with the Target Term Rider benefit and all Contracts with Type C (return of premium) Death Benefit. |
Types of Death Benefit | In addition to the Types of Death Benefit information described in the prospectus, the following may apply: Contract Owners of Contracts with a Type A Death Benefit should note that any withdrawal may result in a reduction of the Basic Insurance Amount, a reduction in the Target Term Rider coverage amount, and the deduction of any applicable surrender charges. If you choose a Contract with a Type C (return of premium) Death Benefit, the Death Benefit is generally equal to the Basic Insurance Amount plus the total premiums paid into the Contract, less withdrawals, accumulated at a chosen interest rate. The interest rate can be between 0% and 8%; in ½% increments. In addition to the Types of Death Benefit information described in the prospectus, the following may apply: The Type C Limiting Amount would be the sum of the initial Basic Insurance Amount plus any initial Target Term Rider coverage amount. |
No-Lapse Guarantee | The Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee period is 7 years after issue (5 years for ages 60 and older). The Limited No-Lapse Guarantee period is the later to occur of Attained Age 70 or 10 years after issue. The Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee period requires premium payments to Attained Age 100. |
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In addition to the No-Lapse Guarantee information described in the prospectus, the following may apply: A Contract with a Target Term Rider will only have a Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee available. The following table provides sample Short Term No-Lapse, Limited No-Lapse, and Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums (to the nearest dollar). The examples assume: (1) the insured is a male, Preferred Best, with no extra risk or substandard ratings; (2) a $250,000 Basic Insurance Amount; (3) no extra benefit riders have been added to the Contract; and (4) the Cash Value Accumulation Test has been elected for definition of life insurance testing. |
Illustrative Annual Premiums | ||||
Age of insured at issue | Type of Death Benefit Chosen | Short Term No- Lapse Guarantee Premium | Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premium | Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee Premium |
40 | Type A | $1,338 | $2,138 | $4,765 |
40 | Type B | $1,340 | $2,220 | $14,185 |
40 | Type C | $1,340 | N/A | N/A |
60 | Type A | $4,878 | $6,458 | $12,963 |
60 | Type B | $4,900 | $6,510 | $33,195 |
60 | Type C | $4,900 | N/A | N/A |
80 | Type A | $16,203 | $37,385 | $47,235 |
80 | Type B | $22,353 | $41,788 | $83,015 |
80 | Type C | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Increases in Basic Insurance Amount | The maximum COI rates for a Coverage Segment representing an increase in Basic Insurance Amount are based upon 1980 CSO Mortality Tables. |
Loans | The minimum loan amount you may borrow is generally $500, but may be lower in some states. We charge interest at an effective annual rate of 4% for standard loans. A portion of any amount you borrow on or after the 10th Contract Anniversary may be considered a preferred loan. The maximum preferred loan amount is the total amount you may borrow minus the total net premiums paid (net premiums equal premiums paid less total withdrawals, if any). If the net premium amount is less than zero, we will, for purposes of this calculation, consider it to be zero. On the 10th Contract Anniversary and each Contract Anniversary thereafter, if the insured is living and the Contract is not in default, any existing loan amount will automatically be converted to a preferred loan to the extent that there is a preferred loan amount available. Preferred loans are charged interest at an effective annual rate of 3.10%. While a loan is outstanding, the amount that was transferred will continue to be treated as part of the Contract Fund. It will be credited with interest at an effective annual rate of 3%. |
Lapse and Reinstatement | Any Contract Debt must be restored with interest to date, or paid back. If the Contract Debt is restored and the debt with interest would exceed the loan value of the reinstated Contract, the excess must be paid to us before reinstatement; |
Distribution and Compensation | In addition to the Distribution and Compensation information described in the prospectus, the following may apply: The Commissionable Target Premium is equal to the first year's surrender charge (which is found in your Contract Data pages) divided by the Percentage of Sales Load Target Premium at start of year one from the table in the Surrender Charges section of this prospectus, plus the premium for any riders other than the Target Term Rider. The Commissionable Target Premium will vary by issue age, sex, smoker/nonsmoker, substandard rating class, and any riders selected by the Contract Owner, with the exception of the Target Term Rider. Type A, B, and C Death Benefits have the same Commissionable Target Premium, Sales Load Target Premium and Surrender Charge Target Premiums. In addition to the Distribution and Compensation information described in the prospectus, the following may apply: We pay significantly lower compensation on a Contract with a Target Term Rider than on a Contract without the Target Term Rider that has the same initial Death Benefit and premium payments because the Target Term Rider is not used in the determination of the Commissionable Target Premium. Broker-dealers will also receive compensation in years two and beyond of up to 0.25% of the Contract Fund, net of Contract Debt. |
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Riders
Target Term Rider (Available only with Contract Form VUL-2004 and Contract Form VUL-2005).
The Target Term Rider (TTR) provides a flexible term insurance benefit to Attained Age 100 on the life of the insured and cannot be added after the contract is issued. TTR is only available if your contract has a Basic Insurance Amount of $100,000 of more. If you elect to have the TTR, you specify the amount of TTR coverage you desire. The minimum amount is $5,000 and the maximum amount is four times the Contract's Basic Insurance Amount at issue or at the time of a TTR increase. This amount is called the rider coverage amount and is the maximum Death Benefit payable under the rider. The Basic Insurance Amount and the rider death benefit, combined, must be equal to a minimum total insurance amount of $250,000. For example, if your contract has a Basic Insurance Amount of $100,000, the rider coverage amount must be at least $150,000. After issue, while the rider is in-force, you may increase the rider coverage amount, subject to a minimum increase amount of $25,000 and underwriting requirements we determine. You may also decrease your rider coverage amount after issue, subject to a minimum amount of $10,000 per decrease. However, we will not reduce the rider coverage amount below $5,000, unless you request to discontinue your TTR coverage.
At issue, the rider coverage amount and the rider death benefit are the same. However, the rider death benefit fluctuates as the base Contract's Death Benefit changes under the circumstances described below. If the Contract Fund has grown to the point where the base Contract’s Death Benefit begins to vary as required by the Internal Revenue Code's definition of life insurance, the rider death benefit will decrease (or increase) dollar for dollar as the base Contract’s Death Benefit increases (or decreases).
In the graph below, the rider coverage amount is $500,000 until year 16.
· | From year 1 to 9, the rider death benefit is $500,000 and the Basic Insurance amount is $500,000, so the total coverage amount is $1,000,000. |
· | In year 10, the rider death benefit drops to $450,000 as the Basic Insurance Amount rises to $550,000 and the total coverage amount remains $1,000,000. The rider death benefit will never increase beyond the rider coverage amount. |
· | In year 16, the rider death benefit drops to $0 and the Basic Insurance Amount starts to increase. |
· | By year 20, the Basic Insurance amount and total coverage amount have increased to $1,464,000 in this example and the rider death benefit is $0. |
If you have a Type A Death Benefit and you take a withdrawal, the rider coverage amount may require a reduction, if the Death Benefit was increased to meet the definition of life insurance.
59
Some of the factors outlined below impact the financial performance of a Contract, including the amount of the Contract's cash value and Death Benefit. It is important that you ask your Pruco Life representative to provide illustrations based on different combinations of Basic Insurance Amount and rider coverage amount. You and your Pruco Life representative can then discuss how these combinations may address your objectives.
· | We do not apply a surrender charge to the TTR. |
· | We currently do not deduct the monthly administrative charge for the TTR. |
· | The Sales Load Target Premium is lower for a Contract with a TTR than for a Contract without TTR if it has the same Death Benefit, and this results in a lower current sales expense charge. |
· | The current Cost of Insurance charge per $1,000 for the TTR is generally lower than the Cost of Insurance charge per $1,000 for the Basic Insurance Amount. |
· | A Contract with a TTR offers the potential for lower cash values and Death Benefits than a Contract without TTR that has the same total Death Benefit if we raise our current charges to the maximum contractual level. |
· | The No-Lapse Guarantee for Contracts issued with a TTR is limited to seven years (five years for issue ages of 60 or above). |
· | The Accidental Death Benefit and the Living Needs Benefit does not apply to any portion of the Death Benefit attributable to TTR. |
· | The Enhanced Disability Benefit is unavailable on Contracts with a TTR. |
· | We pay significantly lower commissions on a Contract with a TTR than on a Contract without TTR that has the same initial Death Benefit and premium payments. |
60
VUL-2004 Contracts
The variations for VUL-2004 Contracts are the same as VUL-2005 Contracts except for the following:
Section Headings | Variation |
Sales Load Charges | |
Years 1 - 10 | |
Up to Sales Load Target Premium 4% | |
In Excess of Sales Load Target Premium 2% |
Paying more than the Sales Load Target Premium in any of the first 10 Contract Years could reduce your total sales load. For example, assume that a Contract with no riders or extra insurance charges, has a Sales Load Target Premium of $884.00 and the Contract Owner would like to pay 10 premiums. If you paid $1,768 (two times the amount of the Sales Load Target Premium) in every other Contract Year up to the ninth year (i.e. in years 1, 3, 5, 7, 9), the total sales load charge would be $265.20. If you paid $884.00 in each of the first 10 Contract Years, the total sales load would be $353.60. |
Surrender Charges | The chart below shows maximum percentages for all ages at the beginning of the first Contract Year and the end of the last Contract Year that a surrender charge may be payable. |
Issue Age | Percentage of Sales Load Target Premium, less premiums for riders, at start of year 1 | Reduces to zero at the end of year |
0-45 | 90% | 10 |
46-48 | 90% | 9 |
49 | 90% | 8 |
50-52 | 75% | 8 |
53-55 | 75% | 7 |
56-60 | 75% | 5 |
61-63 | 45% | 5 |
64-65 | 45% | 4 |
66-67 | 40% | 4 |
68 and above | 40% | 3 |
Charges for Optional Rider Coverage | Enhanced Disability Benefit Rider - We deduct a monthly charge for this rider, which provides invested premium amounts while the insured is totally disabled. The current charge is based on issue age, issue date, sex, and underwriting class of the insured. It ranges from 7.08% to 10.40%, of the greater of (a) and (b) where (a) is: 9% of the Contract's Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premium and (b) is the total of all monthly deductions, and is charged until the first Contract Anniversary on or after the insured’s 60th birthday. Target Term Rider - We may deduct a monthly charge for the administration of this rider, which provides a flexible term insurance benefit to Attained Age 100 on the life of the insured. We currently deduct a COI charge for this rider, which ranges from $0.02 to $83.34 per $1,000 of rider Death Benefit, which is generally lower than the COI charge per $1,000 deducted for the Basic Insurance Amount, and is based on rider coverage duration, issue age, issue date, sex, and underwriting class of the insured. We currently do not deduct the monthly charge for the administration of this rider. |
Requirements for Issuance of a Contract | The Contract may be issued on insureds through age 90 for Contracts with Type A (fixed) and Type B (variable) Death Benefits. |
No-Lapse Guarantee | The following table provides sample Short Term No-Lapse, Limited No-Lapse, and Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums (to the nearest dollar). The examples assume: (1) the insured is a male, Preferred Best, with no extra risk or substandard ratings; (2) a $250,000 Basic Insurance Amount; (3) no extra benefit riders have been added to the Contract; and (4) the Cash Value Accumulation Test has been elected for definition of life insurance testing. |
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Illustrative Annual Premiums | ||||
Age of insured at issue | Type of Death Benefit Chosen | Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee Premium | Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premium | Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee Premium |
40 | Type A | $1,125 | $2,138 | $4,765 |
40 | Type B | $1,210 | $2,220 | $14,185 |
40 | Type C | $1,210 | N/A | N/A |
60 | Type A | $3,363 | $7,158 | $12,963 |
60 | Type B | $4,415 | $7,218 | $33,195 |
60 | Type C | $4,415 | N/A | N/A |
80 | Type A | $16,203 | $39,345 | $47,235 |
80 | Type B | $22,353 | $43,980 | $83,015 |
80 | Type C | N/A | N/A | N/A |
62
PROSPECTUS
October 7, 2013
PRUCO LIFE VARIABLE UNIVERSAL ACCOUNT
PruLife® Custom Premier II
This prospectus describes an individual flexible premium variable universal life insurance contract, the PruLife® Custom Premier II Contract (the “Contract”) offered by Pruco Life Insurance Company ("Pruco Life", "us", "we", or "our"), a stock life insurance company. Pruco Life is a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Prudential Insurance Company of America.
Investment Choices:
PruLife® Custom Premier II offers a wide variety of Variable Investment Options managed by these asset managers. You may choose to invest your Contract's premiums and its earnings in one or more of the available Variable Investment Options of the Pruco Life Variable Universal Account (the “Account”). The prospectuses for the Variable Investment Options, including information about their investment objectives, fees, and investment advisers/subadvisers, are printed in the following order after this prospectus.
· Advanced Series Trust | · JPMorgan Insurance Trust |
· American Century Investments® | · Hartford HLS Series Fund II, Inc. |
· American Funds Insurance Series | · Hartford Series Fund, Inc. |
· Dreyfus Investment Portfolios | · MFS® Variable Insurance Trust |
· Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund, Inc. | · Neuberger Berman Advisers Management Trust |
· Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Funds | · Prudential Series Fund |
· Franklin Templeton Variable Insurance Products Trust | · TOPS – The Optimized Portfolio System |
· Janus Aspen Series |
For a complete list of the available Variable Investment Options, see The Funds.
You may also choose to invest your Contract’s premiums and its earnings in the Fixed Rate Option, which pays a guaranteed interest rate. See The Fixed Rate Option.
Please Read this Prospectus. Please read this prospectus before purchasing a PruLife® Custom Premier II variable universal life insurance Contract and keep it for future reference. Current prospectuses for each of the underlying Funds accompany this prospectus. These prospectuses contain important information about the Funds. Please read these prospectuses and keep them for reference.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined that this Contract is a good investment, nor has the SEC determined that this prospectus is complete or accurate. It is a criminal offense to state otherwise.
The Contract may be purchased through registered representatives located in banks and other financial institutions. Investment in a variable life insurance contract is subject to risk, including the possible loss of your money. An investment in PruLife® Custom Premier II is not a bank deposit and is not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) or any other governmental agency.
Pruco Life Insurance Company
213 Washington Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102
Telephone: (800) 944-8786
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
SUMMARY OF CHARGES AND EXPENSES | 1 |
SUMMARY OF THE CONTRACT AND CONTRACT BENEFITS | 8 |
SUMMARY OF CONTRACT RISKS | 12 |
SUMMARY OF RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE VARIABLE INVESTMENT OPTIONS | 15 |
GENERAL DESCRIPTIONS OF PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, THE REGISTRANT, AND THE FUNDS | 15 |
CHARGES AND EXPENSES | 23 |
PERSONS HAVING RIGHTS UNDER THE CONTRACT | 28 |
OTHER GENERAL CONTRACT PROVISIONS | 28 |
RIDERS | 29 |
REQUIREMENTS FOR ISSUANCE OF A CONTRACT | 31 |
PREMIUMS | 31 |
DEATH BENEFITS | 35 |
CONTRACT VALUES | 41 |
LAPSE AND REINSTATEMENT | 44 |
TAXES | 45 |
DISTRIBUTION AND COMPENSATION | 47 |
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS | 48 |
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS | 50 |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION | 50 |
DEFINITIONS OF SPECIAL TERMS USED IN THIS PROSPECTUS | 51 |
Appendix A: Contract Variations | Appendix A |
Advanced Series Trust: | |
AST Balanced Asset Allocation Portfolio | Appendix 1 |
AST BlackRock Global Strategies Portfolio | Appendix 2 |
AST Cohen & Steers Realty Portfolio | Appendix 3 |
AST Federated Aggressive Growth Portfolio | Appendix 4 |
AST Goldman Sachs Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio | Appendix 5 |
AST Herndon Large-Cap Value Portfolio | Appendix 6 |
AST J.P. Morgan International Equity Portfolio | Appendix 7 |
AST J.P. Morgan Strategic Opportunities Portfolio | Appendix 8 |
AST Large-Cap Value Portfolio | Appendix 9 |
AST Loomis Sayles Large-Cap Growth Portfolio | Appendix 10 |
AST MFS Global Equity Portfolio | Appendix 11 |
AST MFS Growth Portfolio | Appendix 12 |
AST Neuberger Berman Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio | Appendix 13 |
AST PIMCO Limited Maturity Bond Portfolio | Appendix 14 |
AST PIMCO Total Return Bond Portfolio | Appendix 15 |
AST Preservation Asset Allocation Portfolio | Appendix 16 |
AST Small-Cap Growth Portfolio | Appendix 17 |
AST Small-Cap Value Portfolio | Appendix 18 |
AST T. Rowe Price Large-Cap Growth Portfolio | Appendix 19 |
AST T. Rowe Price Natural Resources Portfolio | Appendix 20 |
AST Templeton Global Bond Portfolio | Appendix 21 |
AST Wellington Management Hedged Equity Portfolio | Appendix 22 |
American Century Investments®: | |
American Century VP Mid Cap Value Fund | Appendix 23 |
American Funds Insurance Series: | |
American Funds Growth Fund | Appendix 24 |
American Funds Growth-Income Fund | Appendix 25 |
American Funds International Fund | Appendix 26 |
Dreyfus Investment Portfolios: | |
Dreyfus MidCap Stock Portfolio | Appendix 27 |
Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund, Inc.: | |
Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund, Inc. | Appendix 28 |
Fidelity Variable Insurance Products Funds: | |
Fidelity® VIP Contrafund® Portfolio | Appendix 29 |
Fidelity® VIP Mid Cap Portfolio | Appendix 30 |
Franklin Templeton Variable Insurance Products Trust: | |
Franklin Income Securities Fund | Appendix 31 |
Mutual Shares Securities Fund | Appendix 32 |
Templeton Growth Securities Fund | Appendix 33 |
Hartford HLS Series Fund II, Inc: | |
Hartford Growth Opportunities HLS Fund | Appendix 34 |
Hartford Series Fund, Inc: | |
Hartford Capital Appreciation HLS Fund | Appendix 35 |
Harford Disciplined Equity HLS Fund | Appendix 36 |
Harford Dividend and Growth HLS Fund | Appendix 37 |
Janus Aspen Series: | |
Janus Aspen Series Overseas Portfolio | Appendix 38 |
JPMorgan Insurance Trust: | |
JPMorgan Insurance Trust Intrepid Mid Cap Portfolio | Appendix 39 |
MFS® Variable Insurance Trust: | |
MFS® Research Bond Series | Appendix 40 |
MFS® Utilities Series | Appendix 41 |
MFS® Value Series | Appendix 42 |
Neuberger Berman Advisers Management Trust: | |
Neuberger Berman AMT Socially Responsive Portfolio | Appendix 43 |
Prudential Series Fund: | |
PSF Diversified Bond Portfolio | Appendix 44 |
PSF Equity Portfolio | Appendix 45 |
PSF Global Portfolio | Appendix 46 |
PSF High Yield Bond Portfolio | Appendix 47 |
PSF Jennison Portfolio | Appendix 48 |
PSF Jennison 20/20 Focus Portfolio | Appendix 49 |
PSF Money Market Portfolio | Appendix 50 |
PSF Natural Resources Portfolio | Appendix 51 |
PSF Small Capitalization Stock Portfolio | Appendix 52 |
PSF SP International Growth Portfolio | Appendix 53 |
PSF SP International Value Portfolio | Appendix 54 |
PSF SP Prudential U.S. Emerging Growth Portfolio | Appendix 55 |
PSF SP Small Cap Value Portfolio | Appendix 56 |
PSF Stock Index Portfolio | Appendix 57 |
PSF Value Portfolio | Appendix 58 |
TOPS-The Optimized Portfolio SystemTM: | |
TOPSTM Aggressive Growth ETF Portfolio | Appendix 59 |
TOPSTM Balanced ETF Portfolio | Appendix 60 |
TOPSTM Capital Preservation ETF Portfolio | Appendix 61 |
TOPSTM Growth ETF Portfolio | Appendix 62 |
TOPSTM Managed Risk Balanced ETF Portfolio | Appendix 63 |
TOPSTM Managed Risk Growth ETF Portfolio | Appendix 64 |
TOPSTM Managed Risk Moderate Growth ETF Portfolio | Appendix 65 |
TOPSTM Moderate Growth ETF Portfolio | Appendix 66 |
SUMMARY OF CHARGES AND EXPENSES
Capitalized terms used in this prospectus are defined where first used or in the DEFINITIONS OF SPECIAL TERMS USED IN THIS PROSPECTUS, which is located at the end of this prospectus.
Contract Variations
Certain versions of PruLife Custom Premier II are no longer sold. Your Contract features, riders, rates and charges may vary depending on the version you purchased. Please contact your Pruco Life representative as well as reviewing Appendix A, later in this prospectus, for more information about the particular variations that apply to your Contract form number. Your Contract form number is located in the lower left hand corner on the first page of your Contract. If you purchased your contract prior to October 7, 2013, a description of contract variations that may apply to you is contained in the Expenses other than Portfolio Expenses section below and in Appendix A: Contract Variations for VUL-2008 (offered approximately 5/1/2008 - 10/6/2013), VUL-2005 (offered approximately 10/17/2005 - 4/30/2008), and VUL-2004 (offered approximately 5/17/2004 - 10/16/2005). The Contract may have been available in your state past the approximate end date indicated based on when your state approved the Contract.
Expenses other than Portfolio Expenses
The following tables describe the maximum fees and expenses that you could pay when buying, owning, and surrendering the Contract. Generally, our current fees and expenses are lower than the maximum fees and expenses reflected in the following tables. For more information about fees and expenses, see CHARGES AND EXPENSES.
The first table describes maximum fees and expenses that we deduct from each premium payment, and maximum fees we charge for transactions and riders.
Charge | When Charge is Deducted | Amount Deducted |
Maximum Sales Charge on Premiums (Load) | Deducted from premium payments. | 6% |
Premium Based Administrative Charge | Deducted from premium payments. | 7.5% |
Surrender Charge(1) (Percentage of first year Sales Load Target Premium less premiums for riders and extras.) | Upon lapse, surrender, or decrease in Basic Insurance Amount. | Up to 100% |
Transfer fee | Each transfer exceeding 12 in any Contract Year. | $25 |
Withdrawal fee (Based on the withdrawal amount.) | Upon withdrawal. | The lesser of $25 and 2%. |
Insurance Amount Change fee | Upon change in Basic Insurance Amount. | $25 |
Living Needs Benefit Rider fee | When benefit is paid. | $150 |
Overloan Protection Rider fee (Percentage of the Contract Fund amount.) | One time charge upon exercising the rider benefit. | 3.5% |
(1) | The maximum surrender charge percentage of 100% applies in the early durations for younger ages. The percentage varies by Contract form, issue age and duration, and reduces to zero by the end of the 10th year. For some older ages, the duration is as short as 3 years. For Contract Form VUL-2004 the maximum surrender charge percentage is 90%. See CHARGES AND EXPENSES. |
The second, third, and fourth tables describe the maximum Contract fees and expenses that you may pay periodically during the time you own the Contract, not including the Funds’ fees and expenses, depending on the Contract Form you purchase.
Table 2: Periodic Contract and Optional Rider Charges Other Than The Fund's Operating Expenses (Contract Form VUL-2013 for Contracts sold 10/7/13 or later, subject to state availability) | ||
Charge | When Charge is Deducted | Amount Deducted |
Cost of Insurance (“COI”) for the Basic Insurance Amount. Minimum and Maximum Charges per $1,000 of the net amount at risk _____________ Initial COI for a representative Contract Owner, male age 32 in the Non-smoker Plus underwriting class, no riders. (Charge per $1,000 of the net amount at risk.) | Monthly | From $.02 to $83.34(1)(2) _____________ $0.09 |
Mortality and Expense Risk fee (Effective annual rate calculated as a percentage of assets in the Variable Investment Options.) | Daily | 0.45%(3) |
Additional Mortality fees for risk associated with certain health conditions, occupations, avocations, or aviation risks. (Charged per $1,000 of Basic Insurance Amount.) | Monthly | From $0.10 to $2.08(4) |
Net interest on loans(5) | Annually | 1% for standard loans. 0.05% for preferred loans. |
Administrative fee for Basic Insurance Amount Minimum and Maximum Charges (Charge per $1,000 of Basic Insurance Amount plus a flat fee.) _____________ Initial fee for Basic Insurance Amount for a representative Contract Owner, male age 32 in the Non-smoker Plus underwriting class, no riders. (Charge per $1,000 of Basic Insurance Amount plus a flat fee.) | Monthly | $0.07 to $1.09; plus $30 in the first Contract Year and $9 thereafter. _____________ $0.10 plus $30 |
Administrative fee for an increase to Basic Insurance Amount Minimum and Maximum Charges (Charge per $1,000 of increase to the Basic Insurance Amount plus a flat fee per increase segment.) _____________ Initial fee for increase to Basic Insurance Amount for a representative Contract Owner, male age 32 in the Non-smoker Plus underwriting class, no riders (Charge per $1,000 of increase to the Basic Insurance Amount plus a flat fee per increase segment.) | Monthly | $0.07 to $1.09; plus $12 in the first 2 Contract Years and zero thereafter. _____________ $0.10 plus $12 |
Accidental Death Benefit Rider(6) Minimum and Maximum Charges per $1,000 of the coverage amount. _____________ Accidental Death Benefit Rider fee for a representative Contract Owner, male age 32 in the Non-smoker Plus underwriting class. (Charge per $1,000 of the coverage amount.) | Monthly | From $0.05 to $0.28(1) _____________ $0.07 |
Children Level Term Rider(6) (Charge per $1,000 of the coverage amount.) | Monthly | $0.42 |
Enhanced Disability Benefit Rider(1)(6) Minimum and Maximum Charges (Percentage of the greater of: 9% of the policy target premium or the total of monthly deductions.) _____________ Enhanced Disability Benefit Rider fee for a representative Contract Owner, male age 32 in the Non-smoker Plus underwriting class. (Percentage of the greater of: 9% of the policy target premium or the total of monthly deductions.) | Monthly | From 7.08% to 12.17% _____________ 7.52% |
(1) | The charge varies based on the individual characteristics of the insured, including such characteristics as: age, sex, and underwriting class. The charge shown in the table may not be representative of the charge that a particular contract owner will pay. You may obtain more information about the particular charges that apply to you by contacting your Pruco Life representative. |
(2) | For example, the highest COI rate is for an insured who is a male/female age 120. You may obtain more information about the particular COI charges that apply to you by contacting your Pruco Life representative. |
(3) | The daily charge is based on the effective annual rate shown. |
(4) | The amount and duration of the charge will vary based on individual circumstances including issue age, type of risk, and the frequency of exposure to the risk, and is charged per $1,000 of Basic Insurance Amount. The charge shown in the table may not be representative of the charge that a particular contract owner will pay. You may obtain more information about the particular charges that apply to you by contacting your Pruco Life representative |
(5) | The maximum loan rate reflects the net difference between a standard loan with an effective annual interest rate of 2% and an effective annual interest credit equal to 1%. Preferred loans are charged a lower effective annual interest rate. See Loans. |
(6) | Duration of the charge is limited. See CHARGES AND EXPENSES. |
Table 3: Periodic Contract and Optional Rider Charges Other Than The Fund's Operating Expenses (Contract Form VUL-2008) | ||
Charge | When Charge is Deducted | Amount Deducted |
Cost of Insurance (“COI”) for the Basic Insurance Amount. Minimum and Maximum Charges per $1,000 of the net amount at risk _____________ Initial COI for a representative Contract Owner, male age 32 in the Non-smoker Plus underwriting class, no riders. (Charge per $1,000 of the net amount at risk.) | Monthly | From $.02 to $83.34(1)(2) _____________ $0.09 |
Mortality and Expense Risk fee (Effective annual rate calculated as a percentage of assets in the Variable Investment Options.) | Daily | 0.45%(3) |
Additional Mortality fees for risk associated with certain health conditions, occupations, avocations, or aviation risks. (Charged per $1,000 of Basic Insurance Amount.) | Monthly | From $0.10 to $2.08(4) |
Net interest on loans(5) | Annually | 1% for standard loans. 0.10% for preferred loans. |
Administrative fee for Basic Insurance Amount Minimum and Maximum Charges (Charge per $1,000 of Basic Insurance Amount plus a flat fee.) _____________ Initial fee for Basic Insurance Amount for a representative Contract Owner, male age 32 in the Non-smoker Plus underwriting class, no riders. (Charge per $1,000 of Basic Insurance Amount plus a flat fee.) | Monthly | $0.06 to $1.50; plus $30 in the first Contract Year and $9 thereafter. _____________ $0.13 plus $30 |
Administrative fee for an increase to Basic Insurance Amount Minimum and Maximum Charges (Charge per $1,000 of increase to the Basic Insurance Amount plus a flat fee per increase segment.) _____________ Initial fee for increase to Basic Insurance Amount for a representative Contract Owner, male age 32 in the Non-smoker Plus underwriting class, no riders (Charge per $1,000 of increase to the Basic Insurance Amount plus a flat fee per increase segment.) | Monthly | $0.06 to $1.50; plus $12 in the first 2 Contract Years and zero thereafter. _____________ $0.13 plus $12 |
Accidental Death Benefit Rider(6) Minimum and Maximum Charges per $1,000 of the coverage amount. _____________ Accidental Death Benefit Rider fee for a representative Contract Owner, male age 32 in the Non-smoker Plus underwriting class. (Charge per $1,000 of the coverage amount.) | Monthly | From $0.05 to $0.28(1) _____________ $0.07 |
Children Level Term Rider(6) (Charge per $1,000 of the coverage amount.) | Monthly | $0.42 |
Enhanced Disability Benefit Rider(1)(6) Minimum and Maximum Charges (Percentage of the greater of: 9% of the policy target premium or the total of monthly deductions.) _____________ Enhanced Disability Benefit Rider fee for a representative Contract Owner, male age 32 in the Non-smoker Plus underwriting class. (Percentage of the greater of: 9% of the policy target premium or the total of monthly deductions.) | Monthly | From 7.08% to 12.17% _____________ 7.52% |
1) | The charge varies based on the individual characteristics of the insured, including such characteristics as: age, sex, and underwriting class. The charge shown in the table may not be representative of the charge that a particular contract owner will pay. You may obtain more information about the particular charges that apply to you by contacting your Pruco Life representative. |
2) | For example, the highest COI rate is for an insured who is a male/female age 120. You may obtain more information about the particular COI charges that apply to you by contacting your Pruco Life representative. |
3) | The daily charge is based on the effective annual rate shown. |
4) | The amount and duration of the charge will vary based on individual circumstances including issue age, type of risk, and the frequency of exposure to the risk, and is charged per $1,000 of Basic Insurance Amount. The charge shown in the table may not be representative of the charge that a particular contract owner will pay. You may obtain more information about the particular charges that apply to you by contacting your Pruco Life representative. |
5) | The maximum loan rate reflects the net difference between a standard loan with an effective annual interest rate of 4% and an effective annual interest credit equal to 3%. Preferred loans are charged a lower effective annual interest rate. See Loans. |
6) | Duration of the charge is limited. See CHARGES AND EXPENSES. |
Table 4: Periodic Contract and Optional Rider Charges Other Than The Fund's Operating Expenses (Contract Forms VUL-2004 and VUL-2005) | ||
Charge | When Charge is Deducted | Amount Deducted |
Cost of Insurance (“COI”) for the Basic Insurance Amount. Minimum and Maximum Charges per $1,000 of the net amount at risk. _____________ Initial COI for a representative Contract Owner, male age 32 in the Non-smoker Plus underwriting class, no riders. (Charge per $1,000 of the net amount at risk.) | Monthly | From $.06 to $83.34(1)(2) _____________ $0.13 |
Cost of Insurance (“COI”) for Target Term Rider coverage. Minimum and Maximum Charges per $1,000 of the net amount at risk. _____________ Initial COI for a representative Contract Owner, male age 32 in the Non-smoker Plus underwriting class. | Monthly | From $.06 to $83.34(1)(2) _____________ $0.13 |
Mortality and Expense Risk fee (Calculated as a percentage of assets in Variable Investment Options.) | Daily | 0.45%(3) |
Additional Mortality fee for risk associated with certain health conditions, occupations, avocations, or aviation risks. (Charged per $1,000 of Basic Insurance Amount.) | Monthly | From $0.10 to $2.08(4) |
Net interest on loans(5) | Annually | 1% for standard loans. 0.10% for preferred loans. |
Administrative fee for Basic Insurance Amount Minimum and Maximum Charges (Charge per $1,000 of Basic Insurance Amount plus a flat fee.) _____________ Initial fee for Basic Insurance Amount for a representative Contract Owner, male age 32 in the Non-smoker Plus underwriting class, no riders. (Charge per $1,000 of Basic Insurance Amount plus a flat fee.) | Monthly | $0.04 to $1.40; plus $30 in the first Contract Year and $9 thereafter. _____________ $0.12 plus $30 |
Administrative fee for an increase to Basic Insurance Amount Minimum and Maximum Charges (Charge per $1,000 of increase to the Basic Insurance Amount plus a flat fee per increase segment.) _____________ Initial fee for increase to Basic Insurance Amount for a representative Contract Owner, male age 32 in the Non-smoker Plus underwriting class, no riders. (Charge per $1,000 of increase to the Basic Insurance Amount plus a flat fee per increase segment.) | Monthly | $0.04 to $1.40; plus $12 in the first 2 Contract Years and zero thereafter. _____________ $0.12 plus $12 |
The Target Term Rider or an increase to the Target Term Rider Minimum and Maximum Charges per $1,000 of the coverage amount. _____________ Target Term Rider fee for a representative Contract Owner, male age 32 in the Non-smoker Plus underwriting class. | Monthly | From $0.05 to $1.41(1) _____________ $0.13 |
Accidental Death Benefit Rider(6) Minimum and Maximum Charges per $1,000 of the coverage amount _____________ Accidental Death Benefit Rider fee for a representative Contract Owner, male age 32 in the Non-smoker Plus underwriting class. (Charge per $1,000 of the coverage amount.) | Monthly | From $0.05 to $0.28(1) _____________ $0.07 |
Children Level Term Rider(6) (Charge per $1,000 of the coverage amount.) | Monthly | $0.42 |
Enhanced Disability Benefit Rider(1)(6) Minimum and Maximum Charges (Percentage of the greater of: 9% of the policy target premium or the total of monthly deductions.) _____________ Enhanced Disability Benefit Rider fee for a representative Contract Owner, male age 32 in the Non-smoker Plus underwriting class. (Percentage of the greater of: 9% of the policy target premium or the total of monthly deductions.) | Monthly | From 7.08% to 12.17%(7) _____________ 7.52% |
(1) | The charge varies based on the individual characteristics of the insured, including such characteristics as: age, sex, and underwriting class. The charge shown in the table may not be representative of the charge that a particular contract owner will pay. You may obtain more information about the particular charges that apply to you by contacting your Pruco Life representative. |
(2) | For example, the highest COI rate is for an insured who is a male/female age 99. You may obtain more information about the particular COI charges that apply to you by contacting your Pruco Life representative. |
(3) | The daily charge is based on the effective annual rate shown. |
(4) | The amount and duration of the charge will vary based on individual circumstances including issue age, type of risk, and the frequency of exposure to the risk, and is charged per $1,000 of Basic Insurance Amount. The charge shown in the table may not be representative of the charge that a particular contract owner will pay. You may obtain more information about the particular charges that apply to you by contacting your Pruco Life representative. |
(5) | The maximum loan rate reflects the net difference between a standard loan with an effective annual interest rate of 4% and an effective annual interest credit equal to 3%. Preferred loans are charged a lower effective annual interest rate. See Loans. |
(6) | Duration of the charge is limited. See CHARGES AND EXPENSES. |
(7) | For Contracts issued on Contract Form VUL-2004, the amount deducted is 7.08% to 10.40% of the greater of 9% of the policy target premium or the total of monthly deductions. |
Portfolio Expenses
This table shows the minimum and maximum total operating expenses charged by the Funds that you will pay periodically during the time you own the Contract. More detail concerning each Fund’s fees and expenses is contained in the prospectus for each of the Funds.
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses | Minimum | Maximum |
(Expenses that are deducted from the Funds’ assets, including management fees, any distribution [and/or service] (12b-1) fees, and other expenses, but not including reductions for any fee waiver or other reimbursements.) | 0.37% | 1.29% |
SUMMARY OF THE CONTRACT
AND CONTRACT BENEFITS
Brief Description of the Contract
PruLife® Custom Premier II is a form of variable universal life insurance. A variable universal life insurance contract is a flexible form of life insurance. It has a Death Benefit and a Contract Fund, the value of which changes every day according to the investment performance of the investment options to which you have allocated your net premiums. You may invest net premiums in one or more of the available Variable Investment Options or in the Fixed Rate Option. Although the value of your Contract Fund may increase if there is favorable investment performance in the Variable Investment Options you select, investment returns in the Variable Investment Options are NOT guaranteed. There is a risk that investment performance will be unfavorable and that the value of your Contract Fund will decrease. The risk will be different, depending upon which investment options you choose. You bear the risk of any decrease. If you select the Fixed Rate Option, we credit your account with a declared rate of interest, but you assume the risk that the rate may change, although it will never be lower than an effective annual rate of 1%. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms. Transfers from the Fixed Rate Option may be restricted. The Contract is designed to be flexible to meet your specific life insurance needs. Within certain limits, the Contract will provide you with flexibility in determining the amount and timing of your premium payments. Some Contract forms, features and/or riders described in this prospectus may not be available in all states. Some Contract forms, features and/or Variable Investment Options described in this prospectus may not be available through all brokers. Your Contract's form number is located in the lower left hand corner on the first page of your Contract.
Types of Death Benefit Available Under the Contract
There are three types of Death Benefit available. You may choose a Contract with a Type A (fixed) Death Benefit under which the Death Benefit generally remains at the Basic Insurance Amount you initially chose. However, the Contract Fund (described below) may grow to a point where the Death Benefit may increase and vary with investment experience. If you choose a Contract with a Type B (variable) Death Benefit, your Death Benefit will vary with investment experience. For Contracts with Type A and Type B Death Benefits, as long as the Contract is in-force, the Death Benefit will never be less than the Basic Insurance Amount shown in your Contract. If you choose a Contract with a Type C (return of premium) Death Benefit, the Death Benefit is generally equal to the Basic Insurance Amount plus the total premiums paid into the Contract, less withdrawals. The total premiums, less withdrawals, is not accumulated with interest. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms. The Death Benefit on a Contract with a Type C Death Benefit is limited to the Basic Insurance Amount plus an amount equal to: the Contract Fund plus the Type C Limiting Amount (the initial Basic Insurance Amount) multiplied by the Type C Death Benefit Factor, both located in the Contract Limitations section of your Contract.
Any type of Death Benefit, described above, may be increased to ensure that the Contract will satisfy the Internal Revenue Code's definition of life insurance.
You may change your Contract’s Death Benefit type after issue, however, if you choose a Contract with a Type A Death Benefit or Type B Death Benefit at issue, you will not be able to change to a Contract with a Type C Death Benefit thereafter. Also, if you change a Contract with a Type C Death Benefit to a Contract with a Type A Death Benefit or Type B Death Benefit after issue, you will not be able to change back to a Contract with a Type C Death Benefit. See Types of Death Benefit and Changing the Type of Death Benefit.
No-Lapse Guarantee Information
If you pay one of the three No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums described below, we will guarantee that your Contract will not lapse for the corresponding No-Lapse Guarantee Period as a result of unfavorable investment performance, and a Death Benefit will be paid upon the death of the insured, even if your Contract Fund value drops to zero. The No-Lapse Guarantee is based on your premium payments and is not a benefit you need to elect. Withdrawals and outstanding Contract loans may adversely affect the status of the No-Lapse Guarantee. See Withdrawals and Loans.
Generally there are three No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums and No-Lapse Guarantee Periods. The No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums vary by Basic Insurance Amount, definition of life insurance test, issue age, sex, underwriting class, and any substandard or additional mortality risk. See No-Lapse Guarantee, PREMIUMS, and DEATH BENEFITS.
1. | All Contracts have a Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee period, which has a corresponding Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee Premium. A Contract with a Type C (return of premium) Death Benefit will only have a Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee available. |
2. | All Contracts without a Type C (return of premium) Death Benefit have a second, longer Limited No-Lapse Guarantee period with a corresponding Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premium. |
3. | Additionally, there is a Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee period with a corresponding Lifetime Guarantee Premium for a Contract with a Type A (fixed) Death Benefit or a Contract with a Type B (variable) Death Benefit that has elected the Cash Value Accumulation Test for definition of life insurance. |
Unless a No-Lapse Guarantee is in effect, the Contract will go into default if the Contract Fund less any Contract Debt and less any applicable surrender charges falls to zero or less. Your Pruco Life representative can tell you the premium amounts you will need to pay to maintain these guarantees.
The Contract Fund
Your Contract Fund value changes daily, reflecting: (1) increases or decreases in the value of the Variable Investment Options; (2) interest credited on any amounts allocated to the Fixed Rate Option; (3) interest credited on any loan; and (4) the daily asset charge for mortality and expense risks assessed against the Variable Investment Options. The Contract Fund value also changes to reflect the receipt of premium payments, charges deducted from premium payments, and the monthly deductions described under CHARGES AND EXPENSES, and any added persistency credit. See Persistency Credit.
Premium Payments
You choose the timing and the amount of premium payments, with the exception of the minimum initial premium. All subsequent premium payments are subject to a minimum of $25 per payment. The Contract will remain in-force if the Contract Fund less any applicable surrender charges is greater than zero and more than any Contract Debt. Paying insufficient premiums, poor investment results, or the taking of loans or withdrawals from the Contract will increase the possibility that the Contract will lapse. However, if the premiums you paid, accumulated at an effective annual rate of 4%, less withdrawals also accumulated at 4% (“Accumulated Net Payments”) are at least equal to the amounts shown in the Table of No-Lapse Guarantee Values in your Contract Data pages, and there is no Contract Debt, we guarantee that your Contract will not lapse, even if investment experience is very unfavorable and the Contract Fund drops below zero. The length of time that the guarantee against lapse is available depends on your Contract's Death Benefit type. See PREMIUMS, No-Lapse Guarantee, and LAPSE AND REINSTATEMENT.
If you pay more premium than permitted under section 7702A of the Internal Revenue Code, your Contract would be classified as a Modified Endowment Contract, which would affect the federal income tax treatment of loans and withdrawals. For more information, see Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits - Modified Endowment Contracts.
Allocation of Premium Payments
When you apply for the Contract, you tell us how to allocate your premiums. You may change the way in which subsequent premiums are allocated by giving written notice to a Service Office, by our website, provided you are enrolled to use Prudential Online® Account Access, or by telephoning a Service Office, provided you are enrolled to use the Telephone Transfer System. See The Pruco Life Variable Universal Account and the Allocation of Premiums sections.
On the later of the Contract Date and the end of the Valuation Period in which the initial premium is received, we deduct the charge for sales expenses and the premium based administrative charge from the initial premium. The remainder of the initial premium and any other net premium received in Good Order at the Payment Office during the 10 day period (or longer if required by state regulation) following your receipt of the Contract will be allocated to the Money Market investment option, then the first monthly deductions are made. After the tenth day, these funds, adjusted for any investment results, will be transferred out of the Money Market investment option and allocated among the Variable Investment Options and/or the Fixed Rate Option according to your current premium allocation.
The charge for sales expenses and the premium based administrative charge will also apply to all subsequent premium payments. The remainder of each subsequent premium payment will be invested as of the end of the Valuation Period in which it is received in Good Order at the Payment Office, in accordance with the allocation you previously designated.
Investment Choices
You may choose to invest your Contract's premiums and its earnings in one or more of the available Variable Investment Options. You may also invest in the Fixed Rate Option. See The Funds and The Fixed Rate Option. You may transfer money among your investment choices, subject to restrictions. See Transfers/Restrictions on Transfers.
We may add or remove Variable Investment Options in the future.
Transfers Among Investment Options
You may, up to 12 times each Contract Year, transfer amounts among the Variable Investment Options or to the Fixed Rate Option. Additional transfers may be made only with our consent. Currently, we allow you to make additional transfers. For the first 20 transfers in a calendar year, you may transfer amounts by proper written notice to a Service Office, by our website, provided you are enrolled to use Prudential Online® Account Access, or by telephone, provided you are enrolled to use the Telephone Transfer System.
After you have submitted 20 transfers in a calendar year, we will accept subsequent transfer requests only if they are in a form that meets our needs, bear an original signature in ink, and are sent to us by U.S. regular mail.
Multiple transfers that occur during the same day, but prior to the end of the Valuation Period for that day, will be counted as a single transfer.
We may charge an administrative transaction fee of up to $25 for each transfer made exceeding 12 in any Contract Year. No transaction fee is currently charged in connection with a transfer, but we reserve the right to charge such a fee.
Certain restrictions may apply to transfers from the Fixed Rate Option.
We reserve the right to prohibit transfer requests determined to be disruptive to the investment option or to the disadvantage of other Contract Owners.
Transfer restrictions will be applied in a uniform manner and will not be waived.
In addition, you may use our dollar cost averaging feature or our automatic rebalancing feature. For additional information, please see Transfers/Restrictions on Transfers, Dollar Cost Averaging, and Auto-Rebalancing.
Increasing or Decreasing Basic Insurance Amount
Subject to conditions determined by us, after the issue of the Contract and after the first Contract Anniversary, you may increase the amount of insurance by increasing the Basic Insurance Amount of the Contract. When you do this, you create an additional Coverage Segment. Each Coverage Segment will be subject to its own monthly deductions, surrender charge, and surrender charge period, which begin on that segment’s effective date. See Increases in Basic Insurance Amount and Surrender Charges. In addition, if a significant premium is paid in conjunction with an increase, there is a possibility that the Contract will be classified as a Modified Endowment Contract. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits.
Subject to certain limitations, you also have the option of decreasing the Basic Insurance Amount of your Contract after the issue of the Contract. See Decreases in Basic Insurance Amount.
For Contracts with more than one Coverage Segment, a decrease in Basic Insurance Amount will reduce each Coverage Segment based on the proportion of the Coverage Segment amount to the total of all Coverage Segment amounts in effect just before the change. A decrease in Basic Insurance Amount may result in a surrender charge. See Surrender Charges.
We may decline a decrease in the Basic Insurance Amount if we determine it would cause the Contract to fail to qualify as "life insurance" for purposes of Section 7702 of the Internal Revenue Code. In addition, if the Basic Insurance Amount is decreased, there is a possibility that the Contract will be classified as a Modified Endowment Contract. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits. We may decline a decrease in the Basic Insurance Amount if the Contract Fund value is less than any applicable partial surrender charges.
No administrative processing charge is currently being made in connection with either an increase or a decrease in Basic Insurance Amount. However, we reserve the right to charge such a fee in an amount of up to $25. See CHARGES AND EXPENSES.
Access to Contract Values
A Contract may be surrendered for its Cash Surrender Value (the Contract Fund minus any Contract Debt and minus any applicable surrender charge) while the insured is living. To surrender a Contract, we may require you to deliver or mail the Contract with a written request in a form that meets our needs, to a Service Office. The Cash Surrender Value of a Contract will be determined as of the end of the Valuation Period in which such a request is received in a Service Office. Surrender of a Contract may have tax consequences. See Surrender of a Contract and Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits.
Under certain circumstances, you may withdraw a part of the Contract's Cash Surrender Value without surrendering the Contract. The amount withdrawn must be at least $500. There is an administrative processing fee for each withdrawal which is the lesser of: (a) $25 and; (b) 2% of the withdrawal amount. Withdrawal of the Cash Surrender Value may have tax consequences. See Withdrawals and Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits.
Contract Loans
You may borrow money from us using your Contract as security for the loan, provided the Contract is not in default. The maximum loan amount is equal to the sum of (1) 99% of the portion of the cash value attributable to the Variable Investment Options and (2) the balance of the cash value, provided the Contract is not in default. The cash value is equal to the Contract Fund less any surrender charge. A Contract in default has no loan value. There is no minimum loan amount. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms. See Loans.
Persistency Credit Information
If your Contract is not in default, on each Monthly Date on or following at least the 5th Contract Anniversary, we may credit your Contract Fund with an additional amount for keeping your Contract in-force. See the Persistency Credit section.
Canceling the Contract (“Free-Look”)
Generally, you may return the Contract for a refund within 10 days after you receive it (or within any longer period of time required by state law). In general, you will receive a refund of all premium payments made, less any applicable federal and/or state income tax withholding. However, if applicable law permits a market value free-look, you will receive the greater of (1) the Contract Fund (which includes any investment results) plus the amount of any charges that have been deducted or (2) all premium payments made (including premium payments made more than 10 days after you receive the Contract, but within any longer free-look period of time required by state law), less any applicable federal and/or state income tax withholding. A Contract returned according to this provision shall be deemed void from the beginning.
SUMMARY OF CONTRACT RISKS
Contract Values are not Guaranteed
Your benefits (including life insurance) are not guaranteed, and may be entirely dependent on the investment performance of the Variable Investment Options you select. The value of your Contract Fund rises and falls with the performance of the Variable Investment Options you choose and the charges that we deduct. Poor investment performance or loans could cause your Contract to lapse and you could lose your insurance coverage. However, payment of the Death Benefit may be guaranteed under the No-Lapse Guarantee feature or may be protected under the Overloan Protection Rider. See No-Lapse Guarantee and Other Riders - Overloan Protection Rider.
The Variable Investment Options you choose may not perform to your expectations. Investing in the Contract involves risks including the possible loss of your entire investment. Only the Fixed Rate Option provides a guaranteed rate of return. For more detail, please see Risks Associated with the Variable Investment Options and The Fixed Rate Option.
Limitation of Benefits on Certain Riders for Claims Due to War or Service in the Armed Forces
We will not pay a benefit on any Accidental Death Benefit type rider or make payments for any disability type rider if the death or injury is caused or contributed to by war or act of war, declared or undeclared, including resistance to armed aggression. This restriction includes service in the armed forces of any country at war.
Increase in Charges
In several instances we will use the terms “maximum charge” and “current charge.” The “maximum charge,” in each instance, is the highest charge that we may make under the Contract. The “current charge,” in each instance, is the amount that we now charge, which may be lower than the maximum charge. If circumstances change, we reserve the right to increase each current charge, up to the maximum charge, without giving any advance notice.
Contract Lapse
Each month we determine the value of your Contract Fund. The Contract is in default if the Contract Fund, less any applicable surrender charges, is zero or less, unless it remains in-force under the No-Lapse Guarantee. See No-Lapse Guarantee. Your Contract will also be in default if at any time the Contract Debt equals or exceeds the Contract Fund less any applicable surrender charges. Should any event occur that would cause your Contract to lapse, we will notify you of the required payment to prevent your Contract from terminating. See Loans. Your payment must be received at the Payment Office within the 61-day grace period after the notice of default is mailed or the Contract will end and have no value. See LAPSE AND REINSTATEMENT. If you have an outstanding loan when your Contract lapses, you may have taxable income as a result. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits - Pre-Death Distributions.
Risks of Using the Contract as a Short Term Savings Vehicle
The Contract is designed to provide benefits on a long-term basis. Consequently, you should not purchase the Contract as a short-term investment or savings vehicle. Because of the long-term nature of the Contract, you should consider whether purchasing the Contract is consistent with the purpose for which it is being considered.
Because the Contract provides for an accumulation of a Contract Fund as well as a Death Benefit, you may wish to use it for various insurance planning purposes. Purchasing the Contract for such purposes may involve certain risks.
For example, a life insurance contract could play an important role in helping you to meet the future costs of a child’s education. The Contract’s Death Benefit could be used to provide for education costs should something happen to you, and its investment features could help you accumulate savings. However, if the Variable Investment Options you choose perform poorly, if you do not pay sufficient premiums, or if you access the values in your Contract through withdrawals or Contract loans, your Contract may lapse or you may not accumulate the value you need.
Risks of Taking Withdrawals
If your Contract meets certain requirements, you may make withdrawals from your Contract’s Cash Surrender Value while the Contract is in-force. The amount withdrawn must be at least $500. The withdrawal amount is limited by the requirement that the Cash Surrender Value after withdrawal may not be less than or equal to zero after deducting any charges associated with the withdrawal and an amount that we estimate will be sufficient to cover the Contract Fund deductions for two Monthly Dates following the date of withdrawal. There is a transaction fee for each withdrawal which is the lesser of: (a) $25 and; (b) 2% of the withdrawal amount. Withdrawal of the Cash Surrender Value may have tax consequences. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits.
Whenever a withdrawal is made, the Death Benefit may immediately be reduced by at least the amount of the withdrawal. Withdrawals under Contracts with a Type B Death Benefit and Type C Death Benefit will not change the Basic Insurance Amount. However, under a Contract with a Type A Death Benefit, the withdrawal may require a reduction in the Basic Insurance Amount. A surrender charge may be deducted when any withdrawal causes a reduction in the Basic Insurance Amount. See CHARGES AND EXPENSES. No withdrawal will be permitted under a Contract with a Type A Death Benefit if it would result in a Basic Insurance Amount of less than the minimum Basic Insurance Amount. See REQUIREMENTS FOR ISSUANCE OF A CONTRACT. It is important to note, however, that if the Basic Insurance Amount is decreased, there is a possibility that the Contract might be classified as a Modified Endowment Contract. Accessing the values in your Contract through withdrawals may significantly affect current and future Contract values or Death Benefit proceeds and may increase the chance that your Contract will lapse. Before making any withdrawal that causes a decrease in Basic Insurance Amount, you should consult with your tax adviser and your Pruco Life representative. See Withdrawals and Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits.
Limitations on Transfers
You may, up to 12 times each Contract Year, transfer amounts among the Variable Investment Options or to the Fixed Rate Option. We may charge up to $25 for each transfer made exceeding 12 in any Contract Year.
Additional transfers may be made only with our consent. Currently, we allow you to make additional transfers. For the first 20 transfers in a calendar year, you may transfer amounts by proper written notice to a Service Office, by our website, provided you are enrolled to use Prudential Online® Account Access, or by telephone, provided you are enrolled to use the Telephone Transfer System. We use reasonable procedures to confirm that instructions given by telephone are genuine. However, we are not liable for following telephone instructions that we reasonably believe to be genuine. In addition, we cannot guarantee that you will be able to get through to complete a telephone transfer during peak periods such as periods of drastic economic or market change.
After you have submitted 20 transfers in a calendar year, we will accept subsequent transfer requests only if they are in a form that meets our needs, bear an original signature in ink, and are sent to us by U.S. regular mail. After you have submitted 20 transfers in a calendar year, a subsequent transfer request by telephone, fax, or electronic means will be rejected, even in the event that it is inadvertently processed.
Currently, certain transfers effected systematically under either a dollar cost averaging or an automatic rebalancing program described in this prospectus do not count towards the limit of 12 transfers per Contract Year or the limit of 20 transfers per calendar year. In the future, we may count such transfers towards the limit.
Multiple transfers that occur during the same day, but prior to the end of the Valuation Period for that day, will be counted as a single transfer.
Generally, only one transfer from the Fixed Rate Option is permitted during each Contract Year. The maximum amount per Contract you may transfer out of the Fixed Rate Option each year is the greater of: (a) 25% of the amount in the Fixed Rate Option; and (b) $2,000.
Your Contract may include Funds that are not currently accepting additional investments. See the section titled The Pruco Life Variable Universal Account.
We may modify your right to make transfers by restricting the number, timing and/or amount of transfers we find to be disruptive to the investment option or to the disadvantage of other Contract Owners. We also reserve the right to prohibit transfer requests made by an individual acting under a power of attorney on behalf of more than one Contract Owner. We will immediately notify you at the time of a transfer request if we exercise this right.
Transfer restrictions will be applied uniformly and will not be waived. See Transfers/Restrictions on Transfers.
Charges on Surrender of the Contract
You may surrender your Contract at any time for its Cash Surrender Value while the insured is living. We deduct a surrender charge from the surrender proceeds. In addition, the surrender of your Contract may have tax consequences. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits.
We will assess a surrender charge if, during the first 10 Contract Years (or during the first 10 years of a Coverage Segment representing an increase in Basic Insurance Amount), the Contract lapses, is surrendered, or the Basic Insurance Amount is decreased (including as a result of a withdrawal or a Death Benefit type change). The surrender charge varies and is calculated as described in Surrender Charges. While the amount of the surrender charge decreases over time, it may be a substantial portion or even equal to your Contract Fund.
Risks of Taking a Contract Loan
Accessing the values in your Contract through Contract loans may significantly affect current and future Contract values or Death Benefit proceeds and may increase the chance that your Contract will lapse. Your Contract will be in default if, at any time, the Contract Debt equals or exceeds the Contract Fund less any applicable surrender charges, even if the No-Lapse Guarantee is in effect. If the Contract lapses or is surrendered, the amount of unpaid Contract Debt will be treated as a distribution and will be immediately taxable to the extent of the gain in the Contract. In addition, if your Contract is a Modified Endowment Contract for tax purposes, taking a Contract loan may have tax consequences. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits.
Potential Tax Consequences
Your Contract is structured to meet the definition of life insurance under Section 7702 of the Internal Revenue Code. At issue, the Contract Owner chooses one of the following definitions of life insurance tests: (1) Cash Value Accumulation Test or (2) Guideline Premium Test. Under the Cash Value Accumulation Test, there is a minimum Death Benefit to cash value ratio. Under the Guideline Premium Test, there is a limit to the amount of premiums that can be paid into the Contract, as well as a minimum Death Benefit to cash value ratio. Consequently, we reserve the right to refuse to accept a premium payment that would, in our opinion, cause this Contract to fail to qualify as life insurance. We also have the right to refuse to accept any payment that increases the Death Benefit by more than it increases the Contract Fund. Although we believe that the Contract should qualify as life insurance for tax purposes, there are some uncertainties, particularly because the Secretary of Treasury has not yet issued permanent regulations that bear on this question. Accordingly, we reserve the right to make changes -- which will be applied uniformly to all Contract Owners after advance written notice -- that we deem necessary to insure that the Contract will qualify as life insurance. We require the Guideline Premium Test as the definition of life insurance if you choose to have the Overloan Protection Rider. See the Other Riders - Overloan Protection Rider section.
Current federal tax law generally excludes all Death Benefits from the gross income of the beneficiary of a life insurance contract. However, your Death Benefit could be subject to estate tax. In addition, you generally are not subject to taxation on any increase in the Contract value until it is withdrawn. Generally, you are taxed on surrender proceeds and the proceeds of any partial withdrawals only if those amounts, when added to all previous distributions, exceed the total premiums paid. Amounts received upon surrender or withdrawal (including any outstanding Contract loans) in excess of premiums paid are treated as ordinary income.
Special rules govern the tax treatment of life insurance policies that meet the federal definition of a Modified Endowment Contract. The Contract could be classified as a Modified Endowment Contract if premiums in amounts that are too large are paid or a decrease in the Basic Insurance Amount is made (or a rider removed). The addition of a rider or an increase in the Basic Insurance Amount may also cause the Contract to be classified as a Modified Endowment Contract if a significant premium is paid in conjunction with an increase or the addition of a rider. We will notify you if a premium or a reduction in Basic Insurance Amount would cause the Contract to become a Modified Endowment Contract, and advise you of your options.
Under current tax law, Death Benefit payments under Modified Endowment Contracts, like Death Benefit payments under other life insurance contracts, generally are excluded from the gross income of the beneficiary. However, amounts you receive under the Contract before the insured's death, including loans and withdrawals, are included in income to the extent that the Contract Fund before surrender charges exceeds the premiums paid for the Contract increased by the amount of any loans previously included in income and reduced by any untaxed amounts previously received other than the amount of any loans excludible from income. An assignment of a Modified Endowment Contract is taxable in the same way. These rules also apply to pre-death distributions, including loans and assignments, made during the two-year period before the time that the Contract became a Modified Endowment Contract.
All Modified Endowment Contracts issued by us to you during the same calendar year are treated as a single Contract for purposes of applying these rules. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits.
Any taxable income on pre-death distributions (including full surrenders) is subject to a penalty of 10 percent unless the amount is received on or after age 59½, on account of your becoming disabled or as a life annuity. It is presently unclear how the penalty tax provisions apply to Contracts owned by businesses.
Replacement of the Contract
The replacement of life insurance is generally not in your best interest. In most cases, if you require additional life insurance coverage, the benefits of your existing contract can be protected by increasing the insurance amount of your existing contract, or by purchasing an additional contract. If you are considering replacing a contract, you should compare the benefits and costs of supplementing your existing contract with the benefits and costs of purchasing a new contract and you should consult with a tax adviser.
SUMMARY OF RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH
THE VARIABLE INVESTMENT OPTIONS
You may choose to invest your Contract's premiums and its earnings in one or more of the available Variable Investment Options. You may also invest in the Fixed Rate Option. The Fixed Rate Option is the only investment option that offers a guaranteed rate of return. See The Funds and The Fixed Rate Option.
Risks Associated with the Variable Investment Options
The Separate Account invests in the shares of one or more open-end management investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Each Variable Investment Option has its own investment objective and associated risks, which are described in the accompanying Fund prospectuses. The income, gains, and losses of one Variable Investment Option have no effect on the investment performance of any other Variable Investment Option.
We do not promise that the Variable Investment Options will meet their investment objectives. Amounts you allocate to the Variable Investment Options may grow in value, decline in value or grow less than you expect, depending on the investment performance of the Variable Investment Options you choose. You bear the investment risk that the Variable Investment Options may not meet their investment objectives. It is possible to lose your entire investment in the Variable Investment Options. Although the Series Fund Money Market Portfolio is designed to be a stable investment option, it is possible to lose money in that Portfolio. For example, when prevailing short-term interest rates are very low, the yield on the Money Market Portfolio may be so low that, when Separate Account and Contract charges are deducted, you experience a negative return. See The Funds.
Learn More about the Variable Investment Options
Before allocating amounts to the Variable Investment Options, you should read the current Fund prospectuses for detailed information concerning their investment objectives, strategies, and investment risks.
GENERAL DESCRIPTIONS OF PRUCO LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, THE REGISTRANT, AND THE FUNDS
Pruco Life Insurance Company
Pruco Life Insurance Company ("Pruco Life", “us”, “we”, or “our”) is a stock life insurance company, organized on December 23, 1971 under the laws of the state of Arizona. It is licensed to sell life insurance and annuities in the District of Columbia, Guam, and in all states except New York. Our principal Executive Office is located at 213 Washington Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102.
We have established a Separate Account, the Pruco Life Variable Universal Account (the "Account", or the "Registrant") to hold the assets that are associated with the Contracts. The Account was established on April 17, 1989 under Arizona law and is registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 as a unit investment trust, which is a type of investment company. The Account meets the definition of a "Separate Account" under the federal securities laws. The Account holds assets that are segregated from all of our other assets.
We are the legal owner of the assets in the Account. We will maintain assets in the Account with a total market value at least equal to the reserve and other liabilities relating to the variable benefits attributable to the Contracts. In addition to these assets, the Account's assets may include funds contributed by us to commence operation of the Account and may include accumulations of the charges we make against the Account. From time to time we will transfer capital contributions and earned fees and charges to its general account. We will consider any possible adverse impact the transfer might have on the Account before making any such transfer.
Income, gains and losses credited to, or charged against, the Account reflect the Account’s own investment experience and not the investment experience of our other assets. The assets of the Account may not be charged with liabilities that arise from any other business we conduct.
We are obligated to pay all amounts promised to Contract Owners under the Contract. The obligations to Contract Owners and beneficiaries arising under the Contracts are our general corporate obligations. Guarantees and benefits within the Contract are subject to our claims paying ability.
You may invest in one or a combination of the available Variable Investment Options, including any investments currently in the AST Neuberger Berman Mid-Cap Growth Portfolio, but only if you are already invested in this portfolio. When you choose a Variable Investment Option, we purchase shares of a Fund or a separate investment series of a Fund which are held as an investment for that option. We hold these shares in the Account. We may remove or add additional Variable Investment Options in the future.
The Funds
Each of these Funds is detailed in separate prospectuses that are provided with this prospectus. You should read the Fund prospectuses before you decide to allocate assets to the Variable Investment Options. There is no assurance that the investment objectives of the Variable Investment Options will be met. There may be Portfolios or Funds described in the accompanying Fund prospectuses that are not available in this product. Please refer to the list below to see which Variable Investment Options you may choose.
The terms “Fund”, “Portfolio”, and “Variable Investment Option” are largely used interchangeably. Some of the Variable Investment Options use the term “Fund”, and others use the term “Portfolio” in their respective prospectuses. Funds of the series type, such as the Prudential Series Fund or Advanced Series Trust, are generally described as a "Fund" consisting of a number of underlying "Portfolios."
Investment Managers for The Prudential Series Fund and the Advanced Series Trust
Prudential Investments LLC serves as the investment manager for The Prudential Series Fund (PSF). Prudential Investments LLC and AST Investment Services, Inc. serve as co-investment managers of the Advanced Series Trust (AST).
The investment management agreements for PSF and AST provide that the investment manager or co-investment managers (the “Investment Managers”) will furnish each applicable Fund with investment advice and administrative services subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees and in conformity with the stated policies of the applicable Fund. The Investment Managers must also provide, or obtain and supervise, the executive, administrative, accounting, custody, transfer agent and shareholder servicing services that are deemed advisable by the Board.
The chart below reflects the Funds in which the Account invests, their investment objectives, and each Fund’s investment subadvisers. For Funds with multiple subadvisers, each subadviser manages a portion of the assets for that Fund. Your Contract may include Funds that are not currently accepting additional investments. See the section titled The Pruco Life Variable Universal Account.
Variable Investment Option | Investment Objective Summary | Subadviser |
Affiliated Funds | ||
THE ADVANCED SERIES TRUST | ||
AST Balanced Asset Allocation – Class 1 | The highest potential total return consistent with its specified level of risk tolerance. | Quantitative Management Associates, LLC |
Variable Investment Option | Investment Objective Summary | Subadviser |
AST BlackRock Global Strategies – Class 1 | A high total return consistent with a moderate level of risk. | BlackRock Investment Management, LLC |
AST Cohen & Steers Realty – Class 1 | Maximize total return. | Cohen & Steers Capital Management, Inc. |
AST Federated Aggressive Growth – Class 1 | Capital growth. | Federated Equity Management Company of Pennsylvania / Federal Global Investment Management Corp, collectively |
AST Goldman Sachs Mid-Cap Growth – Class 1 | Long-term growth of capital. | Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. |
AST Herndon Large-Cap Value Portfolio – Class 1 (previously AST BlackRock Value) | Maximum growth of capital by investing primarily in the value stocks of larger companies. | Herndon Capital Management, LLC |
AST J.P. Morgan International Equity – Class 1 | Capital growth. | J.P. Morgan Investment Management, Inc. |
AST J.P. Morgan Strategic Opportunities – Class 1 | Maximize return compared to the benchmark through security selection and tactical asset allocation. | J.P. Morgan Investment Management, Inc. |
AST Large-Cap Value – Class 1 | Current income and long-term growth of income, as well as capital appreciation. | Hotchkis and Wiley Capital Management LLC |
AST Loomis Sayles Large-Cap Growth Portfolio – Class 1 (previously AST Marsico Capital Growth) | Capital growth. | Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. |
AST MFS Global Equity – Class 1 | Capital growth. | Massachusetts Financial Services Company |
AST MFS Growth – Class 1 | Long-term growth of capital and future, rather than current, income. | Massachusetts Financial Services Company |
AST Neuberger Berman Mid-Cap Growth – Class 1 | Capital growth. | Neuberger Berman Management, LLC |
AST PIMCO Limited Maturity Bond – Class 1 | Maximize total return, consistent with preservation of capital and prudent investment management. | Pacific Investment Management Company LLC |
AST PIMCO Total Return Bond – Class 1 | Maximize total return, consistent with preservation of capital and prudent investment management. | Pacific Investment Management Company LLC |
AST Preservation Asset Allocation – Class 1 | The highest potential total return consistent with its specified level of risk tolerance. | Quantitative Management Associates, LLC |
AST Small-Cap Growth – Class 1 | Long-term capital growth. | Eagle Asset Management, Inc. & Emerald Mutual Fund Advisers Trust |
Variable Investment Option | Investment Objective Summary | Subadviser |
AST Small-Cap Value – Class 1 | Long-term capital growth. | ClearBridge Investments, LLC, J.P. Morgan Investment Management, Inc. & Lee Munder Capital Group, LLC |
AST T. Rowe Price Large-Cap Growth – Class 1 | Long-term growth of capital. | T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. |
AST T. Rowe Price Natural Resources – Class 1 | Long-term capital growth. | T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. |
AST Templeton Global Bond – Class 1 | Current income with capital appreciation and growth of income. | Franklin Advisers, Inc. |
AST Wellington Management Hedged Equity – Class 1 | Outperform a mix of 50% Russell 3000 Index, 20% MSCI EAFE Index, and 30% Treasury Bill Index over a full market cycle by preserving capital in adverse markets. | Wellington Management Company, LLP |
THE PRUDENTIAL SERIES FUND | ||
PSF Diversified Bond – Class 1 | High level of income over a longer term while providing reasonable safety of capital. | Prudential Investment Management, Inc. |
PSF Equity – Class 1 | Long-term growth of capital. | Jennison Associates LLC |
PSF Global – Class 1 | Long-term growth of capital. | Brown Advisory, LLC, LSV Asset Management, Quantitative Management Associates, LLC, T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. & William Blair & Company LLC |
PSF High Yield Bond – Class 1 | High total return. | Prudential Investment Management, Inc. |
PSF Jennison – Class 1 | Long-term growth of capital. | Jennison Associates LLC |
PSF Jennison 20/20 Focus – Class 1 | Long-term growth of capital. | Jennison Associates LLC |
PSF Money Market – Class 1 | Maximum current income that is consistent with the stability of capital and the maintenance of liquidity. | Prudential Investment Management, Inc. |
PSF Natural Resources – Class 1 | Long-term growth of capital. | Jennison Associates LLC |
PSF Small Capitalization Stock – Class 1 | Long-term growth of capital. | Quantitative Management Associates, LLC |
PSF SP International Growth – Class 1 | Long-term growth of capital. | Jennison Associates LLC, Neuberger Berman Management, LLC, & William Blair & Company LLC |
PSF SP International Value – Class 1 | Long-term capital appreciation. | LSV Asset Management & Thornburg Investment Management, Inc. |
PSF SP Prudential U.S. Emerging Growth – Class 1 | Long-term capital appreciation. | Jennison Associates LLC |
Variable Investment Option | Investment Objective Summary | Investment Adviser/Subadviser |
PSF SP Small Cap Value – Class 1 | Long-term growth of capital. | ClearBridge Investments, LLC & Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P. |
PSF Stock Index – Class 1 | Investment results that generally correspond to the performance of publicly-traded common stocks. | Quantitative Management Associates, LLC |
PSF Value – Class 1 | Capital appreciation. | Jennison Associates LLC |
Unaffiliated Funds | ||
AMERICAN CENTURY VARIABLE PORTFOLIO, INC. | ||
American Century VP Mid Cap Value Fund - Class 1 | Long-term capital growth with income as a secondary objective. | American Century Investment Management, Inc. |
AMERICAN FUNDS INSURANCE SERIES | ||
American Funds Growth Fund - Class 2 | Seeks to provide growth of capital. | Capital Research and Management Company |
American Funds Growth-Income Fund - Class 2 | Seeks to provide growth of capital and income. | Capital Research and Management Company |
American Funds International Fund - Class 2 | Seeks long-term growth of capital. | Capital Research and Management Company |
DREYFUS INVESTMENT PORTFOLIOS | ||
Dreyfus MidCap Stock Portfolio - Service Shares | Investment results that are greater than the total return performance of publicly traded common stocks of medium-size domestic companies in the aggregate, as represented by the Standard & Poor's MidCap 400® Index. | The Dreyfus Corporation |
Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund, Inc. - Service Shares | Capital growth, with current income as a secondary goal. | The Dreyfus Corporation |
FIDELITY VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS FUNDS | ||
Fidelity® VIP Contrafund® Portfolio - Service Class 2 | Seeks long-term capital appreciation. | Fidelity Management & Research Company/FMR Co., and other Fidelity affiliates |
Fidelity® VIP Mid Cap Portfolio - Service Class 2 | Seeks long-term growth of capital. | Fidelity Management & Research Company/FMR Co., and other Fidelity affiliates |
FRANKLIN TEMPLETON VARIABLE INSURANCE PRODUCTS TRUST | ||
Franklin Income Securities Fund - Class 2 | Seeks to maximize income while maintaining prospects for capital appreciation. | Franklin Advisers, Inc./Templeton Investment Counsel, LLC |
Mutual Shares Securities Fund - Class 2 | Seeks capital appreciation, with income as a secondary goal. | Franklin Mutual Advisers, LLC |
Templeton Growth Securities Fund - Class 2 | Seeks long-term capital growth. | Templeton Global Advisors Limited |
Variable Investment Option | Investment Objective Summary | Investment Adviser/Subadviser |
HARTFORD HLS SERIES FUND II, INC. | ||
Hartford Growth Opportunities HLS Fund - Class IB | Seeks capital appreciation. | Hartford Funds Management Company, LLC/Wellington Management Company, LLP |
HARTFORD SERIES FUND, INC. | ||
Hartford Capital Appreciation HLS Fund - Class IB | Seeks growth of capital. | Hartford Funds Management Company, LLC/Wellington Management Company, LLP |
Hartford Disciplined Equity HLS Fund - Class IB | Seeks growth of capital. | Hartford Funds Management Company, LLC/Wellington Management Company, LLP |
Hartford Dividend and Growth HLS Fund - Class IB | Seeks a high level of current income consistent with growth of capital. | Hartford Funds Management Company, LLC/Wellington Management Company, LLP |
JANUS ASPEN SERIES | ||
Janus Aspen Overseas Portfolio - Service Shares | Long-term growth of capital. | Janus Capital Management LLC |
J.P. MORGAN INSURANCE TRUST | ||
JPMorgan Insurance Trust Intrepid Mid Cap Portfolio - Class 1 | Long-term capital growth by investing primarily in equity securities of companies with intermediate capitalizations. | J.P. Morgan Investment Management, Inc. |
MFS® VARIABLE INSURANCE TRUST | ||
MFS® Research Bond Series - Initial Class | Seeks total return with an emphasis on current income, but also considering capital appreciation. | Massachusetts Financial Services Company |
MFS® Utilities Series - Initial Class | Total return. | Massachusetts Financial Services Company |
MFS® Value Series - Initial Class | Seeks capital appreciation. | Massachusetts Financial Services Company |
NEUBERGER BERMAN ADVISERS MANAGEMENT TRUST | ||
Neuberger Berman AMT Socially Responsive Portfolio - Class S | Long-term growth of capital by investing primarily in securities of companies that meet the Fund’s financial criteria and social policy. | Neuberger Berman Management, LLC/Neuberger Berman LLC |
TOPS - THE OPTIMIZED PORTFOLIO SYSTEM | ||
TOPSTM Aggressive Growth ETF Portfolio - Class 2 | Seeks capital appreciation. | ValMark Advisers, Inc. |
TOPSTM Balanced ETF Portfolio - Class 2 | Seeks income and capital appreciation. | ValMark Advisers, Inc. |
TOPSTM Capital Preservation ETF Portfolio - Class 2 | Seeks to preserve capital and provide moderate income and moderate capital appreciation. | ValMark Advisers, Inc. |
Variable Investment Option | Investment Objective Summary | Investment Adviser/Subadviser |
TOPSTM Growth ETF Portfolio - Class 2 | Seeks capital appreciation. | ValMark Advisers, Inc. |
TOPSTM Managed Risk Balanced ETF Portfolio - Class 2 | Seeks to provide income and capital appreciation with less volatility than the fixed income and equity markets as a whole. | ValMark Advisers, Inc./Milliman Inc.. |
TOPSTM Managed Risk Growth ETF Portfolio - Class 2 | Seeks capital appreciation with less volatility than the equity markets as a whole. | ValMark Advisers, Inc./Milliman Inc.. |
TOPSTM Managed Risk Moderate Growth ETF Portfolio - Class 2 | Seeks capital appreciation with less volatility than the equity markets as a whole. | ValMark Advisers, Inc./Milliman Inc. |
TOPSTM Moderate Growth ETF Portfolio - Class 2 | Seeks capital appreciation. | ValMark Advisers, Inc. |
The investment managers and the investment subadvisers for the Funds charge a daily investment management fee as compensation for their services. These fees are more fully described in the prospectus for each Fund.
More detailed information is available in the attached Fund prospectuses.
The AST Balanced Asset Allocation Portfolio and the AST Preservation Asset Allocation Portfolio each invests primarily in shares of other underlying Fund Portfolios, which are managed by the subadvisers of those Portfolios.
In the future, it may become disadvantageous for Separate Accounts of variable life insurance and variable annuity contracts to invest in the same underlying Funds. Neither the companies that invest in the Funds nor the Funds currently foresee any such disadvantage. The Board of Directors for each Fund intends to monitor events in order to identify any material conflict between variable life insurance and variable annuity Contract Owners and to determine what action, if any, should be taken. Material conflicts could result from such things as:
(1) | changes in state insurance law; |
(2) | changes in federal income tax law; |
(3) | changes in the investment management of any Variable Investment Option; or |
(4) | differences between voting instructions given by variable life insurance and variable annuity Contract Owners. |
A Fund or Portfolio may have a similar name, investment objective, or investment policy resembling those of a mutual fund managed by the same investment adviser or subadviser that is sold directly to the public. Despite such similarities, there can be no assurance that the investment performance of any such Fund or Portfolio will resemble that of the publicly available mutual fund.
Service Fees Payable to Pruco Life
We have entered into agreements with the principal underwriter, transfer agent, investment adviser, distributor and/or other related entities of the underlying Funds. Under the terms of these agreements, We provide administrative and support services to the Funds, for which it receives an annual fee from the investment adviser, distributor and/or Fund based on the average assets allocated to the Fund. These agreements, including the fees paid and services provided, can vary for each Fund.
We and/or our affiliates may receive substantial and varying administrative service payments and Rule 12b-1 fees from certain underlying Funds or related parties. These types of payments and fees are sometimes referred to as “revenue sharing” payments. Rule 12b-1 fees and administrative service payments partially compensate for distribution, marketing, and/or servicing functions and for providing administrative services with respect to Contract Owners invested indirectly in the Funds, which include duties such as recordkeeping, shareholder services, and the mailing of periodic reports. We receive administrative services fees with respect to both affiliated underlying Funds and unaffiliated underlying Funds. The administrative services fees we receive from affiliates originate from the assets of the affiliated Fund itself and/or the assets of the Fund’s investment adviser. In either case, the existence of administrative services fees may tend to increase the overall cost of investing in the Fund. The existence of a 12b-1 fee will always increase the overall cost of investing in those Funds. In addition, because these fees are paid to us, allocations you make to these affiliated underlying Funds may benefit us financially if these fees exceed the costs of the administrative support services.
The 12b-1 fees and administrative services fees that we receive may vary among the different Funds that are part of our investment platform. Thus, the fees we collect may be greater or smaller, based on the Funds that you select. In addition, we may consider these payments and fees, among a number of factors, when deciding to add or keep a Fund on the “menu” of Funds that we offer through the product.
As of May 1, 2013, the administrative service fees we receive range from 0.00% to 0.40% of the average assets allocated to the Fund. The service fees received from each of PSF and AST are 0.05% and 0.40%, respectively. Some Funds pay a 12b-1 fee instead of, or in addition to, the administrative services fees. The 12b-1 fee we receive will range from 0.10% to 0.25% of the average assets allocated to the Funds indicated below.
The following Funds currently pay a 12b-1 fee of 0.10%:
Affiliated Funds - Portfolio: | |
AST BlackRock Global Strategies | AST MFS Growth |
AST Cohen & Steers Realty | AST Neuberger Berman Mid-Cap Growth |
AST Federated Aggressive Growth | AST PIMCO Limited Maturity Bond |
AST Goldman Sachs Mid-Cap Growth | AST PIMCO Total Return Bond |
AST Herndon Large-Cap Value | AST Small-Cap Growth |
AST J.P. Morgan International Equity | AST Small-Cap Value |
AST J.P. Morgan Strategic Opportunities | AST T. Rowe Price Large-Cap Growth |
AST Large-Cap Value | AST T. Rowe Price Natural Resources |
AST Loomis Sayles Large-Cap Growth | AST Templeton Global Bond |
AST MFS Global Equity | AST Wellington Management Hedged Equity |
The following Funds currently pay a 12b-1 fee of 0.25%:
Unaffiliated Funds - Portfolio: | |
American Funds Growth Fund | Hartford Disciplined Equity HLS Fund |
American Funds Growth-Income Fund | Hartford Dividend and Growth HLS Fund |
American Funds International Fund | Janus Aspen Series Overseas Portfolio - Service Shares |
Dreyfus MidCap Stock | Neuberger Berman AMT Socially Responsive |
Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth | TOPSTM Aggressive Growth ETF Portfolio |
Fidelity VIP Contrafund Portfolio | TOPSTM Balanced ETF Portfolio |
Fidelity VIP Mid Cap Portfolio | TOPSTM Capital Preservation ETF Portfolio |
Franklin Income Securities Fund | TOPSTM Growth ETF Portfolio |
Mutual Shares Securities Fund | TOPSTM Managed Risk Balanced ETF Portfolio |
Templeton Growth Securities Fund | TOPSTM Managed Risk Growth ETF Portfolio |
Hartford Growth Opportunities HLS Fund | TOPSTM Managed Risk Moderate Growth ETF Portfolio |
Hartford Capital Appreciation HLS Fund | TOPSTM Moderate Growth ETF Portfolio |
In addition to the payments that we receive from underlying Funds and/or their affiliates, those same Funds and/or their affiliates may make payments to us and/or other insurers within the Prudential Financial group related to the offering of investment options within variable annuities or life insurance offered by different Prudential business units.
Voting Rights
We are the legal owner of the shares of the Funds associated with the Variable Investment Options. However, we vote the shares according to voting instructions we receive from Contract Owners. We will mail you a proxy, which is a form you need to complete and return to us, to tell us how you wish us to vote. When we receive those instructions, we will vote all of the shares we own on your behalf in accordance with those instructions. We vote shares for which we do not receive instructions, and any other shares that we own in our own right, in the same proportion as the shares for which instructions are received. We may change the way your voting instructions are calculated if it is required by federal or state regulation. We may also elect to vote shares that we own in our own right if the applicable federal securities laws or regulations, or their current interpretation, change so as to permit us to do so.
We may, if required by state insurance regulations, disregard voting instructions if they would require shares to be voted so as to cause a change in the sub-classification or investment objectives of one or more of the available Variable Investment Options or to approve or disapprove an investment advisory contract for the Fund. In addition, we may disregard voting instructions that would require changes in the investment policy or investment adviser of one or more of the Funds associated with the available Variable Investment Options, provided that we reasonably disapprove such changes in accordance with applicable federal or state regulations. If we disregard Contract Owner voting instructions, we will advise Contract Owners of our action and the reasons for such action in the next available annual or semi-annual report.
Substitution of Variable Investment Options
We may substitute one or more of the available Variable Investment Options. We may also cease to allow investments in any existing Variable Investment Option. We will not do this without any necessary Securities and Exchange Commission and/or any necessary state insurance department approvals. You will be given specific notice in advance of any substitution we intend to make.
The Fixed Rate Option
You may choose to invest, initially or by transfer, all or part of your Contract Fund to the Fixed Rate Option. This amount becomes part of our general account. The general account consists of all assets owned by us other than those in the Account and in other Separate Accounts that have been or may be established by us. Subject to applicable law, we have sole discretion over the investment of the general account assets, and Contract Owners do not share in the investment experience of those assets. Instead, we guarantee that the part of the Contract Fund allocated to the Fixed Rate Option will accrue interest daily at an effective annual rate that we declare periodically, but not less than a minimum effective annual rate. The minimum effective annual rate is 1%. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms. The fulfillment of our guarantee under this benefit is dependent on our claims paying ability. We are not obligated to credit interest at a rate higher than an effective annual rate of 1%, although we may do so.
Transfers out of the Fixed Rate Option are subject to strict limits. See Transfers/Restrictions on Transfers. The payment of any Cash Surrender Value attributable to the Fixed Rate Option may be delayed up to six months. See When Proceeds Are Paid.
If you exercise the Overloan Protection Rider, any remaining unloaned Contract Fund value will be transferred to the Fixed Rate Option, and transfers out of the Fixed Rate Option and into the Variable Investment Options will no longer be permitted. See Loans.
Because of exemptive and exclusionary provisions, interests in the Fixed Rate Option under the Contract have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 and the general account has not been registered as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Accordingly, interests in the Fixed Rate Option are not subject to the provisions of these Acts, and we have been advised that the staff of the SEC has not reviewed the disclosure in this prospectus relating to the Fixed Rate Option. Any inaccurate or misleading disclosure regarding the Fixed Rate Option is subject to certain generally applicable provisions of federal securities laws.
CHARGES AND EXPENSES
This section provides a more detailed description of each charge that is described briefly in the SUMMARY OF CHARGES AND EXPENSES beginning on page 1 of this prospectus. There are charges and other expenses associated with the Contract that reduce the return on your investment. These charges and expenses are described below.
The total amount invested in the Contract Fund, at any time, consists of the sum of the amount credited to the Variable Investment Options, the amount allocated to the Fixed Rate Option, plus any interest credited on amounts allocated to the Fixed Rate Option, and the principal amount of any Contract loan plus the amount of interest credited to the Contract upon that loan. See Loans. Most charges, although not all, are made by reducing the Contract Fund.
In several instances we use the terms "maximum charge" and "current charge." The "maximum charge", in each instance, is the highest charge that we may make under the Contract. The "current charge", in each instance, is the amount that we now charge, which may be lower than maximum charges. If circumstances change, we reserve the right to increase each current charge, up to the maximum charge, without giving any advance notice.
Current charges deducted from premium payments and the Contract Fund may change from time to time, subject to maximum charges. In deciding whether to change any of these current charges, we will periodically consider factors such as mortality, persistency, expenses, taxes and interest and/or investment experience to see if a change in our assumptions is needed. Premium based administrative charges will be set at one rate for all Contracts like this one. Changes in other charges will be by class. We will not recoup prior losses or distribute prior gains by means of these changes.
The charges under the Contract are designed to cover, in the aggregate, our direct and indirect costs of selling, administering and providing benefits under the Contract. They are also designed, in the aggregate, to compensate us for the risks of loss we assume pursuant to the Contract. If, as we expect, the charges that we collect from the Contract exceed our total costs in connection with the Contract, we will earn a profit. Otherwise, we will incur a loss. The rates of certain of our charges have been set with reference to estimates of the amount of specific types of expenses or risks that we will incur. In most cases, this prospectus identifies such expenses or risks in the name of the charge; however, the fact that any charge bears the name of, or is designed primarily to defray a particular expense or risk does not mean that the amount we collect from that charge will never be more than the amount of such expense or risk. Nor does it mean that we may not also be compensated for such expense or risk out of any other charges we are permitted to deduct by the terms of the Contract. We may reduce stated fees under particular contracts as to which, due to economies of scale and other factors, our administrative costs are reduced.
We may charge up to 6% of premiums received in all Contract Years. This charge, often called a “sales load”, is deducted to compensate us for the costs of selling the Contracts, including commissions, advertising and the printing and distribution of prospectuses and sales literature. Currently, we charge less than 6% and we only deduct the charge for premiums received in the first 10 years of each Coverage Segment. This charge is made up of two rates. We apply one percentage on the amount of premium received up to the Sales Load Target Premium and a second percentage on the excess of premium received over the Sales Load Target Premium. The chart below describes the sales load as a percentage of premiums received (Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms.):
Years 1-2 | Years 3-4 | Years 5-6 | Years 7-8 | Years 9-10 | |
Up to Sales Load Target Premium | 4% | 3.5% | 2.25% | 1.75% | 1.25% |
In Excess of Sales Load Target Premium | 4% | 3.5% | 2.25% | 1.75% | 1.25% |
The Sales Load Target Premium may vary from the No-Lapse Guarantee Premium, depending on the issue age and rating class of the insured, any extra risk charges, or additional riders. See PREMIUMS.
Attempting to structure the timing and amount of premium payments to reduce the potential sales load may increase the risk that your Contract will lapse without value. Delaying the payment of premium amounts to later years will adversely affect the No-Lapse Guarantee if the accumulated premium payments do not reach the No-Lapse Guarantee Values shown on your Contract Data pages. See No-Lapse Guarantee. In addition, there are circumstances where payment of premiums that are too large may cause the Contract to be characterized as a Modified Endowment Contract, which could be significantly disadvantageous. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits.
Premium Based Administrative Charge
We may charge up to 7.5% of premiums received for a premium based administrative charge, which includes any federal, state or local income, premium, excise, business tax or any other type of charge (or component thereof) measured by or based upon the amount of premium we receive.
This charge is made up of two parts, which currently equal a total of 3.25%, of the premiums received. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms.
The first part is a charge for state and local premium taxes. The current amount for this first part is 2.5% of the premium and is our estimate of the average burden of state taxes generally. Tax rates vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and generally range from 0% to 5% (but may exceed 5% in some instances). The rate applies uniformly to all Contract Owners without regard to location of residence. We may collect more for this charge than we actually pay for state and local premium taxes.
The second part is a charge for federal income taxes measured by premiums. The current amount for this second part is 0.75% of the premium. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms. We believe that this charge is a reasonable estimate of an increase in our federal income taxes resulting from a change in the Internal Revenue Code. It is intended to recover this increased tax.
Under current law, we may incur state and local taxes (in addition to premium taxes) in several states. Currently, these taxes are not significant and they are not charged against the Account. If there is a material change in the applicable state or local tax laws, we may impose a corresponding charge against the Account.
Cost of Insurance
We deduct a monthly cost of insurance ("COI") charge. The charge is determined by multiplying the amount by which the Contract’s Death Benefit exceeds the Contract Fund ("net amount at risk") by a monthly COI rate. The purpose of this charge is to provide insurance coverage. When an insured dies, the amount payable to the beneficiary (assuming there is no Contract Debt) is larger than the Contract Fund - significantly larger if the insured dies in the early years of a Contract. The COI charges collected from all Contract Owners enables us to pay this larger Death Benefit. The maximum COI charge is determined by multiplying the amount by which the Contract’s Death Benefit exceeds the Contract Fund ("net amount at risk") under a Contract by maximum COI rates. The COI charge is generally deducted proportionately (or as you directed, see Allocated Charges) from the dollar amounts held in each of the chosen investment options.
The net amount at risk is based on your Death Benefit, and your Contract Fund, therefore it is impacted by such factors as investment performance, premium payments and charges and fees. The current COI rates vary by issue age, sex, underwriting class, contract form, and Coverage Segment amount. The rates generally increase over time but are never more than the maximum charges listed in the Contract data pages of your Contract. The maximum COI rates are based upon the 2001 Commissioner's Standard Ordinary ("CSO") Mortality Tables. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms.
Our current COI charges range from $0.01 to $83.34 per $1,000 of net amount at risk. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms. For information regarding COI charges where there are two or more Coverage Segments in effect, see Increases in Basic Insurance Amount.
In addition to the COIs, we generally deduct the following monthly charges proportionately from the dollar amount held in each of the chosen investment option[s] or you may select up to two Variable Investment Options from which we deduct your Contract's monthly charges. See Allocated Charges.
(a) | We deduct an administrative charge for the Basic Insurance Amount. This charge is made up of two parts and is intended to compensate us for things like processing claims, keeping records, and communicating with Contract Owners. |
(1) | Currently, the first part of the charge is a flat monthly fee of $30 per month in the first year and $9 per month thereafter for all Contract Forms. |
(2) | The second part of the fee is currently an amount per $1,000 of the Basic Insurance Amount for the first six Contract Years and zero thereafter. The fee varies by issue age, sex, and smoker/non-smoker status. Generally, the per $1,000 rate is higher for older issue ages and for higher risk classifications. The amount of the maximum charge that applies to your particular Contract is shown on the Contract Data pages under the heading “Adjustments to the Contract Fund.” |
The following tables provide sample per $1,000 rates (please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms.):
Administrative Charge: Per $1,000 rates
Issue Age | Male Nonsmoker | Male Smoker | Female Nonsmoker | Female Smoker |
35 | $0.12 | $0.17 | $0.10 | $0.13 |
45 | $0.20 | $0.22 | $0.16 | $0.19 |
55 | $0.32 | $0.39 | $0.24 | $0.29 |
65 | $0.59 | $0.73 | $0.47 | $0.53 |
(b) | Similarly, we charge a monthly administrative charge for each Coverage Segment representing an increase in Basic Insurance Amount. This charge is also made up of two parts. Currently, the first part of the charge is a flat monthly fee of $12 per segment representing an increase in Basic Insurance Amount for the first two years of the Coverage Segment and zero thereafter. The second part of the fee is based on the Coverage Segment insurance amount. The sample per $1,000 charges are the same as those shown in (a) above. The amount per $1,000 of increase in Basic Insurance Amount varies by the effective date of the increase. |
In either of the instances described above, the highest charge per thousand is $1.09 and applies to male, smokers age 85. The lowest charge per thousand is $0.07 and applies to ages under 8. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms.
You may add one or more riders to the Contract. Some riders are charged for separately. If you add such a rider to the basic Contract, additional charges will be deducted. See Charges for Optional Rider Coverage.
If an insured is in a substandard risk classification (for example, a person with a health condition), additional charges may be deducted.
The earnings of the Account are taxed as part of our operations. Currently, no charge is being made to the Account for our federal income taxes, other than the 0.75% charge for federal income taxes measured by premiums. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms. See Premium Based Administrative Charge. We periodically review the question of a charge to the Account for our federal income taxes. We may charge such a fee in the future for any federal income taxes that would be attributable to the Contracts.
Daily Deduction from the Variable Investment Options
Each day we deduct a charge from the assets of the Variable Investment Options in an amount equivalent to an effective annual rate of up to 0.45%. Currently, we charge 0.10%. This charge is intended to compensate us for assuming mortality and expense risks under the Contract. The mortality risk we assume is that insureds may live for shorter periods of time than we estimated when mortality charges were determined. The expense risk we assume is that expenses incurred in issuing and administering the Contract will be greater than we estimated in fixing our administrative charges. This charge is not assessed against amounts allocated to the Fixed Rate Option.
Surrender Charges
We assess a surrender charge if, during the first 10 Contract Years (or during the first 10 years of a Coverage Segment representing an increase in Basic Insurance Amount), the Contract lapses, is surrendered, or the Basic Insurance Amount is decreased (including as a result of a withdrawal or a Death Benefit type change). These surrender charges compensate us for costs associated with the Contracts, such as: processing applications, conducting examinations, determining insurability and the insured’s rating class, and establishing records. The surrender charge is a percentage of the first year’s Sales Load Target Premium, less premiums for riders, and is determined at the time the Contract is issued. A separate surrender charge is based on the first year’s Sales Load Target Premium for each new Coverage Segment and is determined at the time each new Coverage Segment is issued. The percentage and duration of a surrender charge vary by issue age. The surrender charge is reduced to zero by the end of the 10th Contract Year. While the amount of the surrender charge decreases over time, it may be a substantial portion of, or even equal to, your Contract Fund.
The chart below shows maximum percentages for all ages at the beginning of the first Contract Year and the end of the last Contract Year that a surrender charge may be payable. We do not deduct a surrender charge from the Death Benefit if the insured dies during this period. A schedule showing maximum surrender charges for a full surrender occurring each year that a surrender charge may be payable is found in the Contract Data pages of your Contract. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms.
Percentages for Determining Surrender Charges | ||
Issue Age | Percentage of Sales Load Target Premium, less premiums for riders, at start of year 1 | Reduces to zero at the end of year |
0-49 | 100% | 10 |
50-60 | 90% | 10 |
61-65 | 65% | 10 |
66 and above | 55% | 10 |
We will show a surrender charge threshold for each Coverage Segment in the Contract Data pages. This threshold amount is the segment’s lowest coverage amount since its effective date. If during the first 10 Contract Years (or during the first 10 years of a Coverage Segment representing an increase in Basic Insurance Amount), the Basic Insurance Amount is decreased (including as a result of a withdrawal or a change in type of Death Benefit), and the new Basic Insurance Amount for any Coverage Segment is below the threshold for that segment, we will deduct a percentage of the surrender charge for that segment. The percentage will be the amount by which the new Coverage Segment is less than the threshold, divided by the Basic Insurance Amount at issue. After this transaction, the threshold will be updated and a corresponding new surrender charge schedule will also be determined to reflect that portion of surrender charges deducted in the past.
Transaction Charges
(a) | We may charge a transaction fee of up to $25 for each transfer exceeding 12 in any Contract Year. |
(b) | We charge a transaction fee equal to the lesser of $25 and 2% of the withdrawal amount in connection with each withdrawal. |
(c) | We may charge a transaction fee of up to $25 for any change in Basic Insurance Amount. Currently, we do not charge for a change in the Basic Insurance Amount. |
(d) | We charge a transaction fee of 3.5% of your Contract Fund amount for exercising the Overloan Protection Rider. |
(e) | We charge a transaction fee of up to $150 for Living Needs Benefit payments. |
Allocated Charges
You may select up to two Variable Investment Options from which we deduct your Contract's monthly charges. Monthly charges include: (1) monthly administrative charges, (2) COI charges, (3) any rider charges, and (4) any charge for substandard risk classification. Allocations must be designated in whole percentages and total 100%. For example, 33% can be selected but 331/3% cannot. The Fixed Rate Option is not available as one of your allocation options. See Monthly Deductions from the Contract Fund.
If there are insufficient funds in one or both of your selected Variable Investment Options to cover the monthly charges, the selected Variable Investment Option(s) will be reduced to zero. Any remaining charge will generally be deducted from your other Variable Investment Options and the Fixed Rate Option in proportion to the dollar amount in each. Furthermore, if you do not specify an allocation of monthly charges, we will generally deduct monthly charges proportionately from all your Variable Investment Options and the Fixed Rate Option.
Charges After Age 121
Beginning on the first Contract Anniversary on or after the insured’s 121st birthday, we will no longer accept premiums or deduct monthly charges from the Contract Fund. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms. You may continue the Contract until the insured's death, or until you surrender the Contract for its Cash Surrender Value. You may continue to make transfers, loans and withdrawals, subject to the limitations on these transactions described elsewhere in this prospectus. We will continue to make daily deductions for mortality and expense risk charges, and investment advisory fees if you have amounts in the Variable Investment Options. Any Contract loan will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest until it is repaid.
Portfolio Charges
We deduct charges from and pay expenses out of the Variable Investment Options as described in the Fund prospectuses.
Charges for Optional Rider Coverage
· | Accidental Death Benefit Rider - We deduct a monthly charge for this rider, which provides an additional Death Benefit if the insured’s death is accidental. The current charge ranges from $0.05 to $0.28 per $1,000 of coverage based on issue age and sex of the insured, and is charged until the first Contract Anniversary on or after the insured’s 100th birthday. |
· | Children Level Term Rider - We deduct a monthly charge for this rider, which provides term life insurance on all dependent children that are covered under this rider. The current charge is $0.42 per $1,000 of coverage and is charged until the earliest of: the primary insured’s death, and the first Contract Anniversary on or after the primary insured’s 75th birthday, or you notify us to discontinue the rider coverage. |
· | Enhanced Disability Benefit Rider - We deduct a monthly charge for this rider, which provides invested premium amounts while the insured is totally disabled. The current charge is based on issue age, issue date, sex, and underwriting class of the insured. It ranges from 7.08% to 12.17% of the greater of: 9% of the Contract's Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premium and the total of all monthly deductions, and is charged until the first Contract Anniversary on or after the insured’s 60th birthday. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms. |
· | Living Needs Benefit Rider - We deduct a transaction fee of up to $150 for this rider if benefits are paid. |
· | Overloan Protection Rider - We deduct a transaction fee of 3.5% of your Contract Fund amount if you exercise this rider. |
PERSONS HAVING RIGHTS UNDER THE CONTRACT
Contract Owner
There are circumstances when the Contract Owner is not the insured. There may also be more than one Contract Owner. If the Contract Owner is not the insured or there is more than one Contract Owner, they will be named in an endorsement to the Contract. This ownership arrangement will remain in effect unless you ask us to change it.
You may change the ownership of the Contract by sending us a request in a form that meets our needs. We may ask you to send us the Contract to be endorsed. If we receive your request in a form that meets our needs, and the Contract if we ask for it, we will file and record the change, and it will take effect as of the date the request is received in our Service Office.
While the insured is living, the Contract Owner is entitled to any Contract benefit and value. Only the Contract Owner is entitled to exercise any right and privilege granted by the Contract or granted by us. For example, the Contract Owner is entitled to surrender the Contract, access Contract values through loans or withdrawals, assign the Contract, and to name or change the beneficiary.
Beneficiary
The beneficiary is entitled to receive any benefit payable on the death of the insured. You may designate or change a beneficiary by sending us a request in a form that meets our needs. We may ask you to send us the Contract to be endorsed. If we receive your request in a form that meets our needs, and the Contract if we ask for it, we will file and record the change and it will take effect as of the date you sign the request. However, if we make any payment(s) before we receive the request, we will not have to make the payment(s) again. When we are made aware of an assignment, we will recognize the assignee’s rights before any claim payments are made to the beneficiary. When a beneficiary is designated, any relationship shown is to the insured, unless otherwise stated.
OTHER GENERAL CONTRACT PROVISIONS
This Contract may not be assigned if the assignment would violate any federal, state or local law or regulation prohibiting sex distinct rates for insurance. Generally, the Contract may not be assigned to an employee benefit plan or program without our consent. We assume no responsibility for the validity or sufficiency of any assignment. We will not be obligated to comply with any assignment unless we receive a copy at a Service Office.
Incontestability
We will not contest the Contract after it has been in-force during the insured’s lifetime for two years from the issue date, the reinstatement date, or the effective date of any change made to the Contract that requires our approval and would increase our liability.
Misstatement of Age or Sex
If the insured's stated age or sex or both are incorrect in the Contract, we will adjust the Death Benefit payable and any amount to be paid, as required by law, to reflect the correct age and sex. Any such benefit will be based on what the most recent deductions from the Contract Fund would have provided at the insured's correct age and sex.
Settlement Options
The Contract grants to most Contract Owners, or to the beneficiary, a variety of optional ways of receiving Contract proceeds. Under the Contract, the Death Benefit may be paid in a single sum or under one of the optional modes of settlement. Any Pruco Life representative authorized to sell this Contract can explain these options upon request.
Suicide Exclusion
Generally, if the insured, whether sane or insane, dies by suicide within two years from the Contract Date, the Contract will end and we will return the premiums paid, less any Contract Debt, and less any withdrawals. Generally, if the insured, whether sane or insane, dies by suicide after two years from the issue date, but within two years of the effective date of an increase in the Basic Insurance Amount, we will pay, as to the increase in amount, no more than the sum of the premiums paid on and after the effective date of an increase.
RIDERS
Contract Owners may be able to obtain extra fixed benefits, which may require additional charges. These optional insurance benefits will be described in what is known as a "rider" to the Contract. Charges applicable to the riders will be deducted from the Contract Fund on each Monthly Date, with the exception of the Overloan Protection Rider, and the Living Needs Benefit Rider. The amounts of these benefits do not depend on the performance of the Account, although they will no longer be available if the Contract lapses, or you choose to keep the Contract in-force under the Overloan Protection Rider. Certain restrictions may apply and are clearly described in the applicable rider. A Pruco Life representative can explain all of these extra benefits further. We will provide samples of the provisions upon receiving a written request.
We will not pay a benefit on any Accidental Death Benefit type rider or make payments for any disability type rider if the death or injury is caused or contributed to by war or act of war, declared or undeclared, including resistance to armed aggression. This restriction includes service in the armed forces of any country at war.
Overloan Protection Rider - The Overloan Protection Rider guarantees protection against lapse due to loans, even if the Contract Debt exceeds the accumulated Cash Surrender Value of your Contract. Currently, the rider may be added only at the time your Contract is issued; however, this rider is not available on Contracts that have the Accidental Death Benefit Rider. There is no charge for adding the Overloan Protection Rider to your Contract, however, a one-time fee will apply when this rider is exercised.
The following eligibility requirements must be met to exercise the rider:
(1) | we must receive a written request in Good Order to exercise the rider benefits; |
(2) | Contract Debt must exceed the Basic Insurance Amount. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms; |
(3) | the Contract must be in-force for the later of 15 years and the Contract Anniversary after the insured’s 75th birthday; |
(4) | the Guideline Premium test must be used as the Contract’s definition of life insurance; |
(5) | Contract Debt must be a minimum of 95% of the cash value; |
(6) | the Cash Surrender Value must be sufficient to pay the cost of exercising the rider; and |
(7) | your Contract must not be classified as a Modified Endowment Contract and must not qualify as a Modified Endowment Contract as a result of exercising this rider. |
We will send you a notification upon your becoming eligible for this benefit.
We deduct a transaction fee of 3.5% of your Contract Fund amount if you exercise this rider.
When you exercise the rider, the effective date will be the next date that monthly charges are deducted following our receipt of your request in Good Order at a Service Office. The charges and benefits of other riders available under your Contract will be discontinued, except for the Living Needs Benefit Rider. Any benefits you may currently be receiving under the Enhanced Disability Benefit Rider will also be discontinued.
Any remaining unloaned Contract Fund value will be transferred to the Fixed Rate Option. Additionally, fund transfers into or out of any of the Variable Investment Options will no longer be permitted. Any Auto Rebalance, Dollar Cost Averaging, directed charges, or premium allocation instructions will be discontinued.
Premium payments will no longer be accepted for the Contract. Instead, all payments received will be applied as loan or loan interest repayments. We will no longer send any regularly scheduled bills, and Electronic Fund Transfer of Premium Payments will be cancelled.
If you have a Type B Death Benefit, we will change it to a Type A Death Benefit. You will no longer be permitted to make Death Benefit changes as long as your Contract remains in-force under the Overloan Protection Rider. The Basic Insurance Amount will be changed to the greater of the Type A Death Benefit and the amount of the Contract Debt multiplied by the Attained Age factor that applies. The Attained Age factors are shown in your Contract.
Increases and decreases to your Basic Insurance Amount, rating reductions, and withdrawals, will no longer be permitted.
Please note that the Internal Revenue Service may take a position that the outstanding loan balance should be treated as a distribution when the Contract Owner elects the Overloan Protection benefit. Distributions are subject to income tax. Were the Internal Revenue Service to take this position, we would take reasonable steps to attempt to avoid this result, including modifying the Contract's loan provisions, but cannot guarantee that such efforts would be successful. You should consult a tax advisor as to the tax risks associated with exercising the Overloan Protection Rider.
Accidental Death Benefit Rider - The Accidental Death Benefit Rider provides an additional Death Benefit that is payable if the insured's death is accidental, as defined in the benefit provision. This benefit will end on the earliest of: the end of the day before the first Contract Anniversary on or after the insured’s 100th birthday and the first Monthly Date on or after the date a request to discontinue the Rider is received in Good Order at a Service Office. This rider is not available on Contracts that have the Overloan Protection Rider.
Children Level Term Rider - The Children Level Term Rider provides term life insurance coverage on the life of the insured's children. The rider coverage will end on the earliest of: (1) the primary insured’s death, (2) the first Contract Anniversary on or after the primary insured’s 75th birthday, (3) the first Monthly Date on or after the date a request to discontinue the Rider is received in Good Order at a Service Office, (4) the first Contract Anniversary on or after the child’s 25th birthday, and (5) the date a rider is converted to a new Contract.
Enhanced Disability Benefit Rider - The Enhanced Disability Benefit Rider pays certain amounts into the Contract if the insured is totally disabled, as defined in the benefit provision. This rider is not available on Contracts with a Type C Death Benefit. The rider coverage will end as of the first Contract Anniversary on or after the insured’s 60th birthday. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms.
Living Needs Benefit Rider - The Living Needs BenefitSM Rider may be available on your Contract. The benefit may vary by state. There is no charge for adding the benefit to a Contract. However, when a claim is paid under this rider, a reduction for early payment is applied and a processing fee of up to $150 per Contract will be deducted. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms.
Subject to state regulatory approval, the Living Needs Benefit allows you to elect to receive an accelerated payment of all or part of the Contract's Death Benefit, adjusted to reflect current value, at a time when certain special needs exist. The adjusted Death Benefit will always be less than the Death Benefit, but will not be less than the Contract’s Cash Surrender Value. One or both of the following options may be available. You should consult with a Pruco Life representative about whether additional options may be available.
The Terminal Illness Option is available on the Living Needs Benefit Rider when a licensed physician certifies the insured as terminally ill with a life expectancy of six months or less. When that evidence is provided and confirmed by us, we will provide an accelerated payment of the portion of the Death Benefit selected by the Contract Owner as a Living Needs Benefit. The Contract Owner may (1) elect to receive the benefit in a single sum or (2) receive equal monthly payments for six months. If the insured dies before all the payments have been made, the present value of the remaining payments will be paid to the beneficiary designated in the Living Needs Benefit claim form.
The Nursing Home Option is available on the Living Needs Benefit Rider after the insured has been confined to an eligible nursing home for six months or more. When a licensed physician certifies that the insured is expected to remain in an eligible nursing home until death, and that is confirmed by us, we will provide an accelerated payment of the portion of the Death Benefit selected by the Contract Owner as a Living Needs Benefit. The Contract Owner may (1) elect to receive the benefit in a single sum or (2) receive equal monthly payments for a specified number of years (not more than 10 nor less than two), depending upon the age of the insured. If the insured dies before all of the payments have been made, the present value of the remaining payments will be paid to the beneficiary designated in the Living Needs Benefit claim form in a single sum.
Subject to state approval, all or part of the Contract's Death Benefit may be accelerated under the Living Needs Benefit. If the benefit is only partially accelerated, a Death Benefit of at least $25,000 must remain under the Contract. The minimum amount that may be accelerated for a Living Needs Benefit claim is $50,000. However, we currently have an administrative practice to allow a reduced minimum of $25,000. We reserve the right to discontinue this administrative practice in a non-discriminatory manner.
No benefit will be payable if you are required to elect it in order to meet the claims of creditors or to obtain a government benefit. We can furnish details about the amount of Living Needs Benefit that is available to an eligible Contract Owner, and the effect on the Contract if less than the entire Death Benefit is accelerated.
You should consider whether adding this settlement option is appropriate in your given situation. Adding the Living Needs Benefit to the Contract has no adverse consequences; however, electing to use it could. With the exception of certain business-related Contracts, the Living Needs Benefit is excluded from income if the insured is terminally ill or chronically ill as defined in any applicable tax law (although the exclusion in the latter case may be limited). You should consult a tax adviser before electing to receive this benefit. Receipt of a Living Needs Benefit payment may also affect your eligibility for certain government benefits or entitlements.
Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for riders available on other Contract Forms.
REQUIREMENTS FOR ISSUANCE OF A CONTRACT
Generally, the Contract may be issued on insureds through age 85 (please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms) for Contracts with Type A (fixed) and Type B (variable) Death Benefits, through age 70 for Contracts with Type C (return of premium) Death Benefit. Currently, the minimum Basic Insurance Amount is $75,000 ($50,000 for insureds below the issue age of 18, $100,000 for insureds issue ages 76-80, and $250,000 for insureds issue ages 81 and above). The minimum Basic Insurance Amount for Contracts issued with a Type C (return of premium) Death Benefit is $250,000. See Types of Death Benefit. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms.
We require evidence of insurability, which may include a medical examination, before issuing any Contract. Preferred Best nonsmokers are offered more favorable cost of insurance rates than smokers. We charge a higher cost of insurance rate and/or an extra amount if an additional mortality risk is involved. We will not allow a change to your Contract if it will cause the Death Benefit to exceed our retention limits or violate any other underwriting rule. These are the current underwriting requirements. We reserve the right to change them on a non-discriminatory basis.
PREMIUMS
Minimum Initial Premium
The Contract offers flexibility in paying premiums. The minimum initial premium is due on or before the Contract Date. It is the premium needed to start the Contract. The minimum initial premium is equal to 9% of the Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premium, including all extras, riders, and Enhanced Disability Benefit premium for Contracts with Type A (fixed) and Type B (variable) Death Benefits. The minimum initial premium is equal to 9% of the Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee Premium for Contracts with Type C (return of premium) Death Benefit. There is no insurance under the Contract unless the minimum initial premium is paid. Thereafter, you decide when to make premium payments and, subject to a $25 minimum, in what amounts. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms.
We may require an additional premium if adjustments to premium payments exceed the minimum initial premium or there are Contract Fund charges due on or before the payment date. We reserve the right to refuse to accept any payment that increases the Death Benefit by more than it increases the Contract Fund. Furthermore, there are circumstances under which the payment of premiums in amounts that are too large may cause the Contract to be characterized as a Modified Endowment Contract, which could be significantly disadvantageous. If you make a payment that would cause the Contract to be characterized as a Modified Endowment Contract, we will send you a letter to advise you of your options. Generally, you have 60 days from when we received your payment to remove the excess premiums and any accrued interest. If you choose not to remove the excess premium and accrued interest, your Contract will become permanently characterized as a Modified Endowment Contract. We will not accept a premium payment that exceeds the Guideline Premium limit if your Contract uses the Guideline Premium definition of life insurance. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits.
Generally, your initial net premium is applied to your Contract as of the Contract Date. If we do not receive your initial premium before the Contract Date, we apply the initial premium to your Contract as of the end of the Valuation Period in which it is received in Good Order at the Payment Office.
Available Types of Premium
After the minimum initial premium is paid, no other specific premiums are required and you have a certain amount of flexibility with respect to the amount and timing for future premium payments. Several suggested patterns of premiums are described below. Contracts with no riders or extra risk charges will have level premiums for each premium type described below. Understanding them may help you understand how the Contract works.
· | Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums are premiums that, if paid as described in the No-Lapse Guarantee section, will keep the Contract in-force during the Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee period regardless of investment performance and assuming no loans or withdrawals. All Contracts offer a Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee period. If you choose to continue a No-Lapse Guarantee beyond this period, you will have to begin paying premiums higher than the Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee Premium. However, not all Contracts offer a guarantee beyond the Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee period. |
· | Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums are premiums that, if paid as described in the No-Lapse Guarantee section, will keep the Contract in-force during the Limited No-Lapse Guarantee period regardless of investment performance and assuming no loans or withdrawals. If you choose to continue the No-Lapse Guarantee beyond this period, you will have to begin paying premiums substantially higher than the Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premium. However, not all Contracts offer the No-Lapse Guarantee for this period or beyond. |
· | Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums are premiums that, if paid as described in the No-Lapse Guarantee section, will keep the Contract in-force during the lifetime of the insured, regardless of investment performance and assuming no loans or withdrawals (not applicable to all Contracts). However, not all Contracts offer the No-Lapse Guarantee for this period. |
The No-Lapse Guarantee periods are described under No-Lapse Guarantee on page 38. The length of the No-Lapse Guarantee depends on your Contract Form, the Contract’s Death Benefit type, and the definition of life insurance test selected at issue. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms. See No-Lapse Guarantee. When you purchase a Contract, your Pruco Life representative can tell you the Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee, Limited No-Lapse Guarantee, and Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee Premium amounts.
We can bill you for the amount you select annually, semi-annually, or quarterly. Because the Contract is a flexible premium Contract, there are no scheduled premium due dates. When you receive a premium notice, you are not required to pay this amount. The Contract will remain in-force if: (1) the Contract Fund, less any applicable surrender charges, is greater than zero and more than any Contract Debt or (2) you have paid sufficient premiums, as described in the No-Lapse Guarantee section, to meet the No-Lapse Guarantee conditions and Contract Debt is not equal to or greater than the Contract Fund, less any applicable surrender charges. You may also pay premiums automatically through pre-authorized monthly electronic fund transfers from a bank checking account. If you elect to use this feature, you choose the day of the month on which premiums will be paid and the premium amount. We will then draft the same amount from your account on the same date each month. When you apply for the Contract, you and your Pruco Life representative should discuss how frequently you would like to be billed (if at all) and for what amount.
Allocation of Premiums
On the later of the Contract Date and the end of the Valuation Period in which the initial premium is received, we deduct the charge for sales expenses and the premium based administrative charge from the initial premium. The remainder of the initial premium and any other net premium received in Good Order at the Payment Office during the 10 day period (or longer if required by state regulation) following your receipt of the Contract will be allocated to the Money Market investment option, then the first monthly deductions are made. After the tenth day (or longer if required by state regulation), these funds, adjusted for any investment results, will be transferred out of the Money Market investment option and allocated among the Variable Investment Options and/or the Fixed Rate Option according to your current premium allocation. Your Contract may include Funds that are not currently accepting additional investments. See the section titled The Pruco Life Variable Universal Account. The transfer from the Money Market investment option on the tenth day following receipt of the Contract will not be counted as one of your 12 free transfers per Contract Year or the 20 transfers per calendar year described under Transfers/Restrictions on Transfers. If the first premium is received before the Contract Date, there will be a period during which the Contract Owner's initial premium will not be invested.
The charge for sales expenses and the premium based administrative charge will also apply to all subsequent premium payments. The remainder of each subsequent premium payment will be invested as of the end of the Valuation Period in which it is received in Good Order at the Payment Office, in accordance with the allocation you previously designated. The “Valuation Period” means the period of time from one determination of the value of the amount invested in a Variable Investment Option to the next. Such determinations are made when the net asset values of the Variable Investment Options are calculated, which is as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time). With respect to any initial premium payment received before the contract date and any premium payment that is not in Good Order, we may temporarily hold the premium in a suspense account and we may earn interest on such amount. You will not be credited interest during that period. The monies held in the suspense account may be subject to claims of our general creditors. The premium payment will not be reduced nor increased due to market fluctuations during that period.
Provided the Contract is neither in default, nor in-force under the provisions of the Overloan Protection Rider, you may change the way in which subsequent premiums are allocated by giving written notice to a Service Office, by our website, provided you are enrolled to use Prudential Online® Account Access, or by telephoning a Service Office, provided you are enrolled to use the Telephone Transfer System. There is no charge for reallocating future premiums. All percentage allocations must be in whole numbers. For example, 33% can be selected but 33⅓% cannot. Of course, the total allocation to all selected investment options must equal 100%.
Transfers/Restrictions on Transfers
You may, up to 12 times each Contract Year, transfer amounts among the Variable Investment Options or to the Fixed Rate Option. Additional transfers may be made only with our consent. Currently, we will allow you to make additional transfers. For the first 20 transfers in a calendar year, you may transfer amounts by proper written notice to a Service Office, by our website, provided you are enrolled to use Prudential Online® Account Access, or by telephone, provided you are enrolled to use the Telephone Transfer System. You will automatically be enrolled to use the Telephone Transfer System unless the Contract is jointly owned or you elect not to have this privilege. Telephone transfers may not be available on Contracts that are assigned, depending on the terms of the assignment. See Assignment.
After you have submitted 20 transfers in a calendar year, we will accept subsequent transfer requests only if they are in a form that meets our needs, bear an original signature in ink, and are sent to us by U.S. regular mail. After you have submitted 20 transfers in a calendar year, a subsequent transfer request by telephone, fax or electronic means will be rejected, even in the event that it is inadvertently processed.
Multiple transfers that occur during the same day, but prior to the end of the Valuation Period for that day, will be counted as a single transfer.
There is no transaction charge for the first 12 transfers per Contract Year among investment options. We may charge up to $25 for each transfer made exceeding 12 in any Contract Year.
Currently, certain transfers effected systematically under a dollar cost averaging or an automatic rebalancing program do not count towards the limit of 12 transfers per Contract Year or the limit of 20 transfers per calendar year. In the future, we may count such transfers towards the limit.
Transfers out of the Money Market investment option will not be made until 10 days after you receive the Contract. Such transfers and any transfers due to any fund closures or mergers will not be considered towards the 12 transfers per Contract Year or the 20 transfers per calendar year.
Transfers among Variable Investment Options will take effect as of the end of the Valuation Period in which a transfer request is received in Good Order at a Service Office. The request may be in terms of dollars, such as a request to transfer $5,000 from one Variable Investment Option to another, or may be in terms of a percentage reallocation among Variable Investment Options. In the latter case, as with premium reallocations, the percentages must be in whole numbers.
We will use reasonable procedures, such as asking you to provide certain personal information provided on your application for insurance, to confirm that instructions given by telephone are genuine. We will not be held liable for following telephone instructions that we reasonably believe to be genuine. We cannot guarantee that you will be able to get through to complete a telephone transfer during peak periods such as periods of drastic economic or market change.
Your Contract may include Funds that are not currently accepting additional investments. See the section titled The Pruco Life Variable Universal Account.
Only one transfer from the Fixed Rate Option will be permitted during each Contract Year. The maximum amount per Contract you may transfer out of the Fixed Rate Option each year is the greater of: (a) 25% of the amount in the Fixed Rate Option; and (b) $2,000.
If you exercise the Overloan Protection Rider, we will then transfer any amounts you have in the Variable Investment Options to the Fixed Rate Option. The transfer is not counted as one of the 12 transfers we allow per Contract Year and there is no charge. Transfers out of the Fixed Rate Option and into the Variable Investment Options will not be permitted while your Contract is kept in-force under the Overloan Protection Rider.
The Contract was not designed for professional market timing organizations, other organizations, or individuals using programmed, large, or frequent transfers. Large or frequent transfers among Variable Investment Options in response to short-term fluctuations in markets, sometimes called “market timing”, can make it very difficult for Fund advisers/sub-advisers to manage the Variable Investment Options. Large or frequent transfers may cause the Fund to hold more cash than otherwise necessary, disrupt management strategies, increase transaction costs, or affect performance to the disadvantage of other Contract Owners. If we (in our own discretion) believe that a pattern of transfers or a specific transfer request, or group of transfer requests, may have a detrimental effect on the performance of the Variable Investment Options, or we are informed by a Fund (e.g., by the Fund’s adviser/sub-advisers) that the purchase or redemption of shares in the Variable Investment Option must be restricted because the Fund believes the transfer activity to which such purchase or redemption relates would have a detrimental effect on the performance of the affected Variable Investment Option, we may modify your right to make transfers by restricting the number, timing, and amount of transfers. We reserve the right to prohibit transfer requests made by an individual acting under a power of attorney on behalf of more than one Contract Owner. We will immediately notify you at the time of a transfer request if we exercise this right.
Any restrictions on transfers will be applied in a uniform manner to all persons who own Contracts like this one, and will not be waived. However, due to the discretion involved in any decision to exercise our right to restrict transfers, it is possible that some Contract Owners may be able to effect transactions that could affect Fund performance to the disadvantage of other Contract Owners.
In addition, Contract Owners who own variable life insurance or variable annuity Contracts that do not impose the transfer restrictions described above, might make more numerous and frequent transfers than Contract Owners who are subject to such limitations. Contract Owners who are not subject to the same transfer restrictions may have the same underlying Variable Investment Options available to them, and unfavorable consequences associated with such frequent trading within the underlying Variable Investment Option (e.g., greater Portfolio turnover, higher transaction costs, or performance or tax issues) may affect all Contract Owners.
The Funds have adopted their own policies and procedures with respect to excessive trading of their respective shares, and we reserve the right to enforce these policies and procedures. The prospectuses for the Funds describe any such policies and procedures, which may be more or less restrictive than the policies and procedures we have adopted. Under SEC rules, we are required to: (1) enter into a written agreement with each Portfolio or its principal underwriter that obligates us to provide to the Fund promptly upon request certain information about the trading activity of individual Contract Owners, and (2) execute instructions from the Fund to restrict or prohibit further purchases or transfers by specific Contract Owners who violate the excessive trading policies established by the Fund. In addition, you should be aware that some Funds may receive “omnibus” purchase and redemption orders from other insurance companies or intermediaries such as retirement plans. The omnibus orders reflect the aggregation and netting of multiple orders from individual owners of variable insurance contracts and/or individual retirement plan participants. The omnibus nature of these orders may limit the Funds in their ability to apply their excessive trading policies and procedures. In addition, the other insurance companies and/or retirement plans may have different policies and procedures or may not have any such policies and procedures because of contractual limitations. For these reasons, we cannot guarantee that the Funds (and thus Contract Owners) will not be harmed by transfer activity relating to other insurance companies and/or retirement plans that may invest in the Funds.
The Funds may assess a short term trading fee in connection with a transfer out of any available Variable Investment Option if the transfer occurs within a certain number of days following the date of allocation to the Variable Investment Option. Each Fund determines the amount of the short term trading fee and when the fee is imposed. The fee is retained by or paid to the Fund and is not retained by us. The fee will be deducted from your Contract Value to the extent allowed by law. At present, no Fund has adopted a short-term trading fee.
Although our transfer restrictions are designed to prevent excessive transfers, they are not capable of preventing every potential occurrence of excessive transfer activity.
Dollar Cost Averaging
As an administrative practice, we are currently offering a feature called Dollar Cost Averaging ("DCA"). Under this feature, either fixed dollar amounts or a percentage of the amount designated for use under the DCA option will be transferred periodically from the DCA Money Market investment option into other Variable Investment Options available under the Contract, excluding the Fixed Rate Option and any Funds that are not currently accepting additional investments. See the section titled The Pruco Life Variable Universal Account. If DCA allocates money to a Fund at a time when the Fund no longer accepts additional investments, automatic transfers to that Fund will be directed to the Money Market Portfolio. You may choose to have periodic transfers made monthly or quarterly. DCA transfers will not begin until the Monthly Date after 10 days following your receipt of the Contract.
Each automatic transfer will take effect as of the end of the Valuation Period on the date coinciding with the periodic timing you designate provided the New York Stock Exchange is open on that date. If the New York Stock Exchange is not open on that date, or if the date does not occur in that particular month, the transfer will take effect as of the end of the Valuation Period, which immediately follows that date. Automatic transfers will continue until: (1) $50 or less remains of the amount designated for Dollar Cost Averaging, at which time the remaining amount will be transferred; or (2) you give us notification of a change in DCA allocation or cancellation of the feature. Currently, a transfer that occurs under the DCA feature is not counted towards the 20 transfers permitted each calendar year or the 12 free transfers permitted each Contract Year. We reserve the right to change this practice, modify the requirements, or discontinue the feature. Dollar cost averaging will not be available on Contracts kept in-force under the provisions of the Overloan Protection Rider.
Auto-Rebalancing
As an administrative practice, we are currently offering a feature called Auto-Rebalancing. This feature allows you to automatically rebalance Variable Investment Option assets at specified intervals based on percentage allocations that you choose. For example, suppose your initial investment allocation of Variable Investment Options X and Y is split 40% and 60%, respectively, and investment results cause that split to change. You may instruct that those assets be rebalanced to your original or different allocation percentages. Auto-Rebalancing is not available until the Monthly Date after 10 days following your receipt of the Contract.
Auto-Rebalancing can be performed on a quarterly, semi-annual, or annual basis. Each rebalance will take effect as of the end of the Valuation Period on the date coinciding with the periodic timing you designate, provided the New York Stock Exchange is open on that date. If the New York Stock Exchange is not open on that date, or if the date does not occur in that particular month, the transfer will take effect as of the end of the Valuation Period immediately following that date. The Fixed Rate Option cannot participate in this administrative procedure, nor can any Funds that are no longer accepting additional investments. See the section titled The Pruco Life Variable Universal Account. If Auto-Rebalancing involves allocating to a Fund that became closed to additional investments, the Auto-Rebalancing feature will be turned off. Currently, a transfer that occurs under the Auto-Rebalancing feature is not counted towards the 20 transfers permitted each calendar year or the 12 free transfers permitted each Contract Year. We reserve the right to change this practice, modify the requirements, or discontinue the feature. Auto-rebalancing will not be available on Contracts kept in-force under the provisions of the Overloan Protection Rider.
DEATH BENEFITS
Contract Date
There is no insurance under this Contract until the minimum initial premium is paid. If a medical examination is required, the Contract Date will ordinarily be the date the examination is completed. Under certain circumstances, we may allow the Contract to be backdated up to six months prior to the application date for the purpose of lowering the insured's issue age. This may be advantageous for some Contract Owners as a lower issue age may result in lower current charges.
When Proceeds Are Paid
Generally, we will pay any Death Benefit, Cash Surrender Value, loan proceeds or withdrawal within seven days after all the documents required for such a payment are received in Good Order at a Service Office. Other than the Death Benefit, which is determined as of the date of death, the amount will be determined as of the end of the Valuation Period in which the necessary documents are received in Good Order at a Service Office. However, we may delay payment of proceeds from the Variable Investment Option[s] and the variable portion of the Death Benefit due under the Contract if the disposal or valuation of the Account's assets is not reasonably practicable because the New York Stock Exchange is closed for other than a regular holiday or weekend, trading is restricted by the SEC, or the SEC declares that an emergency exists.
We have the right to delay payment of the Cash Surrender Value attributable to the Fixed Rate Option for up to six months (or a shorter period if required by applicable law). We will pay interest of at least 3% per year if such a payment is delayed for more than 30 days (or a shorter period if required by applicable law).
Death Claim Settlement Options
The beneficiary may choose to receive death claim proceeds by any of the settlement options described in the Contract or by payment of a lump sum check. In addition to the settlement options described in your Contract, currently, in certain circumstances, the beneficiary may choose the payment of death claim proceeds by way of Prudential's Alliance Account settlement option (the "Alliance Account"). If the Alliance Account is selected, Prudential will provide a kit to the beneficiary, which includes: (1) an account confirmation describing the death claim proceeds, the current interest rate, and the terms of the Alliance Account; and (2) a guide that explains how the Alliance Account works. Amounts in an Alliance Account may be withdrawn by the beneficiary at any time. Any Pruco Life representative authorized to sell this Contract can explain this option upon request.
Types of Death Benefit
You may select from three types of Death Benefit at issue. A Contract with a Type A (fixed) Death Benefit has a Death Benefit, which will generally equal the Basic Insurance Amount. Favorable investment results and additional premium payments will generally increase the Cash Surrender Value and decrease the net amount at risk and result in lower charges. This type of Death Benefit does not vary with the investment performance of the investment options you selected, except when the premiums you pay or favorable investment performance causes the Contract Fund to grow to the point where we may increase the Death Benefit to ensure that the Contract will satisfy the Internal Revenue Code’s definition of life insurance. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms. See How a Contract's Cash Surrender Value Will Vary.
A Contract with a Type B (variable) Death Benefit has a Death Benefit, which will generally equal the Basic Insurance Amount plus the Contract Fund. Favorable investment performance and additional premium payments will generally increase your Contract's Death Benefit and Cash Surrender Value. However, the increase in the Cash Surrender Value for a Contract with a Type B Death Benefit may be less than the increase in Cash Surrender Value for a Contract with a Type A Death Benefit because a Type B Death Benefit has a greater cost of insurance charge due to a greater net amount at risk. As long as the Contract is not in default, there have been no withdrawals, and there is no Contract Debt, the Death Benefit may not fall below the Basic Insurance Amount stated in the Contract. We may increase the Death Benefit to ensure that the Contract will satisfy the Internal Revenue Code’s definition of life insurance. See How a Contract's Cash Surrender Value Will Vary.
A Contract with a Type C (return of premium) Death Benefit has a Death Benefit. The Death Benefit is generally equal the Basic Insurance Amount plus the total premiums paid into the Contract less withdrawals. The total premiums, less withdrawals, is not accumulated with interest. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms. The Death Benefit on a Contract with a Type C Death Benefit is limited to the Basic Insurance Amount plus an amount equal to the: Type C Limiting Amount multiplied by the Type C Death Benefit Factor plus the Contract Fund. See the Contract Limitations section of your Contract. Within limits, this Death Benefit type allows the beneficiary, in effect, to recover the cost of the Contract, plus a predetermined rate of return, upon the death of the insured. Favorable investment performance and payment of additional premiums will generally increase the Contract's Cash Surrender Value. However, the increase in the Cash Surrender Value for a Type C Death Benefit may be less than the increase in Cash Surrender Value for a Contract with a Type A Death Benefit because a Type C Death Benefit has a greater cost of insurance charge due to a greater net amount at risk. The increase in Cash Surrender Value for a Contract with a Type C Death Benefit may be more or less than the increase in Cash Surrender Value for a Contract with a Type B Death Benefit depending on earnings, the Type C interest rate you chose, and the amount of any withdrawals. If you take a withdrawal, it is possible for a Contract with a Type C Death Benefit to fall below the Basic Insurance Amount. We may increase the Death Benefit to ensure that the Contract will satisfy the Internal Revenue Code’s definition of life insurance. See How a Contract’s Cash Surrender Value Will Vary.
Contract Owners of Contracts with a Type A Death Benefit should note that any withdrawal may result in a reduction of the Basic Insurance Amount and the deduction of any applicable surrender charges. We will not allow you to make a withdrawal that will decrease the Basic Insurance Amount below the minimum Basic Insurance Amount. For Contracts with a Type B Death Benefit and Contracts with a Type C Death Benefit, withdrawals will not change the Basic Insurance Amount. See Withdrawals.
The way in which the Cash Surrender Value and Death Benefit will change depends significantly upon the investment results that are actually achieved.
You may change the type of Death Benefit any time after issue and subject to our approval. We will increase or decrease the Basic Insurance Amount so that the Death Benefit immediately after the change matches the Death Benefit immediately before the change. The Basic Insurance Amount after a change may not be lower than the minimum Basic Insurance Amount applicable to the Contract. See REQUIREMENTS FOR ISSUANCE OF A CONTRACT. We may deduct a transaction charge of up to $25 for any change in the Basic Insurance Amount, although we do not currently do so. A type change that reduces the Basic Insurance Amount may result in the assessment of surrender charges. See CHARGES AND EXPENSES.
If you are changing your Contract from a Type A Death Benefit to a Type B Death Benefit, we will reduce the Basic Insurance Amount by the amount in your Contract Fund on the date the change takes place.
If you are changing your Contract from a Type B Death Benefit to a Type A Death Benefit, we will increase the Basic Insurance Amount by the amount in your Contract Fund on the date the change takes place.
If you are changing your Contract from a Type C Death Benefit to a Type A Death Benefit, we will change the Basic Insurance Amount by adding the lesser of (a) the total premiums paid minus total withdrawals to this Contract, both accumulated with interest at the rate(s) displayed in your Contract Data pages and (b) the Contract Fund before deduction of any monthly charge due on that date plus the product of the Type C Limiting Amount multiplied by the Type C Death Benefit Factor. The Type C Limiting Amount and the Type C Death Benefit Factor are both found in the Contract Limitations section of your Contract Data pages.
If you are changing your Contract from a Type C Death Benefit to a Type B Death Benefit, we first find the difference between: (1) the Contract Fund and (2) the lesser of (a) the total premiums paid minus total withdrawals to this Contract both accumulated with interest at the rate(s) displayed in your Contract Data pages and (b) the Contract Fund before deduction of any monthly charge due on that date plus the product of the Type C Limiting Amount multiplied by the Type C Death Benefit Factor. The Type C Limiting Amount and the Type C Death Benefit Factor are both found in the Contract Limitations section of your Contract Data pages. If (2) is larger than (1), we will increase the Basic Insurance Amount by that difference. If (1) is larger than (2), we will reduce the Basic Insurance Amount by that difference.
You may change your Contract’s Death Benefit type after issue, however, if you choose a Type A Death Benefit or a Type B Death Benefit at issue, you will not be able to change to a Type C Death Benefit thereafter. If you change a Type C Death Benefit to a Type A Death Benefit or a Type B Death Benefit after issue, you will not be able to change back to a Type C Death Benefit. We will not allow a change to your Contract if it will cause the Death Benefit to exceed our retention limits or violate any other underwriting rule.
The following chart illustrates the changes in Basic Insurance Amount with each change of Death Benefit type described above. The chart assumes a $50,000 Contract Fund and a $300,000 Death Benefit. For changes from a Type C Death Benefit, the chart assumes $40,000 in total premiums minus total withdrawals and the rate chosen to accumulate premiums is 0%.
Basic Insurance Amount | ||
FROM | TO | |
Type A $300,000 | Type B $250,000 | Type C N/A |
Type B $250,000 | Type A $300,000 | Type C N/A |
Type C $260,000 | Type A $300,000 | Type B $250,000 |
You may request a change in the type of Death Benefit by sending us a request in a form that meets our needs. If the change is approved, we will recalculate the Contract's charges and appropriate tables and send you new Contract Data pages. We may require you to send us your Contract before making the change. There may be circumstances under which a change in the Death Benefit type may cause the Contract to be classified as a Modified Endowment Contract, which could be significantly disadvantageous. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits.
If you pay one of the three No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums as described below, we will guarantee that your Contract will not lapse as a result of unfavorable investment performance, and a Death Benefit will be paid upon the death of the insured, even if your Contract Fund value drops to zero. The No-Lapse Guarantee is based on premium payments and is not a benefit you need to elect. Withdrawals and outstanding Contract loans may adversely affect the status of the No-Lapse Guarantee. See Withdrawals and Loans.
How We Calculate and Determine if You Have a No-Lapse Guarantee
We calculate your Contract's Accumulated Net Payments on the Contract Date and on each Monthly Date. Accumulated Net Payments equal the premiums you paid, accumulated at an effective annual rate of 4%, less withdrawals accumulated at 4%. For Contracts that had previously lapsed because of excess Contract Debt, also subtract the Contract Debt in effect at the time of lapse accumulated at 4% starting at the date of default. If you have an outstanding Contract loan, a No-Lapse Guarantee will not keep the Contract in-force.
We also calculate No-Lapse Guarantee Values. These are values used solely to determine if a No-Lapse Guarantee is in effect and vary by Basic Insurance Amount, definition of life insurance test, issue age, sex, underwriting class, optional benefits and any additional or substandard mortality risk. These are not cash values that you can realize by surrendering the Contract, nor are they payable Death Benefits.
On each Monthly Date, we will compare your Accumulated Net Payments to the No-Lapse Guarantee Value. If your Accumulated Net Payments equal or exceed the No-Lapse Guarantee Value, and the Contract Debt does not equal or exceed the Contract Fund less any applicable surrender charges, then the Contract is kept in-force, regardless of the amount in the Contract Fund.
No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums and No-Lapse Guarantee Periods Available Under Your Contract
There are three No Lapse Guarantee Premiums that correspond to the No Lapse Guarantee periods; The Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums, Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums, and Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums which are payment levels that are compared to the No-Lapse Guarantee Values. This is a flexible premium payment Contract and you may make payments at any time. The description below assumes you pay the No Lapse Guarantee Premium at the beginning of each Contract Year. If you make any premium payments after the beginning of each Contract Year you may need to pay more premiums because the Accumulated Net Payments will be less due to reduced interest accumulation than if you paid at the beginning of the Contract Year.
1) All Contracts have a Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee period. A Contract with a Type C Death Benefit will only have a Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee available Payment of the Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee Premium at the beginning of each Contract Year guarantees that your Contract will not lapse during the Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee period, assuming there are no loans or withdrawals. However, continued payment of the Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee Premium after this period will not assure that your Contract's Accumulated Net Payments will continue to meet the No-Lapse Guarantee Values and prevent the Contract from lapsing. See PREMIUMS.
2) The Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Period is available for all contracts other than those with a Type C Death Benefit. If you want a longer No-Lapse Guarantee, paying the Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premium at the beginning of each Contract Year guarantees your Contract against lapse during the Limited No-Lapse Guarantee period, assuming no loans or withdrawals. However, payment of the Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premium after this Limited No-Lapse Guarantee period, will not assure that your Contract's Accumulated Net Payments will continue to meet the No-Lapse Guarantee Values and prevent the Contract from lapsing.
3) The Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee period is available only for Contracts with Type A or Type B Death Benefits that have elected the Cash Value Accumulation Test for definition of life insurance. If you want a No-Lapse Guarantee to last the lifetime of the insured, then you should expect to pay at least the Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee Premium at the start of each Contract Year. Paying the Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee Premium at the beginning of each Contract Year guarantees your Contract against lapse for the insured's lifetime, assuming no loans or withdrawals.
The Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee period is 8 years after issue (6 years for ages 60 and older). The Limited No-Lapse Guarantee period lasts until the later to occur of Attained Age 75 or 10 years after issue. The Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee period requires payments of the Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee Premium to Attained Age 121. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms.
The following tables provide sample Short Term No-Lapse, Limited No-Lapse, and Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums (to the nearest dollar). Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms. The examples assume: (1) the insured is a male, Preferred Best, with no extra risk or substandard ratings; (2) a $250,000 Basic Insurance Amount; (3) no extra benefit riders have been added to the Contract; and (4) the Cash Value Accumulation Test has been elected for definition of life insurance testing.
Illustrative Annual Premiums | ||||
Age of insured at issue | Type of Death Benefit Chosen | Short Term No- Lapse Guarantee Premium | Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premium | Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee Premium |
40 | Type A | $1,338 | $2,138 | $4,765 |
40 | Type B | $1,340 | $2,220 | $14,185 |
40 | Type C | $1,340 | N/A | N/A |
60 | Type A | $4,878 | $6,458 | $12,963 |
60 | Type B | $4,900 | $6,510 | $33,195 |
60 | Type C | $4,900 | N/A | N/A |
80 | Type A | $16,203 | $37,385 | $47,235 |
80 | Type B | $22,353 | $41,788 | $83,015 |
80 | Type C | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Maintaining the No-Lapse Guarantee
Paying the Short Term No-Lapse, Limited No-Lapse, or Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums at the start of each Contract Year is one way of reaching the No-Lapse Guarantee Values; it is certainly not the only way. The No-Lapse Guarantee allows considerable flexibility as to the timing of premium payments. Your Pruco Life representative can supply sample illustrations of various premium amount and frequency combinations that correspond to the No-Lapse Guarantee Values.
When determining what premium amounts to pay and the frequency of your payments, you should consider carefully the value of maintaining a No-Lapse Guarantee. For example, if you desire the Limited No-Lapse Guarantee until the later to occur of the insured's Attained Age 75 or 10 years after issue, you may prefer to pay at least the Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premium in all years, rather than paying the lower Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee Premium in the first eight years after issue (six years for issue ages 60 and above). If you pay only the Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee Premium in the first eight years (six years for issue ages 60 and above), you will need to pay more than the Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premium at the beginning of the 9th year (7th year for issue ages 60 and above) in order to continue the No-Lapse Guarantee.
Similarly, if you desire the Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee for lifetime protection, you may prefer to pay generally higher premiums in all years, rather than trying to make such payments on an as needed basis. If you pay only Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums until the end of the Limited No-Lapse Period a substantial amount may be required to meet the subsequent Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee Values and continue the guarantee.
For example assume: (1) an insured male age 32, Non-Smoker Plus underwriting class with no extra risk or substandard ratings; (2) a $250,000 Basic Insurance Amount; Type B Death Benefit; no extra benefit riders, (3) no loans; and (4) the Cash Value Accumulation Test has been elected for definition of life insurance testing. The Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premium would be $1665, which if paid at the beginning of each year from Contract issue would provide the Limited No-Lapse Guarantee until age 75. The accumulated premiums at 4% less withdrawals accumulated at 4% would be $189,253. The Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee premium would be $10,265, which if paid at the beginning of each year from Contract issue would provide the Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee to age 121. However, if the individual in this example paid $1665 annually from Contract issue to age 75 and then decided he wanted the Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee, he would have to pay enough premium so that the accumulated premiums at 4% less withdrawals accumulated at 4% would be $1,232,102. In addition, it is possible that the payment required to continue the guarantee beyond the Limited No-Lapse Guarantee period could exceed the premium payments allowed to be paid without causing the Contract to become a Modified Endowment Contract. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits.
After your first Contract Anniversary, you may increase the amount of insurance by increasing the Basic Insurance Amount of the Contract, thus creating an additional Coverage Segment. The increase will be subject to the underwriting requirements we determine.
The following conditions must be met:
(1) | you must ask for the change in a form that meets our needs; |
(2) | the amount of the increase must be at least equal to the minimum increase in Basic Insurance Amount shown under Contract Limitations in your Contract Data pages; |
(3) | you must prove to us that the insured is insurable for any increase; |
(4) | the Contract must not be in default; |
(5) | we must not be paying premiums into the Contract as a result of the insured's total disability; |
(6) | if we ask you to do so, you must send us the Contract to be endorsed; and |
(7) | your Contract must not be in-force under the provisions of the Overloan Protection Rider. |
If we approve the change, we will send you new Contract Data pages showing the amount and effective date of the change and the recalculated charges, values and limitations. If the insured is not living on the effective date, the change will not take effect. Currently, no transaction charge is being made in connection with an increase in Basic Insurance Amount. However, we reserve the right to charge such a fee in an amount of up to $25.
The Sales Load Target Premium is calculated separately for each Coverage Segment. When premiums are paid, each payment is allocated to each Coverage Segment based on the proportion of the Sales Load Target Premium in each segment to the total Sales Load Target Premiums of all segments. The current sales load charges are detailed in the chart in the section titled Sales Load Charges. We do not apply a sales load charge after the tenth Contract Year. See the definition of Contract Year for an increase in Basic Insurance Amount under DEFINITIONS OF SPECIAL TERMS USED IN THIS PROSPECTUS.
Each Coverage Segment will have its own surrender charge period beginning on that segment’s effective date and its own surrender charge threshold. The surrender charge threshold is the segment’s lowest coverage amount since its effective date. See Decreases in Basic Insurance Amount and Surrender Charges.
The maximum COI rates for a Coverage Segment representing an increase in Basic Insurance Amount are based upon 2001 CSO Mortality Tables, the age at the effective date of the increase and the number of years since then, sex (except where unisex rates apply), underwriting class, smoker/nonsmoker status, and extra rating class, if any. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms. The net amount at risk for the whole Contract (the Death Benefit minus the Contract Fund) is allocated to each Coverage Segment based on the proportion of its Basic Insurance Amount to the total of all Coverage Segments. In addition, the Attained Age factor for a Contract with an increase in Basic Insurance Amount is based on the insured's Attained Age for the initial Coverage Segment.
If you elect to increase the Basic Insurance Amount of your Contract, you will receive a "free-look" right that will apply only to the increase in Basic Insurance Amount, not the entire Contract. This right is comparable to the right afforded to the purchaser of a new Contract, except that, any COI charge for the increase in the Basic Insurance Amount will be returned to the Contract Fund instead of a refund of premium. Generally, the "free-look" right must be exercised no later than 10 days after receipt of the Contract with an increase.
Payment of a significant premium in conjunction with an increase in Basic Insurance Amount may cause the Contract to be classified as a Modified Endowment Contract. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits. Therefore, before increasing the Basic Insurance Amount, you should consult with your tax adviser and your Pruco Life representative.
You have the option of decreasing the Basic Insurance Amount of your Contract without withdrawing any Cash Surrender Value. If a change in circumstances causes you to determine that your amount of insurance is greater than needed, a decrease will reduce your insurance protection and the monthly deductions for the cost of insurance.
The following conditions must be met:
(1) | the amount of the decrease must be at least equal to the minimum decrease in the Basic Insurance Amount shown under Contract Limitations in your Contract Data pages; |
(2) | the Basic Insurance Amount after the decrease must be at least equal to the minimum Basic Insurance Amount shown under Contract Limitations in your Contract Data pages; |
(3) | the Contract must not be in default; |
(4) | the surrender charge on the decrease, if any, plus any transaction charge for the decrease may not exceed the Contract Fund; |
(5) | if we ask you to do so, you must send us the Contract to be endorsed; and |
(6) | your Contract must not be in-force under the provisions of the Overloan Protection Rider. |
If we approve the decrease, we will send you new Contract Data pages showing the amount and effective date of the change and the recalculated charges, values, and limitations. Currently, no transaction charge is being made in connection with a decrease in the Basic Insurance Amount. However, we reserve the right to charge such a fee in an amount of up to $25.
For Contracts with more than one Coverage Segment, a decrease in Basic Insurance Amount will reduce each Coverage Segment based on the proportion of each Coverage Segment amount to the total of all Coverage Segment amounts before the decrease. Each Coverage Segment will have its own surrender charge threshold equal to the segment’s lowest coverage amount since its effective date. If the decrease in Basic Insurance Amount reduces a Coverage Segment to an amount less than its surrender charge threshold, we will deduct a surrender charge. See Surrender Charges.
We may decline a decrease in the Basic Insurance Amount if we determine it would cause the Contract to fail to qualify as "life insurance" for purposes of Section 7702 of the Internal Revenue Code. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits.
It is important to note, however, that if the Basic Insurance Amount is decreased, there is a possibility that the Contract will be classified as a Modified Endowment Contract. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits. You should consult with your tax adviser and your Pruco Life representative before requesting any decrease in Basic Insurance Amount.
CONTRACT VALUES
Surrender of a Contract
You may surrender your Contract at any time for its Cash Surrender Value (referred to as Net Cash Value in the Contract) while the insured is living. To surrender your Contract, we may require you to deliver or mail the following items in Good Order to a Service Office; the Contract, a signed request for surrender, and any tax withholding information required under federal or state law. Generally, we will pay your Contract’s Cash Surrender Value within seven days after all the documents required for such a payment are received in Good Order at a Service Office. Surrender of a Contract may have tax consequences. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits.
Additional requirements exist if you are exchanging your Contract for a new one at another insurance company. We specifically require a properly signed assignment to change ownership of your Contract to the new insurer and a request for surrender, signed by an authorized officer of the new insurer. The new insurer should submit these documents directly to us by sending them in Good Order to our Service Office. Generally, we will pay your Contract’s Cash Surrender Value to the new insurer within seven days after all the documents required for such a payment are received in Good Order at our Service Office.
The Cash Surrender Value will be determined as of the end of the Valuation Period in which a surrender request is received in Good Order at a Service Office. The Contract's Cash Surrender Value on any date will be the Contract Fund less any applicable surrender charges and less any Contract Debt. The Contract Fund value changes daily, reflecting:
(1) | increases or decreases in the value of the Variable Investment Option[s]; |
(2) | interest credited on any amounts allocated to the Fixed Rate Option; |
(3) | interest credited on any loan; and |
(4) | the daily asset charge for mortality and expense risks assessed against the Variable Investment Options. |
The Contract Fund value also changes to reflect the receipt of premium payments after any charges are deducted and the monthly deductions described under CHARGES AND EXPENSES, and any added persistency credit. See Persistency Credit, below. Upon request, we will tell you the Cash Surrender Value of your Contract. It is possible for the Cash Surrender Value of a Contract to decline to zero because of unfavorable investment performance or outstanding Contract Debt.
Persistency Credit
On each Monthly Date on or following at least your 5th Contract Anniversary, if your Contract is not in default, we may credit your Contract Fund with an additional amount (“persistency credit”) for keeping your Contract in-force. The persistency credit is based on reduced costs in later Contract Years and applies to Contracts that remain in-force. This will not increase any charges and expenses applicable to your Contract or riders. No persistency credit will be calculated on the amount of any Contract loan.
The following chart illustrates an example of a Contract with $100,000 of Contract Fund, net of outstanding loans. In this example, the persistency credit starts after the 6th Contract Anniversary and is calculated using an annual rate equal to 0.15% of the Contract Fund, net of outstanding loans, but is expressed as a monthly rate to reflect that the amount is credited monthly. The credited amount will be allocated to the investment options in the same manner as premiums are allocated.
Determination of Sample Persistency Credit | |
Contract Fund (net of outstanding loans) | $100,000.00 |
Monthly Credit Rate | 0.012491% |
Persistency Credit Amount | $12.49 |
New Contract Fund (net of outstanding loans) | $100,012.49 |
If your Contract is in default or has lapsed, we will not credit your Contract with the persistency credit. The calculated amount that would have been credited during the time your Contract was in default or lapsed will not be made up if your Contract is reinstated. However, if your Contract remains in-force to the next Monthly Date, we will credit your Contract Fund with the calculated monthly amount for that Monthly Date. The persistency credit amount is not guaranteed, and we reserve the right to change this practice, modify the requirements, or discontinue the feature.
Loans
You may borrow an amount up to the current loan value of your Contract less any existing Contract Debt using the Contract as the only security for the loan. The loan value at any time is equal to the sum of (1) 99% of the portion of the cash value attributable to the Variable Investment Options and (2) the balance of the cash value, provided the Contract is not in default. The cash value is equal to the Contract Fund less any surrender charge. A Contract in default has no loan value. There is no minimum loan amount. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms.
Interest charged on a loan accrues daily. We charge interest on the full loan amount, including all unpaid interest. Interest is due on each Contract Anniversary or when the loan is paid back, whichever comes first. If interest is not paid when due, we will increase the loan amount by any unpaid interest. We charge interest at an effective annual rate of 2% for standard loans. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms.
Any amount you borrow on or after the 10th Contract Anniversary will be considered a preferred loan. On the tenth Contract Anniversary, if the insured is living and the Contract is in force, any existing loan amount will automatically be converted to a preferred loan. Preferred loans are charged interest at an effective annual rate of 1.05%. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms.
When a loan is made, an amount equal to the loan proceeds is transferred out of the Variable Investment Options and/or the Fixed Rate Option, as applicable. Unless you ask us to take the loan amount from specific Variable Investment Options and we agree, the reduction will be made in the same proportions as the value in each Variable Investment Option and the Fixed Rate Option bears to the total value of the Contract. While a loan is outstanding, the amount that was transferred will continue to be treated as part of the Contract Fund. It will be credited with interest at an effective annual rate of 1%. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms. On each Monthly Date, we will increase the portion of the Contract Fund in the investment options by interest credits accrued on the loan since the last Monthly Date.
The Contract Debt is the amount of all outstanding loans plus any interest accrued but not yet due. If, on any Monthly Date, the Contract Debt equals or exceeds the Contract Fund less any applicable surrender charges, the Contract will go into default. The No-Lapse Guarantee will not prevent default under those circumstances. We will notify you of a 61-day grace period, within which time you may repay all or enough of the loan to obtain a positive Cash Surrender Value and thus keep the Contract in-force. If you send us a payment during the grace period and we receive it after a Monthly Date has occurred, we will credit interest to the Contract Fund from the date your Contract went into default to the date we received your payment, and then return to crediting interest on subsequent Monthly Dates. If the Contract lapses or is surrendered, the amount of unpaid Contract Debt will be treated as a distribution and will be immediately taxable to the extent of gain in the Contract. Reinstatement of the Contract after lapse will not eliminate the taxable income, which we are required to report to the Internal Revenue Service. See LAPSE AND REINSTATEMENT and Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits - Pre-Death Distributions.
If your Contract includes the Overloan Protection Rider and you meet the requirements to exercise the rider, you may have protection against lapse due to excessive Contract Debt. See the Other Riders - Overloan Protection Rider section.
No persistency credit will be calculated on the amount of any Contract loans. See the Persistency Credit section.
Loans you take against the Contract are ordinarily treated as debt and are not considered distributions subject to tax. However, you should know that the Internal Revenue Service may take the position that the loan should be treated as a distribution for tax purposes because of the relatively low differential between the loan interest rate and the Contract’s crediting rate. Distributions are subject to income tax. Were the Internal Revenue Service to take this position, we would take reasonable steps to attempt to avoid this result, including modifying the Contract’s loan provisions, but cannot guarantee that such efforts would be successful.
A loan will not cause the Contract to lapse as long as Contract Debt does not equal or exceed the Contract Fund, less any applicable surrender charges. Loans from Modified Endowment Contracts may be treated for tax purposes as distributions of income. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits.
Any Contract Debt will directly reduce a Contract's Cash Surrender Value and will be subtracted from the Death Benefit to determine the amount payable. In addition, even if the loan is fully repaid, it may have an effect on future Death Benefits because the investment results of the selected investment options will apply only to the amount remaining invested under those options. The longer the loan is outstanding, the greater the effect is likely to be. The effect could be favorable or unfavorable. If investment results are greater than the rate being credited on the amount of the loan while the loan is outstanding, values under the Contract will not increase as rapidly as they would have if no loan had been made. If investment results are below that rate, Contract values will be higher than they would have been had no loan been made.
Loan repayments are applied to reduce the total outstanding Contract Debt, which is equal to the principal plus accrued interest. Interest accrues daily on the total outstanding Contract Debt, and making a loan repayment will reduce the amount of interest accruing.
Loan repayments will be applied towards the loan according to when they are received. Loan interest is due 21 days prior to your Contract Anniversary. If we receive your loan repayment within 21 days prior to your Contract Anniversary, we will apply the repayment towards interest due on a standard loan first, then towards the interest due on a preferred loan, if applicable. Any loan repayment amount exceeding the interest due is applied towards the existing principal amount of a standard loan first, then towards the principal amount of a preferred loan, if applicable.
If we receive your loan repayment at any time outside of 21 days prior to your Contract Anniversary, we will apply the repayment towards the principal amount of a standard loan first, then to the principal amount of a preferred loan, if applicable. We will apply the remainder of the loan repayment towards the interest due on a standard loan, then towards the interest due on a preferred loan, if applicable.
When you repay all or part of a loan, we will increase the portion of the Contract Fund in the investment options by the amount of the loan you repay plus interest credits accrued on the loan since the last transaction date. We will apply the loan repayment to the investment allocation used for future premium payments as of the loan repayment date. If loan interest is paid when due, it will not change the portion of the Contract Fund allocated to the investment options. We reserve the right to change the manner in which we allocate loan repayments.
You may withdraw a portion of the Contract's Cash Surrender Value without surrendering the Contract, subject to the following restrictions:
(a) | We must receive a request for the withdrawal in a form that meets our needs. |
(b) | Your Contract’s Cash Surrender Value after the withdrawal may not be less than or equal to zero after deducting any charges associated with the withdrawal. |
(c) | The Cash Surrender Value after the withdrawal must be an amount that we estimate will be sufficient to cover two months of Contract Fund deductions. |
(d) | The withdrawal amount must be at least $500. |
(e) | The Basic Insurance Amount after withdrawals must be at least equal to the minimum Basic Insurance Amount shown in the Contract. |
(f) | Your Contract must not be in-force under the provisions of the Overloan Protection Rider. |
There is a transaction fee for each withdrawal, which is the lesser of: (a) $25 and; (b) 2% of the withdrawal amount. A withdrawal may not be repaid except as a premium subject to the applicable charges. Upon request, we will tell you how much you may withdraw. Withdrawal of the Cash Surrender Value may have tax consequences. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits.
Whenever a withdrawal is made, the Death Benefit may immediately be reduced by at least the amount of the withdrawal. Withdrawals under Contracts with a Type B Death Benefit and Contracts with a Type C Death Benefit, will not change the Basic Insurance Amount. However, under Contracts with a Type A Death Benefit, the withdrawal may require a reduction in the Basic Insurance Amount. If a decrease in Basic Insurance Amount reduces a Coverage Segment below its surrender charge threshold, a surrender charge may be deducted. See Surrender Charges. No withdrawal will be permitted under a Contract with a Type A Death Benefit if it would result in a Basic Insurance Amount of less than the minimum Basic Insurance Amount shown under Contract Limitations in your Contract Data pages. It is important to note, however, that if the Basic Insurance Amount is decreased, there is a possibility that the Contract might be classified as a Modified Endowment Contract. Before making any withdrawal that causes a decrease in Basic Insurance Amount, you should consult with your tax adviser and your Pruco Life representative. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits.
Currently, we will provide an authorization form if your withdrawal request causes a decrease in Basic Insurance Amount that results in your Contract being classified as a Modified Endowment Contract. The authorization form will confirm that you are aware of your Contract becoming a Modified Endowment Contract if the transaction is completed. We will complete the transaction and send a confirmation notice after we receive the completed authorization form in Good Order at a Service Office.
When a withdrawal is made, the Contract Fund is reduced by the withdrawal amount and any charges associated with the withdrawal. An amount equal to the reduction in the Contract Fund will be withdrawn proportionally from the investment options unless you direct otherwise. Withdrawal of any portion of the Cash Surrender Value increases the risk that the Contract Fund may be insufficient to provide Contract benefits. If such a withdrawal is followed by unfavorable investment experience, the Contract may go into default. Withdrawals may also affect whether a Contract is kept in-force under the No-Lapse Guarantee, since withdrawals decrease your Accumulated Net Payments. See No-Lapse Guarantee.
Generally, we will pay any withdrawal amount within seven days after all the documents required for such a payment are received in Good Order at a Service Office. See When Proceeds Are Paid.
A Contract returned during the “free-look” period shall be deemed void from the beginning, and not considered a surrender or withdrawal.
We will determine the value of the Contract Fund on each Monthly Date. If the Contract Fund less any applicable surrender charges is zero or less, the Contract is in default unless it remains in-force under a No-Lapse Guarantee, assuming there are no outstanding loans. See No-Lapse Guarantee. Separately, if the Contract Debt ever grows to be equal to or more than the Contract Fund less any applicable surrender charges, the Contract will be in default. Should this happen, we will send you a notice of default setting forth the payment which we estimate will keep the Contract in-force for three months from the date of default. This payment must be received at the Payment Office within the 61-day grace period after the notice of default is mailed or the Contract will end and have no value. A Contract that lapses with an outstanding Contract loan may have tax consequences. See Tax Treatment of Contract Benefits. We reserve the right to change the requirements to reinstate a lapsed Contract.
A Contract that ended in default may be reinstated within five years from the date of default, if the following conditions are met:
(1) | we receive a written request for reinstatement; |
(2) | renewed evidence of insurability is provided on the insured; |
(3) | submission of certain payments sufficient to bring the Contract up to date plus a premium that we estimate will cover all charges and deductions for three months from the date of reinstatement (Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms);and |
(4) | the Insured is living on the date the Contract is reinstated. |
The reinstatement date will be the date we approve your request. We will deduct all required charges from your payment and the balance will be placed into your Contract Fund. If we approve the reinstatement, we will credit the Contract Fund with an amount equal to the surrender charge applicable as of the date of reinstatement.
TAXES
This summary provides general information on the federal income tax treatment of the Contract. It is not a complete statement of what the federal income taxes will be in all circumstances. It is based on current law and interpretations, which may change. It does not cover state taxes or other taxes. It is not intended as tax advice. You should consult your own tax adviser for complete information and advice.
Treatment as Life Insurance. The Contract must meet certain requirements to qualify as life insurance for tax purposes. These requirements include certain definitional tests and rules for diversification of the Contract’s investments. For further information on the diversification requirements, see Taxation of the Fund in the statement of additional information for the Series Fund.
In order to meet the definition of life insurance rules for federal income tax purposes, the Contract must satisfy one of the two following tests: (1) Cash Value Accumulation Test or (2) Guideline Premium Test. At issue, the Contract Owner chooses which of these two tests will apply to their Contract. This choice cannot be changed thereafter.
Under the Cash Value Accumulation Test, the Contract must maintain a minimum ratio of Death Benefit to cash value. Therefore, in order to ensure that the Contract qualifies as life insurance, the Contract's Death Benefit may increase as the Contract Fund value increases. The Death Benefit, at all times, must be at least equal to the Contract Fund multiplied by the applicable Attained Age factor. A listing of Attained Age factors can be found on your Contract Data pages.
Under the Guideline Premium Test, there is a limit as to the amount of premium that can be paid into the Contract in relation to the Death Benefit. In addition, there is a minimum ratio of Death Benefit to cash value associated with this test. This ratio, however, is less than the required ratio under the Cash Value Accumulation Test. Therefore, the Death Benefit required under this test is generally lower than that of the Cash Value Accumulation Test.
The selection of the definition of life insurance test most appropriate for you is dependent on several factors, including the insured’s age at issue, actual Contract earnings, and whether or not the Contract is classified as a Modified Endowment Contract. In addition, the Guideline Premium Test is required for the definition of life insurance if you choose to have the Overloan Protection Rider. See the Other Riders - Overloan Protection Rider section. You should consult your own tax adviser for complete information and advice with respect to the selection of the definition of life insurance test.
We believe we have taken adequate steps to insure that the Contract qualifies as life insurance for tax purposes.
Generally speaking, this means that:
· | you will not be taxed on the growth of the funds in the Contract, unless you receive a distribution from the Contract, or if the Contract lapses or is surrendered, and |
· | the Contract's Death Benefit will generally be income tax free to your beneficiary. However, your Death Benefit may be subject to estate taxes, and |
· | we may refuse to accept any payment that increases the Death Benefit by more than it increases the Contract Fund. |
Although we believe that the Contract should qualify as life insurance for tax purposes, there are some uncertainties, particularly because the Secretary of Treasury has not yet issued permanent regulations that bear on this question. Accordingly, we reserve the right to make changes -- which will be applied uniformly to all Contract Owners after advance written notice -- that we deem necessary to insure that the Contract will qualify as life insurance.
Pre-Death Distributions. The tax treatment of any distribution you receive before the insured’s death depends on whether the Contract is classified as a Modified Endowment Contract.
Contracts Not Classified as Modified Endowment Contracts
· | If you surrender the Contract or allow it to lapse, you will be taxed on the amount you received in excess of the premiums you paid less the untaxed portion of any prior withdrawals. For this purpose, you will be treated as receiving any portion of the Cash Surrender Value used to repay Contract Debt. In other words, you will immediately have taxable income to the extent of gain in the Contract. Reinstatement of the Contract after lapse will not eliminate the taxable income, which we are required to report to the Internal Revenue Service. The tax consequences of a surrender may differ if you take the proceeds under an income payment settlement option. |
· | Generally, you will be taxed on a withdrawal to the extent the amount you receive exceeds the premiums you paid for the Contract less the untaxed portion of any prior withdrawals. However, under some limited circumstances, in the first 15 Contract Years, all or a portion of a withdrawal may be taxed if the Contract Fund exceeds the total premiums paid less the untaxed portions of any prior withdrawals, even if total withdrawals do not exceed total premiums paid. |
· | Extra premiums for optional benefits and riders generally do not count in computing the premiums paid for the Contract for the purposes of determining whether a withdrawal is taxable. |
· | Loans you take against the Contract are ordinarily treated as debt and are not considered distributions subject to tax. However, you should know that the Internal Revenue Service may take the position that the preferred loan should be treated as a distribution for tax purposes because of the relatively low differential between the loan interest rate and Contract’s crediting rate. Were the Internal Revenue Service to take this position, we would take reasonable steps to avoid this result, including modifying the Contract’s loan provisions. |
· | The rules change if the Contract is classified as a Modified Endowment Contract. The Contract could be classified as a Modified Endowment Contract if premiums in amounts that are too large are paid or a decrease in the Basic Insurance Amount is made (or a rider removed). The addition of a rider or an increase in the Basic Insurance Amount may also cause the Contract to be classified as a Modified Endowment Contract if a significant premium is paid in conjunction with an increase or the addition of a rider. We will notify you if a premium or a change in Basic Insurance Amount would cause the Contract to become a Modified Endowment Contract, and advise you of your options. You should first consult a tax adviser and your Pruco Life representative if you are contemplating any of these steps. |
· | If the Contract is classified as a Modified Endowment Contract, then amounts you receive under the Contract before the insured's death, including loans and withdrawals, are included in income to the extent that the Contract Fund before surrender charges exceeds the premiums paid for the Contract increased by the amount of any loans previously included in income and reduced by any untaxed amounts previously received other than the amount of any loans excludible from income. An assignment of a Modified Endowment Contract is taxable in the same way. These rules also apply to pre-death distributions, including loans and assignments, made during the two-year period before the time that the Contract became a Modified Endowment Contract. |
· | Any taxable income on pre-death distributions (including full surrenders) is subject to a penalty of 10 percent unless the amount is received on or after age 59½, on account of your becoming disabled or as a life annuity. It is presently unclear how the penalty tax provisions apply to Contracts owned by businesses. |
· | All Modified Endowment Contracts issued by us to you during the same calendar year are treated as a single Contract for purposes of applying these rules. |
Investor Control. Treasury Department regulations do not provide specific guidance concerning the extent to which you may direct your investment in the particular Variable Investment Options without causing you, instead of us, to be considered the owner of the underlying assets. Because of this uncertainty, we reserve the right to make such changes as we deem necessary to assure that the Contract qualifies as life insurance for tax purposes. Any such changes will apply uniformly to affected Contract Owners and will be made with such notice to affected Contract Owners as is feasible under the circumstances.
Withholding. You must affirmatively elect that no taxes be withheld from a pre-death distribution. Otherwise, the taxable portion of any amounts you receive will be subject to withholding. You are not permitted to elect out of withholding if you do not provide a social security number or other taxpayer identification number. You may be subject to penalties under the estimated tax payment rules if your withholding and estimated tax payments are insufficient to cover the tax due.
Other Tax Considerations. If you transfer or assign the Contract to someone else, there may be gift, estate and/or income tax consequences. If you transfer the Contract to a person two or more generations younger than you (or designate such a younger person as a beneficiary), there may be Generation Skipping Transfer tax consequences. Deductions for interest paid or accrued on Contract Debt or on other loans that are incurred or continued to purchase or carry the Contract may be denied. Your individual situation or that of your beneficiary will determine the federal estate taxes and the state and local estate, inheritance and other taxes due if you or the insured dies.
Business-Owned Life Insurance. If a business, rather than an individual, is the owner of the Contract, there are some additional rules. Business Contract Owners generally cannot deduct premium payments. Business Contract Owners generally cannot take tax deductions for interest on Contract Debt paid or accrued after October 13, 1995. An exception permits the deduction of interest on Contract loans on Contracts for up to 20 key persons. The interest deduction for Contract Debt on these loans is limited to a prescribed interest rate and a maximum aggregate loan amount of $50,000 per key insured person. The corporate alternative minimum tax also applies to business-owned life insurance. This is an indirect tax on additions to the Contract Fund or Death Benefits received under business-owned life insurance policies.
For business-owned life insurance coverage issued after August 17, 2006, Death Benefits will generally be taxable as ordinary income to the extent it exceeds cost basis. Life insurance Death Benefits will continue to be generally income tax free if, prior to Contract issuance, the employer provided a prescribed notice to the proposed insured/employee, obtained the employee's consent to the life insurance, and one of the following requirements is met: (a) the insured was an employee at any time during the 12-month period prior to his or her death; (b) the insured was a director or highly compensated employee or individual (as defined in the Code) at the time the Contract was issued; or (c) the Death Benefits are paid to the insured's heirs or his or her designated beneficiaries (other than the employer), either directly as a Death Benefit or received from the purchase of an equity (or capital or profits) interest in the applicable contract holder. Annual reporting and record keeping requirements will apply to employers maintaining such business-owned life insurance.
DISTRIBUTION AND COMPENSATION
Pruco Securities, LLC (“Prusec”), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential Financial, acts as the principal underwriter of the Contract. Prusec, organized on September 22, 2003 under New Jersey law, is registered as a broker and dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is a registered member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA). (Prusec is a successor company to Pruco Securities Corporation, established on February 22, 1971.) Prusec’s principal business address is 751 Broad Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102. Prusec serves as principal underwriter of the individual variable insurance Contracts issued by us. The Contract is sold by registered representatives of Prusec who are also our appointed insurance agents under state insurance law. The Contract may also be sold through other broker-dealers authorized by Prusec and applicable law to do so. Prusec received gross distribution revenue for its variable life insurance products of $56,178,356 in 2012, $60,952,205 in 2011, and $61,514,049 in 2010. Prusec passes through the gross distribution revenue it receives to broker-dealers for their sales and does not retain any portion of it in return for its services as distributor for the Contracts. However, Prusec does retain a portion of compensation it receives with respect to sales by its representatives. Prusec retained compensation of $2,168,552 in 2012, $2,477,021 in 2011, and $2,379,140 in 2010. Prusec offers the Contract on a continuous basis.
Compensation (commissions, overrides, and any expense reimbursement allowance) is paid to broker-dealers that are registered under the Exchange Act and/or entities that are exempt from such registration (“firms”) according to one or more schedules. The individual representative will receive all or a portion of the compensation, depending on the practice of the firm. Compensation is based on a premium value referred to as the Commissionable Target Premium. The Commissionable Target Premium is equal to the first year's surrender charge (which is found in your Contract Data pages) divided by the Percentage of Sales Load Target Premium at start of year one from the table in the Surrender Charges section of this prospectus. The Commissionable Target Premium will vary by issue age, sex, smoker/nonsmoker, substandard rating class, and any riders selected by the Contract Owner. For Type B Death Benefit Contracts, the Commissionable Target Premium, Sales Load Target Premium and Surrender Charge Target Premiums will vary from Contracts with Type A or Type C Death Benefit. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms.
Broker-dealers will receive compensation of up to 122% of premiums received in the first 24 months following the Contract Date on total premiums received since issue up to the first year’s Commissionable Target Premium, up to 5% on premiums received in excess of the first year's Commissionable Target Premium. Broker-dealers will receive compensation up to 6% of the Commissionable Target Premium received in Contract Years two through four and up to 4% of the Commissionable Target Premium received in years five through 10. Moreover, broker-dealers will receive compensation up to 3% on premiums received in years two through four and up to 2.5% on premiums received in years five through 10 to the extent that premiums paid in any year exceed the Commissionable Target Premium. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms.
If the Basic Insurance Amount is increased, broker-dealers will receive compensation of up to 122% on premiums received up to the Commissionable Target Premium for the increase received in the first 12 months following the effective date of the increase, up to 6% of premiums received in years two through four, and up to 4% on premiums received in years five through 10 up to the Commissionable Target Premium for the increase. Moreover, broker-dealers will receive compensation of up to 5% on premiums received in year one, and up to 3% on premiums received in years two through four, and up to 2.5% on premiums received in years five through 10 following the effective date of the increase to the extent that premiums paid in any year exceed the Commissionable Target Premium.
Prusec registered representatives who sell the Contract are also our life insurance agents, and may be eligible for various cash bonuses and insurance benefits and non-cash compensation programs that we or our affiliates offer such as conferences, trips, prizes and awards, subject to applicable regulatory requirements. In some circumstances and to the extent permitted by applicable regulatory requirements, we may also reimburse certain sales and marketing expenses.
In addition, in an effort to promote the sale of our variable products (which may include the placement of our Contracts on a preferred or recommended company or product list and/or access to a broker-dealer’s registered representatives), we or Prusec may enter into compensation arrangements with certain broker-dealer firms authorized by Prusec to sell the Contract, or branches of such firms, with respect to certain or all registered representatives of such firms under which such firms may receive separate compensation or reimbursement for, among other things, training of sales personnel, marketing and/or administrative and/or other services they provide to us or our affiliates. To the extent permitted by applicable rules, laws, and regulations, Prusec may pay or allow other promotional incentives or payments in the form of cash or non-cash compensation. These arrangements may not be offered to all firms, and the terms of such arrangements may differ between firms. You should note that firms and individual registered representatives and branch managers within some firms participating in one of these compensation arrangements might receive greater compensation for selling the Contract than for selling a different Contract that is not eligible for these compensation arrangements.
A list of the names of the firms (or their affiliated broker/dealers) that we are aware of (as of December 31, 2012) that received payment or accrued a payment amount with respect to variable product business during 2012 may be found in the Statement of Additional Information. The least amount paid or accrued and the greatest amount paid or accrued during 2012 were $0.88 and $4,151,007, respectively.
While compensation is generally taken into account as an expense in considering the charges applicable to a variable life insurance product, any such compensation will be paid by us, and will not result in any additional charge to you or to the Separate Account. Your registered representative can provide you with more information about the compensation arrangements that apply upon the sale of the Contract.
In addition, we or our affiliates may provide such compensation, payments and/or incentives to firms arising out of the marketing, sale and/or servicing of variable annuities or life insurance offered by different Prudential business units.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Pruco Life is subject to legal and regulatory actions in the ordinary course of our business. Pending legal and regulatory actions include proceedings specific to Pruco Life and proceedings generally applicable to business practices in the industry in which we operate. Pruco Life 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. Pruco Life 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 some of the pending legal and regulatory actions, plaintiffs are seeking large and/or indeterminate amounts, including punitive or exemplary damages. In addition, Pruco Life, along with other participants in the businesses in which we engage, 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 Pruco Life’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 following is a summary of certain pending proceedings.
Pruco Life 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, including matters discussed below. As of June 30, 2013, the aggregate range of reasonably possible losses in excess of accruals established is not currently estimable. Pruco Life 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.
In January 2013, a qui tam action on behalf of the State of Florida, Total Asset Recovery Services v. Met Life Inc., et al., Manulife Financial Corporation, et. al., Prudential Financial, Inc., The Prudential Insurance Company of America, and Prudential Insurance Agency, LLC, filed in the Circuit Court of Leon County, Florida, was served on Prudential Insurance. The complaint alleges that Prudential Insurance failed to escheat life insurance proceeds to the State of Florida in violation of the Florida False Claims Act and seeks injunctive relief, compensatory damages, civil penalties, treble damages, prejudgment interest, attorneys’ fees and costs. In March 2013, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the complaint.
In October 2012, the State of West Virginia, through its State Treasurer, filed a lawsuit, State of West Virginia ex. rel. John D. Perdue v. PRUCO Life Insurance Company, in the Circuit Court of Putnam County, West Virginia. The complaint alleges violations of the West Virginia Uniform Unclaimed Property Fund Act by failing to properly identify and report all unclaimed insurance policy proceeds which should either be paid to beneficiaries or escheated to West Virginia. The complaint seeks to examine the records of Pruco Life to determine compliance with the West Virginia Uniform Unclaimed Property Fund Act, and to assess penalties and costs in an undetermined amount. In April 2013, Pruco Life filed a motion to dismiss the complaint.
In January 2012, a Global Resolution Agreement entered into by Pruco Life and a third party auditor became effective upon its acceptance by the unclaimed property departments of 20 states and jurisdictions. Under the terms of the Global Resolution Agreement, the third party auditor acting on behalf of the signatory states will compare expanded matching criteria to the Social Security Master Death File (“SSMDF”) to identify deceased insureds and contractholders where a valid claim has not been made. In February 2012, a Regulatory Settlement Agreement entered into by Pruco Life to resolve a multi-state market conduct examination regarding its adherence to state claim settlement practices became effective upon its acceptance by the insurance departments of 20 states and jurisdictions. The Regulatory Settlement Agreement applies prospectively and requires Pruco Life to adopt and implement additional procedures comparing its records to the SSMDF to identify unclaimed death benefits and prescribes procedures for identifying and locating beneficiaries once deaths are identified. Other jurisdictions that are not signatories to the Regulatory Settlement Agreement are considering proposals that would apply prospectively and require life insurance companies to take additional steps to identify unreported deceased policy and contract holders. These prospective changes and any escheatable property identified as a result of the audits and inquiries could result in: (1) additional payments of previously unclaimed death benefits; (2) the payment of abandoned funds to U.S. jurisdictions; and (3) changes in Pruco Life’s practices and procedures for the identification of escheatable funds and beneficiaries, which would impact claim payments and reserves, among other consequences.
Pruco Life is one of several companies subpoenaed by the New York Attorney General regarding its unclaimed property procedures. Additionally, the New York Department of Financial Services (“NYDFS”) has requested that 172 life insurers (including Pruco Life) provide data to the NYDFS regarding use of the SSMDF. The New York Office of Unclaimed Funds is conducting an audit of Pruco Life’s compliance with New York’s unclaimed property laws. In February 2012, the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General requested information regarding Pruco Life’s unclaimed property procedures. In May 2013, Pruco Life entered into a settlement agreement with the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Insurance Division, which requires Pruco Life to take additional steps to identify deceased insureds and contract holders where a valid claim has not been made.
In December 2010, a purported state-wide class action complaint, Phillips v. Prudential Financial, Inc., was filed in state court and removed to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. The complaint makes allegations under Illinois law, substantially similar to the Garcia cases, on behalf of a class of Illinois residents whose death benefit claims were settled by retained assets accounts. In March 2011, the complaint was amended to drop Prudential Financial as a defendant and add Pruco Life and the Prudential Insurance Company of America as a defendant. The matter is now captioned Phillips v. Prudential Insurance and Pruco Life Insurance Company. In November 2011, the complaint was dismissed. In December 2011, plaintiff appealed the dismissal. In May 2013, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed the dismissal of plaintiff’s putative class action complaint.
In July 2010, Pruco Life, along with other life insurance industry participants, received a formal request for information from the State of New York Attorney General’s Office in connection with its investigation into industry practices relating to the use of retained asset accounts. In August 2010, Pruco Life received a similar request for information from the State of Connecticut Attorney General’s Office. Pruco Life is cooperating with these investigations. Pruco Life has also been contacted by state insurance regulators and other governmental entities, including the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and Congressional committees regarding retained asset accounts. These matters may result in additional investigations, information requests, claims, hearings, litigation, adverse publicity and potential changes to business practices.
Pruco Life’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 Pruco Life’s results of operations or cash flow 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 flow for such period. In light of the unpredictability of Pruco Life’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 Pruco Life’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 Pruco Life’s financial position.
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Our audited consolidated financial statements are shown in the Statement of Additional Information to this prospectus and should be considered only as bearing upon our ability to meet its obligations under the Contract.
The Account’s audited financial statements are available in the Statement of Additional Information to this prospectus.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We have filed a registration statement with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933, relating to the offering described in this prospectus. This prospectus does not include all the information set forth in the registration statement. Certain portions have been omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. The omitted information may, however, be obtained from the SEC's Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549, or by telephoning (202) 551-8090, upon payment of a prescribed fee.
To reduce costs, we now generally send only a single copy of prospectuses and shareholder reports to each household ("householding"), in lieu of sending a copy to each Contract Owner that resides in the household. You should be aware that you can revoke or "opt out" of householding at any time by calling 1-877-778-5008.
You may contact us for further information at the address and telephone number inside the front cover of this prospectus. For service or questions about your Contract, please contact our Service Office at the phone number on the back cover or at P.O. Box 7390, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19176.
DEFINITIONS OF SPECIAL TERMS
USED IN THIS PROSPECTUS
Accumulated Net Payments - The actual premium payments you make, accumulated at an effective annual rate of 4%, less any withdrawals you make, also accumulated at an effective annual rate of 4%.
Attained Age - The insured's age on the Contract Date plus the number of years since then. For any Coverage Segment effective after the Contract Date, the insured's Attained Age is the issue age of that segment plus the length of time since its effective date.
Basic Insurance Amount - The total amount of life insurance as shown in the Contract, including any applicable increases, and no riders.
Cash Surrender Value - The amount payable to the Contract Owner upon surrender of the Contract. It is equal to the Contract Fund minus any Contract Debt and minus any applicable surrender charge. Also referred to in the Contract as “Net Cash Value.”
Contract - The variable universal life insurance Contract described in this prospectus.
Contract Anniversary - The same date as the Contract Date in each later year.
Contract Date -The date the Contract is effective, as specified in the Contract.
Contract Debt - The principal amount of all outstanding loans plus any interest accrued thereon.
Contract Fund - The total amount credited to a specific Contract. On any date it is equal to the sum of the amounts in all the Variable Investment Options and the Fixed Rate Option, and the principal amount of any Contract Debt plus any interest earned thereon.
Contract Owner - You. Unless a different owner is named in the application, the owner of the Contract is the insured.
Contract Year - A year that starts on the Contract Date or on a Contract Anniversary. For any Coverage Segment representing an increase, “Contract Year” is a year that starts on the effective date of the increase (referred to as “Target year” in the Contract).
Coverage Segment - The Basic Insurance Amount at issue is the first Coverage Segment. For each increase in Basic Insurance Amount, a new Coverage Segment is created for the amount of the increase.
Death Benefit - If the Contract is not in default, this is the amount we will pay upon the death of the insured, assuming no Contract Debt.
Fixed Rate Option - An investment option under which interest is accrued daily at a rate that we declare periodically, but not less than an effective annual rate of 3%.
Fund/Portfolio/Variable Investment Options - These are terms that may be used interchangeably and represent the underlying investments held in the Separate Account which you may select for your Contract.
Good Order - An instruction received at our Service Office utilizing such forms, signatures, and dating as we require, which is sufficiently clear and complete and for which we do not need to exercise any discretion to follow such instructions.
Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums - Premiums that, if paid at the beginning of each Contract Year, will keep a Type A or a Contract with a Type B (variable) Death Benefit in-force until the insured's Attained Age 75, or if later, during the first 10 Contract Years, regardless of investment performance and assuming no loans or withdrawals. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms.
Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums - Premiums that, if paid at the beginning of each Contract Year, will keep a Type A or a Contract with a Type B (variable) Death Benefit in-force for the lifetime of the insured, regardless of investment performance and assuming no loans or withdrawals.
Monthly Date - The Contract Date and the same date in each subsequent month.
No-Lapse Guarantee - Sufficient premium payments, on an accumulated basis, will guarantee that your Contract will not lapse for a specified duration and a Death Benefit will be paid upon the death of the insured, regardless of investment experience and assuming no loans or withdrawals. See No-Lapse Guarantee.
Payment Office - The address on your bill to which you are directed to send premium payments, loan payments, and payments to bring your Contract out of default.
Pruco Life Insurance Company - Pruco Life, us, we, our. The company offering the Contract.
Sales Load Target Premium - A premium that is used to determine sales load based on issue age and rating class of the insured, and any extra risk charges or riders, if applicable.
Separate Account - Amounts under the Contract that are allocated to the Fund held by us in a Separate Account called the Pruco Life Variable Universal Account (the "Account" or the "Registrant"). The Separate Account is set apart from all of our general assets.
Service Office - The mailing address of our Service Office is: P.O. Box 7390, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19176.
Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums -Premiums that, if paid at the beginning of each Contract Year, will keep the Contract in-force during the first eight Contract Years (six Contract Years for issue ages 60 and above), regardless of investment performance and assuming no loans or withdrawals. Please see Appendix A: Contract Variations for information on other Contract Forms.
Valuation Period - The period of time from one determination of the value of the amount invested in a Variable Investment Option to the next. Such determinations are made when the net asset values of the Variable Investment Options are calculated, which would be as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time).
To Learn More About PruLife® Custom Premier II
The Statement of Additional Information (SAI) is legally a part of this prospectus, both of which are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the Securities Act of 1933, Registration No. 333-112808. The SAI contains additional information about the Pruco Life Variable Universal Account. All of these filings can be reviewed and copied at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. Information on the operation of the public reference room may be obtained by calling the Commission at (202) 551-8090. The SEC also maintains a Web site (http://www.sec.gov) that contains the PruLife® Custom Premier II SAI, material incorporated by reference, and other information about us. Copies of these materials can also be obtained, upon payment of duplicating fees, from the SEC’s Public Reference Room, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549.
You can call us at 1-800-944-8786 to ask us questions, request information about the Contract, and obtain copies of the SAI, and personalized illustrations, without charge, or other documents. You can also view the SAI located with the prospectus at www.prudential.com/eprospectus, or request a copy by writing to us at:
Pruco Life Insurance Company
213 Washington Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102
Investment Company Act of 1940: Registration No. 811-5826
Appendix A: Contract Variations
Your Contract's options, features, riders and charges may vary depending on the Contract form number. This Appendix reflects Contract variations that differ from the Contract version that may have been in effect at the time your Contract was issued. Please contact your Pruco Life representative for more information about the particular variations that apply to your Contract form number. Your Contract's form number is located in the lower left hand corner on the first page of your Contract. If you purchased your contract prior to October 7, 2013, a description of contract variations that may apply to you is contained in this appendix for VUL-2008 (offered approximately 5/1/2008 - 10/6/2013), VUL-2005 (offered approximately 10/17/2005 - 4/30/2008), and VUL-2004 (offered approximately 5/17/2004 - 10/16/2005). The Contract may have been available in your state past the approximate end date indicated based on when your state approved the Contract.
VUL-2008 Contract
Sales Load charges are:
Section Headings | Variation |
The Fixed Rate Option | The Fixed Rate Option declared rate of interest will never be lower than an effective annual rate of 3%. |
Sales Load Charges |
Years 1 - 4 | Years 5 - 10 | |
Up to Sales Load Target Premium | 4% | 3% |
In Excess of Sales Load Target Premium | 3.5% | 2.5% |
Premium Based Administrative Charge | Currently the charge for Premium Based Administrative Charge is a total of 3.75% of the premiums received. The portion for federal income taxes is currently 1.25% of the premium. |
Cost of Insurance | The maximum COI rates are based on the 2001 CSO Mortality Tables. COI charges range from $0.01 to $83.34 per $1,000 of net amount at risk. |
Monthly Deductions from the Contract Fund | (a) (2) The second part of the administrative fee is currently an amount per $1,000 of the Basic Insurance Amount for the first six Contract Years and zero thereafter. The fee varies by issue age, sex, and smoker/non-smoker status. It also varies by substandard ratings. |
The following tables provide sample per $1,000 rates:
Administrative Charge: Per $1,000 rates
Issue Age | Male Nonsmoker | Male Smoker | Female Nonsmoker | Female Smoker |
35 | $0.18 | $0.24 | $0.14 | $0.17 |
45 | $0.29 | $0.33 | $0.23 | $0.28 |
55 | $0.48 | $0.58 | $0.36 | $0.44 |
65 | $0.88 | $1.10 | $0.70 | $0.80 |
(b) The highest charge per thousand is $1.50 and applies to male, smokers above age 74 at certain rating classes. The lowest charge per thousand is $0.06 and applies to females age 0-09.
Currently, no charge is being made to the Account for our federal income taxes, other than the 1.25% charge for federal income taxes measured by premiums.
Charges After Age 121 | Beginning on the first Contract Anniversary on or after the insured’s 121st birthday, we will no longer accept premiums or deduct monthly charges from the Contract Fund. |
Charges for Optional Rider Coverage | Enhanced Disability Benefit Rider - We deduct a monthly charge for this rider, which provides invested premium amounts while the insured is totally disabled. The current charge is based on issue age, issue date, sex, and underwriting class of the insured. It ranges from 7.08% to 12.17%, of the greater of: 9% of the Contract's Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premium and the total of all monthly deductions, and is charged until the first Contract Anniversary on or after the insured’s 60th birthday. |
Target Term Rider | Target Term Rider is not available. |
Types of Death Benefit | If you choose a Contract with a Type C (return of premium) Death Benefit, the Death Benefit is generally equal to the Basic Insurance Amount plus the total premiums paid into the Contract, less withdrawals, accumulated at a chosen interest rate. The interest rate can be between 0% and 8%; in ½% increments. |
No-Lapse Guarantee | The Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee period is 8 years after issue (6 years for ages 60 and older). The Limited No-Lapse Guarantee period lasts until the later to occur of Attained Age 75 or 10 years after issue. The Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee period requires payments of the Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee Premium to Attained Age 121. |
The following table provides sample Short Term No-Lapse, Limited No-Lapse, and Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums (to the nearest dollar). The examples assume: (1) the insured is a male, Preferred Best, with no extra risk or substandard ratings; (2) a $250,000 Basic Insurance Amount; (3) no extra benefit riders have been added to the Contract; and (4) the Cash Value Accumulation Test has been elected for definition of life insurance testing.
Illustrative Annual Premiums | ||||
Age of insured at issue | Type of Death Benefit Chosen | Short Term No- Lapse Guarantee Premium | Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premium | Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee Premium |
40 | Type A | $1,338 | $2,138 | $4,765 |
40 | Type B | $1,340 | $2,220 | $14,185 |
40 | Type C | $1,340 | N/A | N/A |
60 | Type A | $4,878 | $6,458 | $12,963 |
60 | Type B | $4,900 | $6,510 | $33,195 |
60 | Type C | $4,900 | N/A | N/A |
80 | Type A | $16,203 | $37,385 | $47,235 |
80 | Type B | $22,353 | $41,788 | $83,015 |
80 | Type C | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Increases in Basic Insurance Amount | The maximum COI rates for a Coverage Segment representing an increase in Basic Insurance Amount are based upon 2001 CSO Mortality Tables. |
Loans | There is no minimum loan amount. We charge interest at an effective annual rate of 4% for standard loans. A portion of any amount you borrow on or after the 10th Contract Anniversary may be considered a preferred loan. The maximum preferred loan amount is the total amount you may borrow minus the total net premiums paid (net premiums equal premiums paid less total withdrawals, if any). If the net premium amount is less than zero, we will, for purposes of this calculation, consider it to be zero. On the 10th Contract Anniversary and each Contract Anniversary thereafter, if the insured is living and the Contract is not in default, any existing loan amount will automatically be converted to a preferred loan to the extent that there is a preferred loan amount available. Preferred loans are charged interest at an effective annual rate of 3.10%. While a loan is outstanding, the amount that was transferred will continue to be treated as part of the Contract Fund. It will be credited with interest at an effective annual rate of 3%. |
Distribution and Compensation | Type A, B, and C Death Benefits have the same Commissionable Target Premium, Sales Load Target Premium and Surrender Charge Target Premiums. Broker-dealers will also receive compensation in years two and beyond of up to 0.25% of the Contract Fund, net of Contract Debt. |
VUL-2005 Contracts
Section Headings | Variation |
The Fixed Rate Option | The Fixed Rate Option declared rate of interest will never be lower than an effective annual rate of 3%. |
Sales Load Charges |
Years 1 - 4 | Years 5 - 10 | |
Up to Sales Load Target Premium | 4% | 3% |
In Excess of Sales Load Target Premium | 3.5% | 2.5% |
Paying more than the Sales Load Target Premium in any of the first 10 Contract Years could reduce your total sales load. For example, assume that a Contract with no riders or extra insurance charges, has a Sales Load Target Premium of $884.00 and the Contract Owner would like to pay 10 premiums. If you paid $1,768 (two times the amount of the Sales Load Target Premium) in every other Contract Year up to the ninth year (i.e. in years 1, 3, 5, 7, 9), the total sales load charge would be $278.46. If you paid $884.00 in each of the first 10 Contract Years, the total sales load would be $300.56.
Premium Based Administrative Charge | Currently the charge for Premium Based Administrative Charge is a total of 3.75% of the premiums received. The portion for federal income taxes is currently 1.25% of the premium. |
Cost of Insurance | The maximum COI rates are based on the 1980 CSO Mortality Tables. Our current COI charges range from $0.03 to $83.34 per $1,000 of net amount at risk. |
Monthly Deductions from the Contract Fund | (a) (2) The second part of the administrative fee is currently an amount per $1,000 of the Basic Insurance Amount for the first six Contract Years and zero thereafter. The fee varies by issue age, sex, and smoker/non-smoker status. It also varies by substandard ratings. |
The following tables provide sample per $1,000 rates:
Administrative Charge: Per $1,000 rates
Issue Age | Male Nonsmoker | Male Smoker | Female Nonsmoker | Female Smoker |
35 | $0.16 | $0.22 | $0.12 | $0.15 |
45 | $0.27 | $0.31 | $0.21 | $0.26 |
55 | $0.48 | $0.58 | $0.36 | $0.44 |
65 | $0.88 | $1.10 | $0.70 | $0.80 |
(b) The highest charge per thousand is $1.40 and applies to male, smokers above age 74 at certain rating classes. The lowest charge per thousand is $0.04 and applies to females age 0-14.
Currently, no charge is being made to the Account for our federal income taxes, other than the 1.25% charge for federal income taxes measured by premiums.
Surrender Charges | The chart below shows maximum percentages for all ages at the beginning of the first Contract Year and the end of the last Contract Year that a surrender charge may be payable. |
Issue Age | Percentage of Sales Load Target Premium, less premiums for riders, at start of year 1 | Reduces to zero at the end of year |
0-49 | 100% | 10 |
50-60 | 90% | 10 |
61-65 | 65% | 10 |
66 and above | 55% | 10 |
Transaction Charges | In addition to the Transaction Charges described in the prospectus, we may charge a transaction fee of up to $25 for any change in the rider coverage amount for Contracts with Target Term Rider. |
Charges After Age 121 | We will no longer accept premiums or deduct monthly charges from the Contract Fund after age 100. |
Charges for Optional Rider Coverage | Enhanced Disability Benefit Rider - We deduct a monthly charge for this rider, which provides invested premium amounts while the insured is totally disabled. The current charge is based on issue age, issue date, sex, and underwriting class of the insured. It ranges from 7.08% to 12.17%, of the greater of (a) and (b) where (a) is: 9% of the Contract's Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premium and (b) is the total of all monthly deductions, and is charged until the first Contract Anniversary on or after the insured’s 60th birthday. Target Term Rider - We may deduct a monthly charge for the administration of this rider, which provides a flexible term insurance benefit to Attained Age 100 on the life of the insured. We currently deduct a COI charge for this rider, which ranges from $0.01 to $83.34 per $1,000 of rider Death Benefit, which is generally lower than the COI charge per $1,000 deducted for the Basic Insurance Amount, and is based on rider coverage duration, issue age, issue date, sex, and underwriting class of the insured. We currently do not deduct the monthly charge for the administration of this rider. |
Target Term Rider | Target Term Rider is available. See Target Term Rider details below. |
Other Riders | In addition to the Rider information described in the prospectus, the following may apply: Target Term Rider - See Target Term Rider details below. Overloan Protection Rider - The following eligibility requirement must be met to exercise the Overloan Protection Rider: Contract Debt must exceed the Basic Insurance Amount (Target Term Rider plus Basic Insurance Amount if you have a Target Term Rider). Enhanced Disability Rider – The Enhanced Disability Rider is not available on Contracts with the Target Term Rider. Livings Needs Benefit – The Living Needs Benefit does not apply to the portion of the Death Benefit that is attributable to the Target Term Rider. |
Requirements for Issuance of a Contract | In addition to the Requirements for Issuance of a Contract information described in the prospectus, the following may apply: Currently, the minimum Basic Insurance Amount for Contracts without a Target Term Rider is $75,000 ($50,000 for insureds below the issue age of 18, $100,000 for insureds issue ages 76-80, and $250,000 for insureds issue ages 81 and above). |
Premiums | In addition to the Premiums information described in the prospectus, the following may apply: Minimum Initial Premium The minimum initial premium is equal to 9% of the Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premium, including all extras, riders, and Enhanced Disability Benefit premium for Contracts with Type A (fixed) and Type B (variable) Death Benefits without the Target Term Rider. The minimum initial premium is equal to 9% of the Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee Premium for Contracts with Type A (fixed) and Type B (variable) Death Benefits with the Target Term Rider benefit and all Contracts with Type C (return of premium) Death Benefit. |
Types of Death Benefit | In addition to the Types of Death Benefit information described in the prospectus, the following may apply: Contract Owners of Contracts with a Type A Death Benefit should note that any withdrawal may result in a reduction of the Basic Insurance Amount, a reduction in the Target Term Rider coverage amount, and the deduction of any applicable surrender charges. If you choose a Contract with a Type C (return of premium) Death Benefit, the Death Benefit is generally equal to the Basic Insurance Amount plus the total premiums paid into the Contract, less withdrawals, accumulated at a chosen interest rate. The interest rate can be between 0% and 8%; in ½% increments. In addition to the Types of Death Benefit information described in the prospectus, the following may apply: The Type C Limiting Amount would be the sum of the initial Basic Insurance Amount plus any initial Target Term Rider coverage amount. |
No-Lapse Guarantee | The Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee period is 7 years after issue (5 years for ages 60 and older). The Limited No-Lapse Guarantee period is the later to occur of Attained Age 70 or 10 years after issue. The Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee period requires premium payments to Attained Age 100. |
In addition to the No-Lapse Guarantee information described in the prospectus, the following may apply: A Contract with a Target Term Rider will only have a Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee available.
The following table provides sample Short Term No-Lapse, Limited No-Lapse, and Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums (to the nearest dollar). The examples assume: (1) the insured is a male, Preferred Best, with no extra risk or substandard ratings; (2) a $250,000 Basic Insurance Amount; (3) no extra benefit riders have been added to the Contract; and (4) the Cash Value Accumulation Test has been elected for definition of life insurance testing.
Illustrative Annual Premiums | ||||
Age of insured at issue | Type of Death Benefit Chosen | Short Term No- Lapse Guarantee Premium | Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premium | Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee Premium |
40 | Type A | $1,338 | $2,138 | $4,765 |
40 | Type B | $1,340 | $2,220 | $14,185 |
40 | Type C | $1,340 | N/A | N/A |
60 | Type A | $4,878 | $6,458 | $12,963 |
60 | Type B | $4,900 | $6,510 | $33,195 |
60 | Type C | $4,900 | N/A | N/A |
80 | Type A | $16,203 | $37,385 | $47,235 |
80 | Type B | $22,353 | $41,788 | $83,015 |
80 | Type C | N/A | N/A | N/A |
Increases in Basic Insurance Amount | The maximum COI rates for a Coverage Segment representing an increase in Basic Insurance Amount are based upon 1980 CSO Mortality Tables. |
Loans | The minimum loan amount you may borrow is generally $500, but may be lower in some states. We charge interest at an effective annual rate of 4% for standard loans. A portion of any amount you borrow on or after the 10th Contract Anniversary may be considered a preferred loan. The maximum preferred loan amount is the total amount you may borrow minus the total net premiums paid (net premiums equal premiums paid less total withdrawals, if any). If the net premium amount is less than zero, we will, for purposes of this calculation, consider it to be zero. On the 10th Contract Anniversary and each Contract Anniversary thereafter, if the insured is living and the Contract is not in default, any existing loan amount will automatically be converted to a preferred loan to the extent that there is a preferred loan amount available. Preferred loans are charged interest at an effective annual rate of 3.10%. While a loan is outstanding, the amount that was transferred will continue to be treated as part of the Contract Fund. It will be credited with interest at an effective annual rate of 3%. |
Lapse and Reinstatement | Any Contract Debt must be restored with interest to date, or paid back. If the Contract Debt is restored and the debt with interest would exceed the loan value of the reinstated Contract, the excess must be paid to us before reinstatement; |
Distribution and Compensation | In addition to the Distribution and Compensation information described in the prospectus, the following may apply: The Commissionable Target Premium is equal to the first year's surrender charge (which is found in your Contract Data pages) divided by the Percentage of Sales Load Target Premium at start of year one from the table in the Surrender Charges section of this prospectus, plus the premium for any riders other than the Target Term Rider. The Commissionable Target Premium will vary by issue age, sex, smoker/nonsmoker, substandard rating class, and any riders selected by the Contract Owner, with the exception of the Target Term Rider. Type A, B, and C Death Benefits have the same Commissionable Target Premium, Sales Load Target Premium and Surrender Charge Target Premiums. In addition to the Distribution and Compensation information described in the prospectus, the following may apply: We pay significantly lower compensation on a Contract with a Target Term Rider than on a Contract without the Target Term Rider that has the same initial Death Benefit and premium payments because the Target Term Rider is not used in the determination of the Commissionable Target Premium. Broker-dealers will also receive compensation in years two and beyond of up to 0.25% of the Contract Fund, net of Contract Debt. |
Riders
Target Term Rider (Available only with Contract Form VUL-2004 and Contract Form VUL-2005).
The Target Term Rider (TTR) provides a flexible term insurance benefit to Attained Age 100 on the life of the insured and cannot be added after the contract is issued. TTR is only available if your contract has a Basic Insurance Amount of $100,000 of more. If you elect to have the TTR, you specify the amount of TTR coverage you desire. The minimum amount is $5,000 and the maximum amount is four times the Contract's Basic Insurance Amount at issue or at the time of a TTR increase. This amount is called the rider coverage amount and is the maximum Death Benefit payable under the rider. The Basic Insurance Amount and the rider death benefit, combined, must be equal to a minimum total insurance amount of $250,000. For example, if your contract has a Basic Insurance Amount of $100,000, the rider coverage amount must be at least $150,000. After issue, while the rider is in-force, you may increase the rider coverage amount, subject to a minimum increase amount of $25,000 and underwriting requirements we determine. You may also decrease your rider coverage amount after issue, subject to a minimum amount of $10,000 per decrease. However, we will not reduce the rider coverage amount below $5,000, unless you request to discontinue your TTR coverage.
At issue, the rider coverage amount and the rider death benefit are the same. However, the rider death benefit fluctuates as the base Contract's Death Benefit changes under the circumstances described below. If the Contract Fund has grown to the point where the base Contract’s Death Benefit begins to vary as required by the Internal Revenue Code's definition of life insurance, the rider death benefit will decrease (or increase) dollar for dollar as the base Contract’s Death Benefit increases (or decreases).
In the graph below, the rider coverage amount is $500,000 until year 16.
· | From year 1 to 9, the rider death benefit is $500,000 and the Basic Insurance amount is $500,000, so the total coverage amount is $1,000,000. |
· | In year 10, the rider death benefit drops to $450,000 as the Basic Insurance Amount rises to $550,000 and the total coverage amount remains $1,000,000. The rider death benefit will never increase beyond the rider coverage amount. |
· | In year 16, the rider death benefit drops to $0 and the Basic Insurance Amount starts to increase. |
· | By year 20, the Basic Insurance amount and total coverage amount have increased to $1,464,000 in this example and the rider death benefit is $0. |
If you have a Type A Death Benefit and you take a withdrawal, the rider coverage amount may require a reduction, if the Death Benefit was increased to meet the definition of life insurance.
Some of the factors outlined below impact the financial performance of a Contract, including the amount of the Contract's cash value and Death Benefit. It is important that you ask your Pruco Life representative to provide illustrations based on different combinations of Basic Insurance Amount and rider coverage amount. You and your Pruco Life representative can then discuss how these combinations may address your objectives.
· | We do not apply a surrender charge to the TTR. |
· | We currently do not deduct the monthly administrative charge for the TTR. |
· | The Sales Load Target Premium is lower for a Contract with a TTR than for a Contract without TTR if it has the same Death Benefit, and this results in a lower current sales expense charge. |
· | The current Cost of Insurance charge per $1,000 for the TTR is generally lower than the Cost of Insurance charge per $1,000 for the Basic Insurance Amount. |
· | A Contract with a TTR offers the potential for lower cash values and Death Benefits than a Contract without TTR that has the same total Death Benefit if we raise our current charges to the maximum contractual level. |
· | The No-Lapse Guarantee for Contracts issued with a TTR is limited to seven years (five years for issue ages of 60 or above). |
· | The Accidental Death Benefit and the Living Needs Benefit does not apply to any portion of the Death Benefit attributable to TTR. |
· | The Enhanced Disability Benefit is unavailable on Contracts with a TTR. |
· | We pay significantly lower commissions on a Contract with a TTR than on a Contract without TTR that has the same initial Death Benefit and premium payments. |
VUL-2004 Contracts
The variations for VUL-2004 Contracts are the same as VUL-2005 Contracts except for the following:
Section Headings | Variation |
Sales Load Charges | |
Years 1 - 10 | |
Up to Sales Load Target Premium | 4% |
In Excess of Sales Load Target Premium | 2% |
Years 1 - 10 | |
Up to Sales Load Target Premium | 4% |
In Excess of Sales Load Target Premium | 2% |
Paying more than the Sales Load Target Premium in any of the first 10 Contract Years could reduce your total sales load. For example, assume that a Contract with no riders or extra insurance charges, has a Sales Load Target Premium of $884.00 and the Contract Owner would like to pay 10 premiums. If you paid $1,768 (two times the amount of the Sales Load Target Premium) in every other Contract Year up to the ninth year (i.e. in years 1, 3, 5, 7, 9), the total sales load charge would be $265.20. If you paid $884.00 in each of the first 10 Contract Years, the total sales load would be $353.60.
Surrender Charges | The chart below shows maximum percentages for all ages at the beginning of the first Contract Year and the end of the last Contract Year that a surrender charge may be payable. |
Issue Age | Percentage of Sales Load Target Premium, less premiums for riders, at start of year 1 | Reduces to zero at the end of year |
0-45 | 90% | 10 |
46-48 | 90% | 9 |
49 | 90% | 8 |
50-52 | 75% | 8 |
53-55 | 75% | 7 |
56-60 | 75% | 5 |
61-63 | 45% | 5 |
64-65 | 45% | 4 |
66-67 | 40% | 4 |
68 and above | 40% | 3 |
Charges for Optional Rider Coverage | Enhanced Disability Benefit Rider - We deduct a monthly charge for this rider, which provides invested premium amounts while the insured is totally disabled. The current charge is based on issue age, issue date, sex, and underwriting class of the insured. It ranges from 7.08% to 10.40%, of the greater of (a) and (b) where (a) is: 9% of the Contract's Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premium and (b) is the total of all monthly deductions, and is charged until the first Contract Anniversary on or after the insured’s 60th birthday. Target Term Rider - We may deduct a monthly charge for the administration of this rider, which provides a flexible term insurance benefit to Attained Age 100 on the life of the insured. We currently deduct a COI charge for this rider, which ranges from $0.02 to $83.34 per $1,000 of rider Death Benefit, which is generally lower than the COI charge per $1,000 deducted for the Basic Insurance Amount, and is based on rider coverage duration, issue age, issue date, sex, and underwriting class of the insured. We currently do not deduct the monthly charge for the administration of this rider. |
Requirements for Issuance of a Contract | The Contract may be issued on insureds through age 90 for Contracts with Type A (fixed) and Type B (variable) Death Benefits. |
No-Lapse Guarantee | The following table provides sample Short Term No-Lapse, Limited No-Lapse, and Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee Premiums (to the nearest dollar). The examples assume: (1) the insured is a male, Preferred Best, with no extra risk or substandard ratings; (2) a $250,000 Basic Insurance Amount; (3) no extra benefit riders have been added to the Contract; and (4) the Cash Value Accumulation Test has been elected for definition of life insurance testing. |
Illustrative Annual Premiums | ||||
Age of insured at issue | Type of Death Benefit Chosen | Short Term No-Lapse Guarantee Premium | Limited No-Lapse Guarantee Premium | Lifetime No-Lapse Guarantee Premium |
40 | Type A | $1,125 | $2,138 | $4,765 |
40 | Type B | $1,210 | $2,220 | $14,185 |
40 | Type C | $1,210 | N/A | N/A |
60 | Type A | $3,363 | $7,158 | $12,963 |
60 | Type B | $4,415 | $7,218 | $33,195 |
60 | Type C | $4,415 | N/A | N/A |
80 | Type A | $16,203 | $39,345 | $47,235 |
80 | Type B | $22,353 | $43,980 | $83,015 |
80 | Type C | N/A | N/A | N/A |