The Connecticut Department of Insurance, or CTDOI, permits PRIAC to pledge up to $2.6 billion in qualifying assets to secure FHLBB borrowings through December 31, 2011. PRIAC must seek re-approval from CTDOI prior to borrowing additional funds after that date. Based on available eligible assets as of December 31, 2010, PRIAC had an estimated maximum borrowing capacity, after taking into consideration required collateralization levels and required purchases of activity-based FHLBB stock, of approximately $1.1 billion.
Liquid assets include cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments, fixed maturities that are not designated as held to maturity and public equity securities. As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, our domestic insurance operations had liquid assets of $138.5 billion and $134.3 billion, respectively, which includes a portion financed with asset-based financing. The portion of liquid assets comprised of cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments was $5.8 billion and $11.1 billion as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. As of December 31, 2010, $116.7 billion, or 90.5%, of the fixed maturity investments that are not designated as held-to-maturity within our domestic insurance company general account portfolios were considered high or highest quality based on NAIC or equivalent rating. The remaining $12.2 billion, or 9.5%, of these fixed maturity investments were considered other than high or highest quality based on NAIC or equivalent rating. We consider attributes of the various categories of liquid assets (for example, type of asset and credit quality) in calculating internal liquidity measures in order to evaluate the adequacy of our domestic insurance operations’ liquidity
under a variety of stress scenarios. We believe that the liquidity profile of our assets is sufficient to satisfy current liquidity requirements, including under foreseeable stress scenarios.
We reinsure variable annuity living benefit guarantees to our offshore captive reinsurance company. We satisfy the reinsurance reserve credit requirements by funding statutory reserve credit trusts. Reinsurance credit reserve requirements can move materially in either direction due to changes in equity markets and interest rates, actuarial assumptions and other factors. Higher reinsurance credit reserve requirements would necessitate depositing additional assets in the statutory reserve credit trusts, while lower reinsurance credit reserve requirements would allow assets to be removed from the statutory reserve credit trusts. We provided additional funding to the captive reinsurance trusts of $379 million for the second quarter of 2010 to meet increased reserve credit requirements due to unfavorable equity market conditions and lower interest rates, and provided an additional $354 million for the third quarter of 2010 due to an update of actuarial assumptions based on an annual review, most notably a decrease in expected future lapse rates, partially offset by favorable equity market conditions. Due to favorable equity market conditions and higher interest rates in the fourth quarter of 2010, our need to fund the captive reinsurance trusts has declined by $1,255 million.
In our international insurance operations, liquidity is provided through operating cash flows from ongoing operations as well as portfolios of liquid assets. In managing the liquidity, and the interest and credit risk profiles of our international insurance portfolios, we employ a discipline similar to the discipline employed for domestic insurance subsidiaries. We monitor liquidity through the use of internal liquidity measures, taking into account the liquidity of the asset portfolios.
As with our domestic operations, in managing the liquidity of these operations, we consider the risk of policyholder and contractholder withdrawals of funds earlier than our assumptions in selecting assets to support these contractual obligations. As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, our international insurance subsidiaries had total general account insurance-related liabilities (other than dividends payable to policyholders) of $84.4 billion and $74.0 billion, respectively. Of those amounts, $44.2 billion and $41.1 billion, respectively, were associated with Gibraltar Life.
A special dividend was payable to certain Gibraltar Life policyholders based on 70% of the net increase in the fair value, through March 2009, of certain real estate and loans, net of transaction costs and taxes, included in the Gibraltar Life reorganization plan. The first special dividend was paid in 2005 and the final special dividend was payable generally on the next anniversary of the issue date of each applicable insurance policy, beginning in April 2009. In 2010, Gibraltar Life made distributions to policyholders of $129 million in payment of the 2009 special dividend liability, primarily in the form of additional policy values, and to a lesser extent in cash. The liability related to the special dividend was fully paid as of June 30, 2010.
On February 1, 2011, we completed our acquisition of the Star and Edison Businesses. Gibraltar Life and Prudential of Japan each contributed $400 million to the payment of the acquisition purchase price, with the remaining funding provided by Prudential Financial and other subsidiaries. Although these contributions will reduce local solvency margin ratios in Gibraltar Life and Prudential of Japan, the solvency margins for these companies remain in excess of our targets. See below for additional information regarding solvency margin requirements. The contributions did not materially impact Gibraltar Life’s or Prudential of Japan’s liquidity as their investment portfolios were positioned to provide the funding.
Star and Edison solvency margin ratios at acquisition are estimated to be in excess of our solvency margin targets and will continue to be managed to capitalization levels consistent with our “AA” ratings targets. We believe the liquidity profiles of Star and Edison are sufficient to meet their obligations, including under reasonably foreseeable stress scenarios.
On May 1, 2009, our Gibraltar Life operations acquired Yamato Life, a Japanese life insurance company that declared bankruptcy in October 2008. Gibraltar Life served as the reorganization sponsor for Yamato and under the reorganization agreement acquired Yamato by contributing $72 million of capital to Yamato. Concurrent with our acquisition, substantially all of Yamato’s insurance liabilities were restructured under a plan of reorganization to include special surrender penalties on existing policies. These charges were 20% in the first year and decline by 2% each year thereafter. Subsequent to the acquisition, we renamed the acquired company The Prudential Gibraltar Financial Life Insurance Company, Ltd.
As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, Prudential of Japan had $32.2 billion and $26.2 billion, respectively, of general account insurance-related liabilities, other than dividends to policyholders. Prudential of Japan did not have a material amount of general account annuity reserves or deposit liabilities subject to discretionary withdrawal as of December 31, 2010 and 2009. Additionally, we believe that the individual life insurance policies sold by Prudential of Japan do not have significant withdrawal risk because policyholders may incur surrender charges and must undergo a new underwriting process in order to obtain a new insurance policy.
Similar to the RBC ratios that are employed by U.S. insurance regulators, regulatory authorities in the international jurisdictions in which we operate generally establish some form of minimum solvency margin requirements for insurance companies. All of our international insurance subsidiaries have solvency margins in
We employ various hedging strategies to manage potential exposure to foreign currency exchange rate movements, including the strategies discussed in “-Results of Operations for Financial Services Businesses by Segment-International Insurance and Investments Division.” These hedging strategies include both internal and external hedging programs.
In our international investments operations, liquidity is provided through asset management fees as well as commission revenue. The principal uses of liquidity include general and administrative expenses and distributions of dividends and returns of capital. As with our domestic operations, the primary liquidity risks for our fee-based asset management businesses relate to their profitability, which is impacted by market conditions and our investment management performance. We believe cash flows from our international investments subsidiaries are adequate to satisfy the current liquidity requirements of their operations, as well as requirements that could arise under reasonably foreseeable stress scenarios, which are monitored through the use of internal measures.
The principal sources of liquidity for our proprietary investments and interim loans held in our asset management businesses are cash flows from investments, the ability to liquidate investments, and available borrowing lines from internal sources, including Prudential Funding and Prudential Financial. The primary liquidity risks include the inability to sell assets in a timely manner, declines in the value of assets and credit defaults. The global economic recession experienced during 2008 and 2009 increased the liquidity risks associated with our proprietary investments and interim loans, as the markets for certain investments, such as commercial mortgages and real estate, became less liquid. Though these markets have improved, if we needed to sell these investments, it could still take longer and the prices could be lower than prior to the global recession.
In December 2008, we received approval from NJDOBI for Prudential Insurance to provide an 18-month $1.5 billion lending facility to our commercial mortgage operation that is collateralized primarily by its interim loan portfolio. The maximum amount outstanding under this facility was $1.0 billion and was drawn at inception. This amount was gradually repaid during the period it was outstanding and was repaid in its entirety during the second quarter of 2010 using long-term funding provided by Prudential Financial.
Certain real estate funds under management are held for the benefit of clients in insurance company separate accounts sponsored by Prudential Insurance. In the normal course of business, these separate accounts enter into purchase commitments which include commitments to purchase real estate, invest in future real estate partnerships, and/or fund additional construction or other expenditures on previously-acquired real estate investments. Certain purchases of real estate are contingent on the developer’s development of the real estate according to plans and specifications outlined in a pre-sale agreement or the property achieving a certain level of leasing. Purchase commitments are typically entered into by Prudential Insurance on behalf of the particular separate account and, upon acquisition, are titled either in the name of Prudential Insurance or an LLC subsidiary formed for that purpose. In certain cases, the commitments specify that recourse on the obligation is limited to the assets of the separate account.
At December 31, 2010 and 2009, total outstanding purchase commitments were $5.3 billion and $8.7 billion, respectively. The decrease in total outstanding purchase commitments was primarily driven by debt repayments funded from investor capital contributions and property sales. The following is a summary of the
Some separate accounts have also entered into syndicated credit facilities providing for borrowings in the aggregate amount of up to $1.0 billion. As of December 31, 2010, there were outstanding borrowings of $100 million under these credit facilities. These facilities also include loan-to-value ratio requirements and other financial covenants. Recourse on obligations under these facilities is limited to the assets of the applicable separate account.
In November 2010, Prudential Financial issued 18,348,624 shares of its Common Stock in a public offering at a price of $54.50 per share for gross proceeds of $1.0 billion. The proceeds from the offering, along with proceeds from the sale of $1.0 billion of medium-term notes, were used to fund a portion of the purchase price for the acquisition of the Star and Edison Businesses from AIG.
The following table presents, as of December 31, 2010, Prudential Financial’s contractual maturities of its general obligation long-term debt:
Prudential Financial maintains a Medium-Term Notes, Series D program under its shelf registration statement with an authorized issuance capacity of $20 billion, reflecting an increase in the program size by $10 billion effective June 9, 2010. As of December 31, 2010, approximately $9.4 billion remained available under the program. In 2010 Prudential Financial issued an aggregate of $3.25 billion of notes under the program, as follows: in January we issued $500 million of 2.75% notes due January 2013 and $750 million of 3.875% notes due January 2015, the proceeds from which were used to replace a portion of the FHLBNY borrowing that matured in June 2010 and to make operating loans to our affiliates; in June we issued $650 million of 5.375% notes due June 2020 and $350 million of 6.625% notes due June 2040, the proceeds from which were used to purchase surplus notes from our insurance subsidiaries to support the financing of statutory reserve requirements under Regulation XXX and Guideline AXXX and to make operating loans to our affiliates; and in November we issued $500 million of 4.50% notes due November 2020 and $500 million of 6.20% notes due November 2040, the proceeds from which were used to fund a portion of the acquisition purchase price for the Star and Edison Businesses. The weighted average interest rates on Prudential Financial’s medium-term and senior notes, including the effect of interest rate hedging activity, were 5.21% and 5.51% for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, excluding the effect of debt issued to consolidated subsidiaries.
As of both December 31, 2010 and 2009, includes $3.2 billion of floating rate surplus notes issued by subsidiaries of Prudential Insurance to fund regulatory reserves, as well as $942 million and $941 million, respectively, of fixed rate surplus notes issued by Prudential Insurance.
Does not include $3.5 billion and $4.9 billion of medium-term notes of consolidated trust entities secured by funding agreements purchased with the proceeds of such notes as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, or $1.5 billion of collateralized funding agreements issued to the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York as of both December 31, 2010 and 2009. These notes and funding agreements are included in “Policyholders’ account balances.” For additional information on the trust notes, see “-Funding Agreement Notes Issuance Program” and for additional information on the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York funding agreements, see “-Alternative Sources of Liquidity-Federal Home Loan Bank of New York.”
Total general debt obligations increased by $1.9 billion from December 31, 2009 to December 31, 2010, primarily reflecting issuances of medium-term notes and an increase in commercial paper utilized to fund loans to our affiliates, offset by the repayment of the collateralized advance with the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York and certain retail medium-term notes.
Our total borrowings consist of capital debt, investment-related debt, securities business-related debt and debt related to specified other businesses. Capital debt consists of borrowings that are used or will be used to meet the capital requirements of Prudential Financial, as well as borrowings invested in equity or debt securities of direct or indirect subsidiaries of Prudential Financial and subsidiary borrowings utilized for capital requirements. Investment-related borrowings consist of debt issued to finance specific investment assets or portfolios of investment assets, including institutional spread lending investment portfolios, real estate and real estate-related investments held in consolidated joint ventures, assets supporting reserve requirements under Regulation XXX and Guideline AXXX as described below, as well as institutional and insurance company portfolio cash flow timing differences. Securities business-related debt consists of debt issued to finance primarily the liquidity of our broker-dealers and our capital markets and other securities business-related operations. Debt related to specified other businesses consists of borrowings associated with our individual annuity business, real estate franchises and relocation services. Borrowings under which either the holder is entitled to collect only against the assets pledged to the debt as collateral, or has only very limited rights to collect against other assets, have been classified as limited and non-recourse debt.
Includes $1.519 billion and $1.518 billion of total outstanding junior subordinated debt as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. See “-Prudential Financial” for additional information on our capital debt to total capital ratio, including the equity credit attributed to our outstanding junior subordinated debt.
As of both December 31, 2010 and 2009, $1.750 billion of limited and non-recourse debt outstanding was attributable to the Closed Block Business.
The following table presents, as of December 31, 2010, the Company’s contractual maturities of its long-term debt:
In 2006, a subsidiary of Prudential Insurance entered into a surplus note purchase agreement with an unaffiliated financial institution that provides for the issuance of up to $3.0 billion of ten-year floating rate surplus notes through 2016, if certain conditions are met (commonly referred to as XXX notes), for the purpose
In 2003, Prudential Insurance established a Funding Agreement Notes Issuance Program pursuant to which a Delaware statutory trust issues medium-term notes (which are included in our statements of financial position in “Policyholders’ account balances” and not included in the foregoing table) secured by funding agreements issued to the trust by Prudential Insurance and included in our Retirement segment. The funding agreements provide cash flow sufficient for the debt service on the related medium-term notes. The medium-term notes are sold in transactions not requiring registration under the Securities Act of 1933. The notes have fixed or floating interest rates and original maturities ranging from five to ten years. As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, the outstanding aggregate principal amount of such notes totaled $3.5 billion and $4.9 billion, respectively, out of a total authorized amount of up to $15 billion. The decrease in outstanding aggregate principal amount of such notes is due to maturities in excess of issuances during 2010. Our ability to issue under this program depends on market conditions. The aggregate maturities of these notes over the next 12 months are approximately $302 million. We intend to repay the maturing notes through a combination of cash flows from asset maturities, asset sales, new liability origination and internal sources of funds.
This $4.108 billion of committed credit facilities consists of three separate five-year credit facilities: Prudential Financial, Prudential Insurance and Prudential Funding are parties to a $698 million five-year credit facility that expires in May 2012, which includes 21 financial institutions, and a $2.16 billion credit facility, of which $180 million expires in December 2011 and $1.98 billion expires in December 2012, which includes 20 financial institutions. Prudential Financial is the sole borrower party to a separate $1.25 billion five-year credit facility that expires in November 2015, which includes 21 financial institutions. Prudential Financial expects to borrow loans under the $1.25 billion facility from time to time for general corporate purposes.
Rating agencies use an “outlook” statement for both industry sectors and individual companies. For an industry sector, a stable outlook generally implies that over the next 12-18 months the rating agency expects ratings to remain unchanged among companies in the sector. Currently, A.M. Best, S&P, Moody’s and Fitch all have the U.S. life insurance industry on stable outlook. For a particular company, an outlook generally indicates a medium- or long-term trend (generally six months to two years) in credit fundamentals, which if continued, may lead to a rating change. These indicators are not necessarily a precursor of a rating change nor do they preclude a rating agency from changing a rating at any time without notice. A.M. Best, S&P, Moody’s and Fitch currently have all of the Company’s ratings on stable outlook.
On August 11, 2010, S&P affirmed the long-term senior debt rating of Prudential Financial at “A” and the financial strength ratings of our life insurance subsidiaries at “AA-.”
The table below summarizes the future estimated cash payments related to certain contractual obligations as of December 31, 2010. The estimated payments reflected in this table are based on management’s estimates and assumptions about these obligations. Because these estimates and assumptions are necessarily subjective, the actual cash outflows in future periods will vary, possibly materially, from those reflected in the table. In addition, we do not believe that our cash flow requirements can be adequately assessed based solely upon an analysis of these obligations, as the table below does not contemplate all aspects of our cash inflows, such as the level of cash flow generated by certain of our investments, nor all aspects of our cash outflows.
As discussed in Note 23, we have commitments to purchase or fund investments, some of which are contingent upon events or circumstances not under our control, including those at the discretion of our counterparties. The timing of the fulfillment of certain of these commitments cannot be estimated, therefore the settlement of these obligations are reflected in estimated payments due in less than one year. Commitments to purchase or fund investments include $1.868 billion that we anticipate will ultimately be funded from our separate accounts. Of these separate account commitments, $1.015 billion have recourse to Prudential Insurance if the separate accounts are unable to fund the amounts when due. For further discussion of these separate account commitments, see “-Liquidity and Capital Resources of Subsidiaries-Asset Management Subsidiaries.”
As discussed in Note 23, loan commitments of our commercial mortgage operations, which are legally binding commitments to extend credit to a counterparty, have been reflected in the contractual obligations table above principally based on the expiration date of the commitment; however, it is possible these loan commitments could be funded prior to their expiration. In certain circumstances the counterparty may also extend the date of the expiration in exchange for a fee.
Consolidated Statements of Equity for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and
Supplemental Combining Statements of Financial Position as of December 31, 2010 and
Supplemental Combining Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2010 and
Management of Prudential Financial, Inc. (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, the “Company”) is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. Management conducted an assessment of the effectiveness, as of December 31, 2010, of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, based on the framework established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on our assessment under that framework, management concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2010.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements listed in the accompanying index present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Prudential Financial, Inc. and its subsidiaries at December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2010 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. In addition, in our opinion, the financial statement schedules listed in the index appearing under Item 15.2 present fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein when read in conjunction with the related consolidated financial statements. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company’s management is responsible for these financial statements and financial statement schedules, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting, listed in the accompanying index. Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements, on the financial statement schedules, and on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our integrated audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audits of the financial statements included examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
As described in Note 2 of the consolidated financial statements, on January 1, 2009, the Company changed its method of determining and recording other-than-temporary impairment for debt securities, of presenting non-controlling interests, of accounting for certain convertible debt instruments, and of reflecting certain unvested share-based payments awards in computing earnings per share.
Years Ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 (in millions, except per share amounts)
Prudential Financial, Inc. (“Prudential Financial”) and its subsidiaries (collectively, “Prudential” or the “Company”) provide a wide range of insurance, investment management, and other financial products and services to both individual and institutional customers throughout the United States and in many other countries. Principal products and services provided include life insurance, annuities, retirement-related services, mutual funds, investment management, and real estate services. The Company has organized its principal operations into the Financial Services Businesses and the Closed Block Business. The Financial Services Businesses operate through three operating divisions: U.S. Retirement Solutions and Investment Management, U.S. Individual Life and Group Insurance, and International Insurance and Investments. The Company’s real estate and relocation services business as well as businesses that are not sufficiently material to warrant separate disclosure and divested businesses, are included in Corporate and Other operations within the Financial Services Businesses. The Closed Block Business, which includes the Closed Block (see Note 12), is managed separately from the Financial Services Businesses. The Closed Block Business was established on the date of demutualization and includes the Company’s in force participating insurance and annuity products and assets that are used for the payment of benefits and policyholders’ dividends on these products, as well as other assets and equity that support these products and related liabilities. In connection with the demutualization, the Company ceased offering these participating products.
“Other trading account assets, at fair value” consist primarily of investments and certain derivatives, including those used by the Company in its capacity as a broker-dealer and derivative hedging positions used in a non-broker or non-dealer capacity primarily to hedge the risks related to certain products. These instruments are carried at fair value. Realized and unrealized gains and losses on these investments and on derivatives used by the Company in its capacity as a broker-dealer are reported in “Asset management fees and other income.” Interest and dividend income from these investments is reported in “Net investment income.”
senior loans made by the Company’s international insurance businesses and loans made to the Company’s real estate franchisees. Uncollateralized loans primarily represent reverse dual currency loans and corporate loans held by the Company’s international insurance businesses.
For those loans not reported at fair value, the allowance for losses includes a loan specific reserve for each impaired loan that has a specifically identified loss and a portfolio reserve for probable incurred but not specifically identified losses. For impaired commercial mortgage and other loans the allowances for losses are determined based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate, or based upon the fair value of the collateral if the loan is collateral dependent. The portfolio reserves for probable incurred but not specifically identified losses in the commercial mortgage and agricultural loan portfolio segments considers the current credit composition of the portfolio based on an internal quality rating, (as described above). The portfolio reserves are determined using past loan experience, including historical credit migration, default probability and loss severity factors by property type. Historical credit migration, default and loss severity factors are updated each quarter based on the Company’s actual loan experience, and are considered together with other relevant qualitative factors in making the final portfolio reserve calculations.
Policy loans are carried at unpaid principal balances. Interest income on policy loans is recognized in net investment income at the contract interest rate when earned. Policy loans are fully collateralized by the cash surrender value of the associated insurance policies.
securities. For securities repurchase agreements and securities loaned transactions used to earn spread income, the cash received is typically invested in cash equivalents, short-term investments or fixed maturities.
Other long-term investments consist of the Company’s investments in joint ventures and limited partnerships, other than operating joint ventures, as well as wholly-owned investment real estate and other investments. Joint venture and partnership interests are generally accounted for using the equity method of accounting. In certain instances in which the Company’s partnership interest is so minor (generally less than 3%) that it exercises virtually no influence over operating and financial policies, the Company applies the cost method of accounting. The Company’s income from investments in joint ventures and partnerships accounted for using the equity method or the cost method, other than the Company’s investment in operating joint ventures, is included in “Net investment income.” The carrying value of these investments is written down, or impaired, to fair value when a decline in value is considered to be other-than-temporary. In applying the equity method or the cost method (including assessment for other-than-temporary impairment), the Company uses financial information provided by the investee, which is generally received on a one quarter lag. The Company consolidates joint ventures and limited partnerships in certain other instances where it is deemed to exercise control, or is considered the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity. Certain of these consolidated joint ventures and limited partnerships relate to investment structures in which the Company’s asset management business invests with other co-investors in an investment fund referred to as a feeder fund. In these structures, the invested capital of several feeder funds is pooled together and used to purchase ownership interests in another fund, referred to as a master fund. The master fund utilizes this invested capital, and in certain cases other debt financing, to purchase various classes of assets on behalf of its investors. Specialized industry accounting for investment companies calls for the feeder fund to reflect its investment in the master fund as a single net asset equal to its proportionate share of the net assets of the master fund, regardless of its level of interest in the master fund. In cases where the Company consolidates the feeder fund, it retains the feeder fund’s net asset presentation and reports the consolidated feeder fund’s proportionate share of the net assets of the master fund in “Other long-term investments,” with any unaffiliated investors’ noncontrolling interest in the feeder fund reported in “Other liabilities” or “Noncontrolling interests.” The Company’s net income from consolidated joint ventures and
limited partnerships, including these consolidated feeder funds, is included in the respective revenue and expense line items depending on the activity of the consolidated entity.
Realized investment gains (losses) are computed using the specific identification method with the exception of some of the Company’s International Insurance businesses’ portfolios, where the average cost method is used. Realized investment gains and losses are generated from numerous sources, including the sale of fixed maturity securities, equity securities, investments in joint ventures and limited partnerships and other types of investments, as well as adjustments to the cost basis of investments for net other-than-temporary impairments recognized in earnings. Realized investment gains and losses are also generated from prepayment premiums received on private fixed maturity securities, recoveries of principal on previously impaired securities, allowance for losses on commercial mortgage and other loans, fair value changes on commercial mortgage loans carried at fair value, and fair value changes on embedded derivatives and free-standing derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment, except those derivatives used in the Company’s capacity as a broker or dealer.
The Company’s available for sale and held to maturity securities with unrealized losses are reviewed quarterly to identify other-than-temporary impairments in value. In evaluating whether a decline in value is other-than-temporary, the Company considers several factors including, but not limited to the following: (1) the extent and the duration of the decline; (2) the reasons for the decline in value (credit event, currency or interest-rate related, including general credit spread widening); and (3) the financial condition of and near-term prospects of the issuer. With regard to available for sale equity securities, the Company also considers the ability and intent to hold the investment for a period of time to allow for a recovery of value. When it is determined that a decline in value of an equity security is other-than-temporary, the carrying value of the equity security is reduced to its fair value, with a corresponding charge to earnings.
Company early adopted this guidance on January 1, 2009. Prior to the adoption of this guidance the Company was required to record an other-than-temporary impairment for a debt security unless it could assert that it had both the intent and ability to hold the security for a period of time sufficient to allow for a recovery in its fair value to its amortized cost basis. The revised guidance indicates that an other-than-temporary impairment must be recognized in earnings for a debt security in an unrealized loss position when an entity either (a) has the intent to sell the debt security or (b) more likely than not will be required to sell the debt security before its anticipated recovery. For all debt securities in unrealized loss positions that do not meet either of these two criteria, the guidance requires that the Company analyze its ability to recover the amortized cost by comparing the net present value of projected future cash flows with the amortized cost of the security. The net present value is calculated by discounting the Company’s best estimate of projected future cash flows at the effective interest rate implicit in the debt security prior to impairment. The Company may use the estimated fair value of collateral as a proxy for the net present value if it believes that the security is dependent on the liquidation of collateral for recovery of its investment. If the net present value is less than the amortized cost of the investment, an other-than-temporary impairment is recognized. In addition to the above mentioned circumstances, the Company also recognizes an other-than-temporary impairment in earnings when a foreign currency denominated security in an unrealized loss position approaches maturity.
discount (or reduced premium) based on the new cost basis may be accreted into net investment income in future periods, including increases in cash flow on a prospective basis.
As a result of certain acquisitions and the application of purchase accounting, the Company reports a financial asset representing the valuation of business acquired (“VOBA”). VOBA is determined by estimating the net present value of future cash flows from contracts in force in the acquired business at the date of acquisition. VOBA includes an explicit adjustment to reflect the cost of capital invested in the business. VOBA balances are subject to recoverability testing, in the manner in which it was acquired, at the end of each reporting period to ensure that the balance does not exceed the present value of anticipated gross profits. The Company has established a VOBA asset primarily for its acquired traditional life, deferred annuity, defined contribution and defined benefit businesses. For acquired traditional insurance contracts, future positive cash flows generally include net premiums while future negative cash flows include policyholders’ benefits and certain maintenance expenses. For acquired annuity contracts, future positive cash flows generally include fees and other charges assessed to the contracts as long as they remain in force as well as fees collected upon surrender, if applicable, while future negative cash flows include costs to administer contracts and benefit payments. In addition, future cash flows with respect to acquired annuity business include the impact of future cash flows expected from the guaranteed minimum death and living benefit provisions, including the performance of hedging programs for embedded derivatives. For acquired defined contribution and defined benefits businesses, contract balances are projected using assumptions for add-on deposits, participant withdrawals, contract surrenders, and investment returns. Gross profits are then determined based on investment spreads and the excess of fees and other charges over the costs to administer the contracts. The Company amortizes VOBA over the effective life of the acquired contracts in “General and administrative expenses.” For acquired traditional insurance contracts, VOBA is amortized in proportion to estimated gross premiums or in proportion to the face amount of insurance in force, as applicable. For acquired annuity contracts, VOBA is amortized in proportion to estimated gross profits arising from the contracts and anticipated future experience, which is evaluated regularly. For acquired defined contribution and defined benefit businesses, the majority of VOBA is amortized in proportion to estimated gross profits arising principally from investment spreads and fees in excess of actual expense based upon historical and estimated future experience, which is updated periodically. The remainder of VOBA is amortized based on estimated gross revenues, fees, or the change in policyholders’ account balances, as applicable. The effect of changes in estimated gross profits on unamortized VOBA is reflected in the period such estimates of expected future profits are revised. See Note 8 for additional information regarding VOBA.
Investments in operating joint ventures are generally accounted for under the equity method. The carrying value of these investments is written down, or impaired, to fair value when a decline in value is considered to be other-than-temporary. The Company held an investment in Wachovia Securities which was sold on December 31, 2009. See Note 7 for additional information on investments in operating joint ventures.
The Company’s liability for future policy benefits is primarily comprised of the present value of estimated future payments to or on behalf of policyholders, where the timing and amount of payment depends on policyholder mortality or morbidity, less the present value of future net premiums. For individual traditional
The Company’s liability for future policy benefits also includes a liability for unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses. The Company does not establish claim liabilities until a loss has occurred. However, unpaid claims and claim adjustment expenses includes estimates of claims that the Company believes have been incurred but have not yet been reported as of the balance sheet date. The Company’s liability for future policy benefits also includes net liabilities for guarantee benefits related to certain nontraditional long-duration life and annuity contracts, which are discussed more fully in Note 11, and certain unearned revenues.
“Asset management fees and other income” principally include asset management fees and securities and commodities commission revenues, which are recognized in the period in which the services are performed. Realized and unrealized gains or losses from investments classified as “trading” such as “Trading account assets
Assets and liabilities of foreign operations and subsidiaries reported in currencies other than U.S. dollars are translated at the exchange rate in effect at the end of the period. Revenues, benefits and other expenses are translated at the average rate prevailing during the period. The effects of translating the statements of operations and financial position of non-U.S. entities with functional currencies other than the U.S. dollar are included, net of related qualifying hedge gains and losses and income taxes, in “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).” Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions are reported in either “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” or current earnings in “Asset management fees and other income” depending on the nature of the related foreign currency denominated asset or liability.
Derivatives are also used in a derivative dealer or broker capacity in the Company’s global commodities group to meet the needs of clients by structuring transactions that allow clients to manage their exposure to interest rates, foreign exchange rates, indices or prices of securities and commodities. Realized and unrealized changes in fair value of derivatives used in these dealer related operations are included in “Asset management fees and other income” in the periods in which the changes occur. Cash flows from such derivatives are reported in the operating activities section of the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.
When a derivative is designated as a foreign currency hedge and is determined to be highly effective, changes in its fair value are recorded either in current period earnings if the hedge transaction is a fair value hedge (e.g., a hedge of a recognized foreign currency asset or liability) or in “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” if the hedge transaction is a cash flow hedge (e.g., a foreign currency denominated forecasted transaction). When a derivative is used as a hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation, its change in fair value, to the extent effective as a hedge, is recorded in the cumulative translation adjustment account within “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).”
The Company is a party to financial instruments that contain derivative instruments that are “embedded” in the financial instruments. At inception, the Company assesses whether the economic characteristics of the embedded derivative are clearly and closely related to the economic characteristics of the remaining component of the financial instrument (i.e., the host contract) and whether a separate instrument with the same terms as the embedded instrument would meet the definition of a derivative instrument. When it is determined that (1) the embedded derivative possesses economic characteristics that are not clearly and closely related to the economic characteristics of the host contract, and (2) a separate instrument with the same terms would qualify as a derivative instrument, the embedded derivative is separated from the host contract, carried at fair value, and changes in its fair value are included in “Realized investment gains (losses), net.” For certain financial instruments that contain an embedded derivative that otherwise would need to be bifurcated and reported at fair value, the Company may elect to classify the entire instrument as a trading account asset and report it within “Other trading account assets, at fair value.”
In June 2009, the FASB issued authoritative guidance which changes the analysis required to determine whether or not an entity is a variable interest entity (“VIE”). In addition, the guidance changes the determination of the primary beneficiary of a VIE from a quantitative to a qualitative model. Under the new qualitative model, the primary beneficiary must have both the ability to direct the activities of the VIE and the obligation to absorb either losses or gains that could be significant to the VIE. This guidance also changes when reassessment is needed, as well as requires enhanced disclosures, including the effects of a company’s involvement with a VIE on its financial statements. This guidance is effective for interim and annual reporting periods beginning after
In June 2009, the FASB issued authoritative guidance which changes the accounting for transfers of financial assets, and is effective for transfers of financial assets occurring in interim and annual reporting periods beginning after November 15, 2009. It removes the concept of a QSPE from the guidance for transfers of financial assets and removes the exception from applying the guidance for consolidation of variable interest entities to qualifying special-purpose entities. It changes the criteria for achieving sale accounting when transferring a financial asset and changes the initial recognition of retained beneficial interests. The guidance also defines “participating interest” to establish specific conditions for reporting a transfer of a portion of a financial asset as a sale. The Company’s adoption of this guidance effective January 1, 2010 did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, and financial statement disclosures.
In January 2010, the FASB issued updated guidance that clarifies existing guidance on accounting and reporting by an entity that experiences a decrease in ownership of a subsidiary that is a business. The updated guidance states that a decrease in ownership applies to a subsidiary or group of assets that is a business, but does not apply to a sale of in-substance real estate even if it involves a business, such as an ownership interest in a partnership whose only asset is operating real estate. This guidance also affects accounting and reporting by an entity that exchanges a group of assets that constitutes a business for an equity interest in another entity. The updated guidance also expands disclosures about fair value measurements relating to retained investments in a deconsolidated subsidiary or a preexisting interest held by an acquirer in a business combination. The updated guidance is effective in the first interim or annual reporting period ending on or after December 15, 2009, and is applied on a retrospective basis to the first period that the Company adopted the existing guidance, which was as of January 1, 2009. The Company’s adoption of this updated guidance effective December 31, 2009 did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, or financial statement disclosures.
In September 2009, the FASB issued updated guidance for the fair value measurement of investments in certain entities that calculate net asset value per share including certain alternative investment funds. This guidance allows companies to determine the fair value of such investments using net asset value (“NAV”) if the fair value of the investment is not readily determinable and the investee entity issues financial statements in accordance with measurement principles for investment companies. Use of this practical expedient is prohibited if it is probable the investment will be sold at something other than NAV. This guidance also requires new disclosures for each major category of alternative investments. This guidance does not apply to the Company’s investments in joint ventures and limited partnerships that are generally accounted for under the equity method or cost method. It is effective for the first annual or interim reporting period ending after December 15, 2009. The
Company’s adoption of this guidance effective December 31, 2009 did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, or financial statement disclosures.
In April 2009, the FASB revised the authoritative guidance for the accounting for business combinations. This new guidance requires an asset acquired or liability assumed in a business combination that arises from a contingency to be recognized at fair value at the acquisition date, if the acquisition date fair value of that asset or liability can be determined during the measurement period. If the acquisition date fair value of an asset acquired
In June 2008, the FASB EITF reached consensus on the following issues contained in authoritative guidance for derivative instruments and hedging activities for determining whether an instrument (or an embedded feature) is indexed to an entity’s own stock: (1) how an entity should evaluate whether an instrument (or embedded feature) is indexed to the entity’s own stock; (2) how the currency in which the strike price of an equity-linked financial instrument (or embedded equity-linked feature) is denominated affects the determination of whether the instrument is indexed to the entity’s own stock; (3) how an issuer should account for equity-linked financial instruments issued to investors for purposes of establishing a market-based measure of the grant-date fair value of employee stock options. This guidance clarifies what instruments qualify as indexed to an entity’s own stock and are thereby eligible for equity classification. The Company’s adoption of this guidance effective January 1, 2009 did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.
at fair value and an equity component. The difference between the fair value of the debt component and the initial proceeds from issuance of the instrument is recorded as a component of equity within additional paid-in capital. The liability component of the debt instrument is accreted to par using the effective yield method, with the accretion being reported as a component of interest expense. Bond issuance costs are allocated to the debt and equity components in proportion to the debt proceeds. The Company’s adoption of this guidance effective January 1, 2009, reduced net income for the year ended December 31, 2008 by $44 million, or $0.10 per share of Common Stock, on both a basic and diluted basis.
In April 2008, the FASB revised the authoritative guidance for the determination of the useful life of intangible assets. This new guidance amends the list of factors an entity should consider in developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful life of recognized intangible assets. This guidance is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2008, with the guidance for determining the useful life of a recognized intangible asset being applied prospectively to intangible assets acquired after the effective date, and the disclosure requirements being applied prospectively to all intangible assets recognized as of, and after, the effective date. The Company’s adoption of this guidance effective January 1, 2009 did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.
In February 2008, the FASB revised the authoritative guidance which delays the effective date related to fair value measurements and disclosures for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities, except for items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis (at least annually), to fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company’s adoption of this guidance effective January 1, 2009 did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.
on the circumstances. The Company’s adoption of this guidance effective January 1, 2009 did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations, but may have an effect on the accounting for future business combinations.
In December 2007, the FASB issued authoritative guidance for noncontrolling interests in consolidated financial statements. This guidance changes the accounting for minority interests, which are recharacterized as noncontrolling interests and classified by the parent company as a component of equity. Upon adoption, this guidance requires retroactive adoption of the presentation and disclosure requirements for existing noncontrolling interests and prospective adoption for all other requirements. The Company’s adoption of this guidance effective January 1, 2009 did not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations, but did affect financial statement presentation and disclosure. Noncontrolling interests, previously reported as a liability, are now required to be reported as a separate component of equity on the statement of financial position, and totaled $351 million at December 31, 2008. In addition, income attributable to the noncontrolling interests, which was previously reported as an expense in general and administrative expenses and reflected within income from continuing operations is now reported as a separate amount below net income, and totaled $36 million for the year ended December 31, 2008.
December 15, 2010. The Company will adopt this guidance prospectively for business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after January 1, 2011. The Company is currently assessing the impact of this guidance on the Company’s financial statement disclosures.
On February 1, 2011, Prudential Financial completed the acquisition from American International Group, Inc. (“AIG”) of AIG Star Life Insurance Co., Ltd., AIG Edison Life Insurance Company, AIG Financial Assurance Japan K.K., and AIG Edison Service Co, Ltd., pursuant to the stock purchase agreement dated September 30, 2010 between Prudential Financial and AIG. The total purchase price was approximately $4.8 billion, comprised of approximately $4.2 billion in cash and $0.6 billion in assumed third party debt, substantially all of which is expected to be repaid, over time, with excess capital of the acquired entities. All acquired entities are Japanese corporations and their businesses are in Japan. Prudential Financial intends to make a Section 338 election under the Internal Revenue Code with respect to the acquisition resulting in the acquired entities to be treated for U.S. tax purposes as newly-incorporated companies.
In the first quarter of 2010, the Company signed a definitive agreement to sell Prudential Investment & Securities Co. Ltd. and Prudential Asset Management Co. Ltd., which together comprise the Company’s Korean asset management operations. This transaction closed in
The sale of the Company’s healthcare business to Aetna was completed in 1999. The loss the Company previously recorded upon the disposal of its healthcare business was reduced in each of the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2008. The reductions were primarily the result of favorable resolution of certain legal, regulatory and contractual matters.
The following tables provide information relating to fixed maturities and equity securities (excluding investments classified as trading) at December 31:
Represents the amount of other-than-temporary impairment losses in “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss),” or “AOCI,” which were not included in earnings. Amount excludes $540 million of net unrealized gains on impaired securities relating to changes in the value of such securities subsequent to the impairment measurement date.
The amortized cost and fair value of fixed maturities by contractual maturities at December 31, 2010, are as follows:
The net change in unrealized gains (losses) from other trading account assets, excluding derivative instruments, still held at period end, recorded within “Asset management fees and other income” was $57 million, $101 million and $(450) million during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
The following table sets forth the allowance for credit losses and the recorded investment in commercial mortgage and other loans as of December 31, 2010:
Impaired loans include those loans for which it is probable that amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement will not all be collected. Impaired commercial mortgage and other loans identified in management’s specific review of probable loan losses and the related allowance for losses at December 31, 2010 are as follows:
Non-performing loans include those loans for which it is probable that amounts due according to the contractual terms of the loan agreement will not all be collected. Non-performing commercial mortgage and other loans identified in management’s specific review of probable loan losses and the related allowance for losses at December 31, 2009 are as follows:
Non-performing commercial mortgage and other loans with no allowance for losses are loans in which the fair value of the collateral or the net present value of the loans’ expected future cash flows equals or exceeds the recorded investment. The average recorded investment in non-performing loans before allowance for losses was $835 million for 2009. Net investment income recognized on these loans totaled $47 million for 2009. See Note 2 for information regarding the Company’s accounting policies for commercial mortgage and other loans.
In certain investment structures, the Company’s asset management business invests with other co-investors in an investment fund referred to as a feeder fund. In these structures, the invested capital of several feeder funds is pooled together and used to purchase ownership interests in another fund, referred to as a master fund. The master fund utilizes this invested capital, and in certain cases other debt financing, to purchase various classes of assets on behalf of its investors. Specialized industry accounting for investment companies calls for the feeder fund to reflect its investment in the master fund as a single net asset equal to its proportionate share of the net assets of the master fund, regardless of its level of interest in the master fund. In cases where the Company consolidates the feeder fund, it retains the feeder fund’s net asset presentation and reports the consolidated feeder fund’s proportionate share of the net assets of the master fund in “Other long-term investments,” with any unaffiliated investors’ noncontrolling interest in the feeder fund reported in “Other liabilities” or “Noncontrolling interests.” As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, the consolidated feeder funds’ investments in these master funds, reflected on this net asset basis, totaled $172 million and $142 million. The unaffiliated interest in the consolidated feeder funds was $1 million and $0 million as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and the master funds had gross assets of $781 million and $339 million, respectively, and gross liabilities of $540 million and $142 million, respectively, which are not included on the Company’s balance sheet.
Carrying value for non-income producing assets included in fixed maturities and commercial mortgage and other loans totaled $212 million and $13 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2010. Non-income producing assets represent investments that have not produced income for the twelve months preceding December 31, 2010.
Realized investment gains (losses), net, for years ended December 31, were from the following sources:
Includes $590 million of fair value and $68 million of gross unrealized losses at December 31, 2010 on securities classified as held to maturity, a portion of which are not reflected in accumulated other comprehensive income.
At December 31, 2010, $35 million of the gross unrealized losses represented declines of greater than 20%, $18 million of which had been in that position for less than six months. At December 31, 2009, $62 million of the gross unrealized losses represented declines of greater than 20%, $37 million of which had been in that position for less than six months. Perpetual preferred securities have characteristics of both debt and equity securities. Since an impairment model similar to fixed maturity securities is applied to these securities, an other-than-temporary impairment has not been recognized on certain perpetual preferred securities that have been in a continuous unrealized loss position for twelve months or more as of December 31, 2010 and 2009. In accordance with its policy described in Note 2, the Company concluded that an adjustment for other-than-temporary impairments for these equity securities was not warranted at December 31, 2010 and 2009.
In the normal course of its business activities, the Company accepts collateral that can be sold or repledged. The primary sources of this collateral are securities in customer accounts and securities purchased under agreements to resell. The fair value of this collateral was approximately $1,773 million and $1,507 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, all of which, for both periods, had either been sold or repledged.
Assets of $88 million and $160 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, were on deposit with governmental authorities or trustees. Additionally, assets carried at $694 million and $693 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, were held in voluntary trusts established primarily to fund guaranteed dividends to certain policyholders and to fund certain employee benefits. Securities restricted as to sale amounted to $638 million and $538 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. These amounts include member and activity based stock associated with memberships in the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York and Boston. Restricted cash and securities of $2,917 million and $2,644 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, were included in “Other assets.” The restricted cash and securities primarily represent funds deposited by clients and funds accruing to clients as a result of trades or contracts.
If the Company determines that it is the VIE’s “primary beneficiary” it consolidates the VIE. There are currently two models for determining whether or not the Company is the “primary beneficiary” of a VIE. The first relates to those VIE’s that have the characteristics of an investment company and for which certain other conditions are true. These conditions are that (1) the Company does not have the implicit or explicit obligation to fund losses of the VIE and (2) the VIE is not a securitization entity, asset-backed financing entity or an entity that was formerly considered a qualified special-purpose entity. In this model the Company is the primary beneficiary if it stands to absorb a majority of the VIE’s expected losses or to receive a majority of the VIE’s expected residual returns and would be required to consolidate the VIE.
For all other VIE’s, the Company is the primary beneficiary if the Company has (1) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the economic performance of the entity and (2) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity that could be potentially significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could be potentially significant. If both conditions are present the Company would be required to consolidate the VIE.
The Company is the sponsor of certain asset-backed investment vehicles (commonly referred to as collateralized debt obligations, or “CDOs”) and certain other vehicles for which the Company earns fee income for investment management services, including certain investment structures which the Company’s asset management business invests with other co-investors in investment funds referred to as feeder funds. The Company sells or syndicates investments through these vehicles, principally as part of the proprietary investing activity of the Company’s asset management businesses. Additionally, the Company may invest in debt or equity securities issued by these vehicles. CDOs raise capital by issuing debt securities, and use the proceeds to purchase investments, typically interest-bearing financial instruments. The Company analyzes these relationships to determine whether it has (1) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the economic performance of the entity and (2) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity that could be potentially significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could be potentially significant and thus is the primary beneficiary. This analysis includes a review of (1) the Company’s rights and responsibilities as sponsor, (2) fees received by the Company and (3) other interests (if any) held by the Company. The Company is not required to provide, and has not provided, material financial or other support to any VIE for which it is the sponsor.
In addition, not reflected in the table above, the Company has created a trust that is a VIE, to facilitate Prudential Insurance’s Funding Agreement Notes Issuance Program (“FANIP”). The trust issues medium-term notes secured by funding agreements issued to the trust by Prudential Insurance with the proceeds of such notes. The trust is the beneficiary of an indemnity agreement with the Company that provides that the Company is responsible for costs related to the notes issued with limited exception. As a result, the Company has determined that it is the primary beneficiary of the trust, which is therefore consolidated.
The Company has determined that it is not the primary beneficiary of certain VIEs that it sponsors, including certain CDOs and other investment structures, as it does not have both (1) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the economic performance of the entity and (2) the obligation to absorb losses of the entity that could be potentially significant to the VIE or the right to receive benefits from the entity that could be potentially significant. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss resulting from its relationship with unconsolidated VIEs it sponsors is limited to its investment in the VIEs, which was $506 million and $452 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. These investments are reflected in “Fixed maturities, available for sale,” “Other trading account assets, at fair value” and “Other long-term investments.” The fair value of assets held within these unconsolidated VIEs was $8,979 million and $8,194 million as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. There are no liabilities associated with these unconsolidated VIEs on the Company’s balance sheet.
VIEs. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss on these investments, both VIEs and non-VIEs, is limited to the amount of its investment. The Company has determined that it is not required to consolidate these entities because either (1) it does not control them or (2) it does not have the obligation to absorb losses of the entities that could be potentially significant to the entities or the right to receive benefits from the entities that could be potentially significant. The Company classifies these investments as “Other long-term investments” and its maximum exposure to loss associated with these entities was $3,535 million and $3,251 million as of December 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
In addition, in the normal course of its activities, the Company will invest in structured investments including VIEs for which it is not the sponsor. These structured investments typically invest in fixed income investments and are managed by third parties and include asset-backed securities, commercial mortgage-backed securities and residential mortgage-backed securities. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss on these structured investments, both VIEs and non-VIEs, is limited to the amount of its investment. See Note 4 for details regarding the carrying amounts and classification of these assets. The Company has not provided material financial or other support that was not contractually required to these structures. The Company has determined that it is not the primary beneficiary of these structures due to the fact that it does not control these entities.
The Company has made investments in certain joint ventures that are strategic in nature and made other than for the sole purpose of generating investment income. These investments are accounted for under the equity method of accounting and are included in “Other assets” in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Financial
Includes $459 million, $528 million and $217 million related to an indirect investment in China Pacific Group as of December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
Includes pre-tax equity earnings from Wachovia Securities of $2.288 billion, including the gain on the sale of $2.247 billion, and tax expense of $805 million, including $790 million associated with the gain on the sale, for the year ended December 31, 2009 and pre-tax equity losses of $331 million and a tax benefit of $110 million for the year ended December 31, 2008.
For the year ended December 31, 2008, includes $316 million of pre-tax impairments the Company recorded to the carrying value of certain operating joint ventures in its International Investments segment, reflective of the significant deterioration in financial market conditions that occurred during the fourth quarter of 2008.
In addition, the Company received $418 million in payment of the principal of and accrued interest on the subordinated promissory note in the principal amount of $417 million that had been issued by Wachovia Securities in connection with the establishment of the joint venture.
The VOBA balances at December 31, 2010 were $277 million, $33 million, and $174 million related to the insurance transactions associated with the CIGNA, American Skandia, Inc. (“American Skandia”), and Aoba Life Insurance Company, LTD. (“Aoba Life”), respectively. The weighted average remaining expected life of VOBA varies by product. The weighted average remaining expected lives were approximately 17, 4 and 6 years for the VOBA related to CIGNA, American Skandia and Aoba Life, respectively.
The interest accrual rates vary by product. The interest rates for 2010 were 7.00%, 4.97%, and 2.60% for the VOBA related to CIGNA, American Skandia, and Aoba Life, respectively. The interest rates for 2009 were 5.42%, 6.90%, 5.24%, and 2.60% for the VOBA related to Allstate, CIGNA, American Skandia, and Aoba Life, respectively. The interest rates for 2008 were 5.42%, 7.30%, 5.72%, and 2.50% to 2.60% for the VOBA related to Allstate, CIGNA, American Skandia, and Aoba Life, respectively.
The Company performed goodwill impairment testing for all three reporting units that had goodwill at December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009 and no impairments were needed.
During the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company impaired the entire amount of goodwill associated with the Individual Annuities segment. This impairment was reflective of the deterioration of financial market conditions, which resulted in additional market depreciation within separate account assets and corresponding decreases in anticipated fee income and overall expected future earnings for this business.
During the fourth quarter of 2008, the Company impaired the entire amount of goodwill associated with the International Investments segment’s asset management reporting unit. This impairment was reflective of the significant deterioration in financial market conditions, which resulted in a decline in anticipated future asset management and transaction based fees, and hence a decrease in the expected future earnings of the segment’s asset management businesses.
Future policy benefits for individual participating traditional life insurance are based on the net level premium method, calculated using the guaranteed mortality and nonforfeiture interest rates which range from 2.5% to 7.5%. Participating insurance represented 12% and 13% of domestic individual life insurance in force at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, and 81%, 83% and 85% of domestic individual life insurance premiums for 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
Future policy benefits for other contract liabilities are generally equal to the present value of expected future payments based on the Company’s experience, except for example, certain group insurance coverages for which future policy benefits are equal to gross unearned premium reserves. The interest rates used in the determination of the present values range from 0.2% to 6.2%.
Policyholders’ account balances represent an accumulation of account deposits plus credited interest less withdrawals, expenses and mortality charges, if applicable. These policyholders’ account balances also include provisions for benefits under non-life contingent payout annuities. Included in “Funding agreements” at December 31, 2010 and 2009, are $3,592 million and $4,996 million, respectively, related to the Company’s FANIP product which is carried at amortized cost, adjusted for the effective portion of changes in fair value of qualifying derivative financial instruments. For additional details on the FANIP product see Note 5. The interest rates associated with such notes range from 0.4% to 5.6%. Interest crediting rates range from 0% to 12.0% for interest-sensitive life contracts and from 0% to 13.4% for contracts other than interest-sensitive life. Less than 1% of policyholders’ account balances have interest crediting rates in excess of 8%.
The assets supporting the variable portion of both traditional variable annuities and certain variable contracts with guarantees are carried at fair value and reported as “Separate account assets” with an equivalent amount reported as “Separate account liabilities.” Amounts assessed against the contractholders for mortality, administration, and other services are included within revenue in “Policy charges and fee income” and changes in
liabilities for minimum guarantees are generally included in “Policyholders’ benefits.” In 2010, 2009 and 2008, there were no gains or losses on transfers of assets from the general account to a separate account.
The GMDB liability is determined each period end by estimating the accumulated value of a portion of the total assessments to date less the accumulated value of the death benefits in excess of the account balance. The GMIB liability is determined each period by estimating the accumulated value of a portion of the total assessments to date less the accumulated value of the projected income benefits in excess of the account balance. The portion of assessments used is chosen such that, at issue (or, in the case of acquired contracts at the acquisition date) the present value of expected death benefits or expected income benefits in excess of the
projected account balance and the portion of the present value of total expected assessments over the lifetime of the contracts are equal. The Company regularly evaluates the estimates used and adjusts the GMDB and GMIB liability balances, with an associated charge or credit to earnings, if actual experience or other evidence suggests that earlier assumptions should be revised.
The GMIWB features predominantly present a benefit that provides a contractholder two optional methods to receive guaranteed minimum payments over time, a “withdrawal” option or an “income” option. The withdrawal option guarantees that, upon the election of such benefit, a contract holder can withdraw an amount each year until the cumulative withdrawals reach a total guaranteed balance. The guaranteed remaining balance is generally equal to the protected value under the contract, which is initially established as the greater of: (1) the account value on the date of first withdrawal; (2) cumulative deposits when withdrawals commence, less cumulative withdrawals plus a minimum return; or (3) the highest contract value on a specified date minus any withdrawals. The income option guarantees that a contract holder can, upon the election of this benefit, withdraw a lesser amount each year for the annuitant’s life based on the total guaranteed balance. The withdrawal or income benefit can be elected by the contract holder upon issuance of an appropriate deferred variable annuity contract or at any time following contract issue prior to annuitization. Certain GMIWB features include an automatic rebalancing element that reduces the Company’s exposure to these guarantees. The GMIWB liability is calculated as the present value of future expected payments to customers less the present value of assessed rider fees attributable to the embedded derivative feature.
claims and other experience related to the Closed Block are, in the aggregate, more or less favorable than what was assumed when the Closed Block was established, total dividends paid to Closed Block policyholders may be greater than or less than the total dividends that would have been paid to these policyholders if the policyholder dividend scales in effect in 2000 had been continued. Any cash flows in excess of amounts assumed will be available for distribution over time to Closed Block policyholders and will not be available to stockholders. If the Closed Block has insufficient funds to make guaranteed policy benefit payments, such payments will be made from assets outside of the Closed Block. The Closed Block will continue in effect as long as any policy in the Closed Block remains in force unless, with the consent of the New Jersey insurance regulator, it is terminated earlier.
Closed Block revenues and benefits and expenses for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 were as follows:
Life and disability reinsurance is accomplished through various plans of reinsurance, primarily yearly renewable term, per person excess and coinsurance. In addition, the Company has reinsured with unaffiliated third parties, 73% of the Closed Block through various modified coinsurance arrangements. The Company accounts for these modified coinsurance arrangements under the deposit method of accounting. Reinsurance ceded arrangements do not discharge the Company as the primary insurer. Ceded balances would represent a liability of the Company in the event the reinsurers were unable to meet their obligations to the Company under the terms of the reinsurance agreements. Reinsurance premiums, commissions, expense reimbursements, benefits
Primarily represents reinsurance recoverables established under the reinsurance arrangements associated with the acquisition of the retirement business of CIGNA. The Company has recorded related reinsurance payables of $1,068 million and $1,038 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
Excluding the reinsurance recoverable associated with the acquisition of the retirement business of CIGNA, four major reinsurance companies account for approximately 58% of the reinsurance recoverable at December 31, 2010. The Company periodically reviews the financial condition of its reinsurers and amounts recoverable therefrom in order to minimize its exposure to loss from reinsurer insolvencies, recording an allowance when necessary for uncollectible reinsurance.
Includes Prudential Financial debt of $769 million and $203 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
The Company issues commercial paper under the two programs described below. At December 31, 2010 and 2009, the weighted average maturity of total commercial paper outstanding was 34 and 27 days, respectively.
Prudential Funding, LLC (“Prudential Funding”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential Insurance, has a commercial paper program, with an authorized capacity of $7.0 billion. Prudential Funding commercial paper borrowings have generally served as an additional source of financing to meet the working capital needs of Prudential Insurance and its subsidiaries. Prudential Funding also lends to other subsidiaries of Prudential Financial up to limits agreed with the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance. Prudential Funding’s outstanding commercial paper borrowings were $874 million and $730 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Prudential Financial has issued a subordinated guarantee covering Prudential Funding’s domestic commercial paper program.
Prudential Insurance is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York (“FHLBNY”). Membership allows Prudential Insurance access to the FHLBNY’s financial services, including the ability to obtain collateralized loans and to issue collateralized funding agreements that can be used as an alternative source of liquidity. FHLBNY borrowings and funding agreements are collateralized by qualifying mortgage-related assets or U.S. Treasury securities, the fair value of which must be maintained at certain specified levels relative to outstanding borrowings, depending on the type of asset pledged. FHLBNY membership requires Prudential Insurance to own member stock and borrowings require the purchase of activity-based stock in an amount equal
to 4.5% of outstanding borrowings. Under FHLBNY guidelines, if Prudential Insurance’s financial strength ratings decline below A/A2/A Stable by S&P/Moody’s/Fitch, respectively, and the FHLBNY does not receive written assurances from the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance (“NJDOBI”) regarding Prudential Insurance’s solvency, new borrowings from the FHLBNY would be limited to a term of 90 days or less. Currently there are no restrictions on the term of borrowings from the FHLBNY. All FHLBNY stock purchased by Prudential Insurance is classified as restricted general account investments within “Other long-term investments,” and the carrying value of these investments was $177 million and $221 million as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
As of December 31, 2010, $275 million of the FHLBNY outstanding advances are reflected in “Short-term debt” and the remaining $725 million is in “Long-term debt.” FHLBNY advances declined $1,000 million from December 31, 2009, reflecting the repayment at maturity of $1,000 million of advances in June and the refinancing of $1,000 million of advances in December. Of the outstanding $1,000 million collateralized advances, $275 million matures in December 2011 and $725 million matures in December 2015. The funding agreements issued to the FHLBNY, which are reflected in “Policyholders’ account balances,” have priority claim status above debt holders of Prudential Insurance.
Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company (“PRIAC”) became a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston (“FHLBB”) in December 2009. Membership allows PRIAC access to collateralized advances which will be classified in “Short-term debt” or “Long-term debt,” depending on the maturity date of the obligation. PRIAC’s membership in FHLBB requires the ownership of member stock and borrowings from FHLBB require the purchase of activity-based stock in an amount between 3.0% and 4.5% of outstanding borrowings depending on the maturity date of the obligation. As of December 31, 2010, PRIAC had no advances outstanding under the FHLBB facility.
On December 12, 2007 and December 7, 2006, Prudential Financial issued in a private placement $3.0 billion and $2.0 billion, respectively, of floating rate convertible senior notes that are convertible by the holders
As of December 31, 2010, Prudential Insurance’s total adjusted capital and Prudential Financial’s consolidated net worth (as defined in the applicable credit agreements) exceeded the minimum amounts required to borrow under the facilities. The Company’s ability to borrow under the facilities is not contingent on its credit ratings nor subject to material adverse change clauses.
The interest rate on the Series A notes is a floating rate equal to LIBOR plus 0.875% per year. The interest rate ranged from 1.1% to 1.4% in 2010 and 1.1% to 2.7% in 2009.
During 2007, a subsidiary of Prudential Insurance issued $500 million of 45-year floating rate surplus notes to an unaffiliated financial institution. Surplus notes issued under this facility are subordinated to policyholder obligations, and the payment of interest and principal on them may only be made by the issuer with the prior approval of the Arizona Department of Insurance. Concurrent with the issuance of these surplus notes, Prudential Financial entered into a credit derivative that will require Prudential Financial to make certain payments in the event of deterioration in the value of the surplus notes. As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, the credit derivative was a liability of $26 million and $22 million, respectively, with no requirement to pledge collateral.
During 2006, a subsidiary of Prudential Insurance entered into a surplus note purchase agreement with an unaffiliated financial institution that provides for the issuance of up to $3,000 million of ten-year floating rate surplus notes. At December 31, 2010 and 2009, $2,700 million were outstanding under this agreement. Concurrent with the issuance of each surplus note, Prudential Financial enters into arrangements with the buyer, which are accounted for as derivative instruments that may result in payments by, or to, Prudential Financial over the term of the surplus notes, to the extent there are significant changes in the value of the surplus notes. Surplus notes issued under this facility are subordinated to policyholder obligations, and the payment of interest and principal on them may only be made by the issuer with the prior approval of the Arizona Department of Insurance. As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, these derivative instruments had no material value.
In June and July 2008, Prudential Financial issued $600 million of 8.875% fixed-to-floating rate junior subordinated notes to institutional investors and $920 million of 9% fixed-rate junior subordinated notes to retail
During 2009, the Company purchased securities under the Federal Reserve’s Term Asset-Backed Securities Loan Facility (“TALF”). The TALF is designed to provide secured financing for the acquisition of certain types of asset-backed securities, including certain high-quality commercial mortgage-backed securities issued before January 1, 2009. TALF financing is non-recourse to the borrower, is collateralized by the purchased securities and provides financing for the purchase price of the securities, less a ‘haircut’ that varies based on the type of collateral. Borrowers under the program can deliver the collateralized securities to a special purpose vehicle created by the Federal Reserve in full defeasance of the loan.
Prudential Financial also maintains a retail medium-term notes program, including the InterNotes® program, under its shelf registration statement with an authorized issuance capacity of $5.0 billion. As of December 31, 2010, the outstanding balance of retail notes was $2.8 billion, a decrease of $450 million from December 31, 2009, resulting primarily from maturities and redemptions at the request of the Company.
Prudential Financial is a holding company and is a legal entity separate and distinct from its subsidiaries. The rights of Prudential Financial to participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary, including upon its liquidation or reorganization, are subject to the prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary, except to the extent that Prudential Financial may itself be a creditor of that subsidiary and its claims are recognized. PHLLC and its subsidiaries have entered into covenants and arrangements with third parties in connection with the issuance of the IHC debt which are intended to confirm their separate, “bankruptcy-remote” status, by assuring that the assets of PHLLC and its subsidiaries are not available to creditors of Prudential Financial or its other subsidiaries,
At December 31, 2010, the Company was in compliance with all IHC debt covenants.
Holders of Common Stock have no interest in a separate legal entity representing the Financial Services Businesses and holders of the Class B Stock have no interest in a separate legal entity representing the Closed
The regulated insurance and various other subsidiaries are subject to regulatory limitations on their payment of dividends and other transfers of funds to Prudential Financial. With respect to Prudential Insurance, New Jersey insurance law provides that, except in the case of extraordinary dividends (as described below), all dividends or other distributions paid by Prudential Insurance may be paid only from unassigned surplus, as determined pursuant to statutory accounting principles, less unrealized investment gains and losses and revaluation of assets as of the prior calendar year-end. As of December 31, 2010, Prudential Insurance’s unassigned surplus was $4,224 million, and it recorded applicable adjustments for cumulative unrealized investment gains of $1,499 million. Prudential Insurance must give prior notification to the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance (the “Department”) of its intent to pay any dividend or distribution. Also, if any dividend, together with other dividends or distributions made within the preceding twelve months, exceeds the greater of (i) 10% of Prudential Insurance’s statutory surplus as of the preceding December 31 ($8,364 million as of December 31, 2010) or (ii) its statutory net gain from operations excluding realized investment gains and losses for the twelve month period ending on the preceding December 31, ($1,127 million for the year ended December 31, 2010), the dividend is considered to be an “extraordinary dividend” and the prior approval of the Department is required for the payment of the dividend.
The balance of and changes in each component of “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Prudential Financial, Inc.” for the years ended December 31, are as follows (net of taxes):
of domicile. Statutory accounting practices primarily differ from U.S. GAAP by charging policy acquisition costs to expense as incurred, establishing future policy benefit liabilities using different actuarial assumptions as well as valuing investments and certain assets and accounting for deferred taxes on a different basis. Statutory net income (loss) of Prudential Insurance amounted to $1,623 million, $1,101 million and $(808) million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively. Statutory capital and surplus of Prudential Insurance amounted to $8,364 million and $10,042 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
The direct equity adjustments modify the earnings available to each of the classes of common stock for earnings per share purposes.
A reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted per share computations is as follows:
For the year ended December 31, 2008, weighted average shares for basic earnings per share is also used for calculating diluted earnings per share because dilutive shares and dilutive earnings per share are not applicable when a loss from continuing operations is reported. As a result of the loss from continuing operations available to holders of Common Stock after direct equity adjustment for the year ended December 31, 2008, all potential stock options and compensation programs were considered antidilutive.
Unvested share-based payment awards that contain nonforfeitable rights to dividends are participating securities and included in the computation of earnings per share pursuant to the two-class method. Under this method, earnings of the Financial Services Businesses attributable to Prudential Financial, Inc. are allocated between Common Stock and the participating awards, as if the awards were a second class of stock. Undistributed earnings allocated to participating unvested share-based payment awards for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009 was based on 6.1 million and 5.0 million of such awards, respectively, weighted for the period they were outstanding. For the year ended December 31, 2008, undistributed earnings were not allocated to participating unvested share-based payment awards as these awards do not participate in losses.
For the year ended December 31, 2010, 10.5 million options, weighted for the portion of the period they were outstanding, with a weighted average exercise price of $71.67 per share, were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because the options, based on application of the treasury stock method, were antidilutive. For the year ended December 31, 2009, 13.2 million options, weighted for the portion of the period they were outstanding, with a weighted average exercise price of $64.80 per share, were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because the options, based on application of the treasury stock method, were antidilutive. For the year ended December 31, 2008, 17.9 million options and 4.3 million shares related to deferred and long-term compensation programs, weighted for the portion of the period they were outstanding, are considered antidilutive as a result of the loss from continuing operations available to holders of Common Stock after direct equity adjustment.
The Company’s convertible senior notes provide for the Company to issue shares of its Common Stock as a component of the conversion of the notes. As of December 31, 2010, $0.4 million of senior notes related to the $2.0 billion December 2006 issuance remain outstanding. These will be dilutive to earnings per share if the average market price of the Common Stock for a particular period is above the initial conversion price of $104.21.
Compensation cost for employee stock options is based on the fair values estimated on the grant date, while compensation cost for non-employee stock options is re-estimated at each period-end through the vesting date, using the approach and assumptions described below. Compensation cost for restricted stock shares, restricted stock units and performance shares and units granted to employees is measured by the share price of the underlying Common Stock at the date of grant. Compensation cost for restricted stock shares and restricted stock units granted to non-employees is measured by the share price as of the balance sheet date for unvested shares and the share price at the vesting date for vested shares.
Compensation costs for all stock based compensation plans capitalized in deferred acquisition costs for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 were de minimis.
The weighted average grant date fair value of employee stock options granted during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 was $18.00, $9.83 and $14.38, respectively.
The total intrinsic value of non-employee options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 was $1 million, $0 million and $1 million, respectively.
A restricted stock share represents a grant of Common Stock to employee and non-employee participants that is subject to certain transfer restrictions and forfeiture provisions for a specified period of time. A restricted stock unit is an unfunded, unsecured right to receive a share of Common Stock at the end of a specified period of time, which is also subject to forfeiture and transfer restrictions. Generally, the restrictions on restricted stock shares and restricted stock units will lapse on the third anniversary of the date of grant. Restricted stock shares subject to the transfer restrictions and forfeiture provisions are considered nonvested shares and are not reflected as outstanding shares until the restrictions expire. Performance shares and performance units are awards denominated in Common Stock. The number of units is determined over the performance period, and may be adjusted based on the satisfaction of certain performance goals. Performance share awards are payable in Common Stock. Performance unit awards are payable in cash.
The tax benefit realized upon vesting of restricted stock shares, restricted stock units, and performance shares for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 was $18 million, $12 million and $38 million, respectively.
At the Annual Meeting of the Shareholders of the Company held on June 7, 2005, the shareholders approved the Prudential Financial, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The plan is a qualified Employee Stock Purchase
Compensation cost for employees is recognized for each three-month period and is based on the grant date fair value of the discount received under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan. This fair value is estimated using the 15% discount off of the grant date share price, plus the value of three month call and put options on shares at the grant date share price, less the value of forgone interest. Compensation costs recognized for employees under the Company’s Employee Stock Purchase Plan for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 was $12 million, $17 million and $12 million, respectively. The weighted average grant date fair value for employee shares recognized in compensation cost for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008 was $13.06, $10.05 and $18.33, respectively.
As of December 31, 2010, the Company has not settled any equity instruments granted under share-based payment arrangements in cash.
The Company has funded and non-funded contributory and non-contributory defined benefit pension plans, which cover substantially all of its employees. For some employees, benefits are based on final average earnings
Prepaid benefits costs and accrued benefit liabilities are included in “Other assets” and “Other liabilities,” respectively, in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Financial Position. The status of these plans as of December 31, 2010 and 2009, is summarized below:
The Company also maintains a separate rabbi trust established at the time of the combination of its retail securities brokerage and clearing operations with those of Wachovia for the purpose of holding assets of the Company to be used to satisfy its obligations with respect to certain non-qualified retirement plans ($74 million and $75 million benefit obligation at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively), as well as certain cash-based deferred compensation arrangements. As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, the assets in the trust had a carrying value of $124 million and $124 million, respectively.
There were no plan amendments in 2010. There were pension plan amendments in 2009. The benefit obligation for pension benefits increased by $3 million for a change in compensation structure increasing pensionable earnings of certain international plans. There were no postretirement plan amendments in 2010 and 2009.
The amounts included in “Accumulated other comprehensive income” expected to be recognized as components of net periodic (benefit) cost in 2011 are as follows:
The domestic discount rate used to value the pension and postretirement obligations at December 31, 2010 is based upon the value of a portfolio of Aa investments whose cash flows would be available to pay the benefit obligation’s cash flows when due. The portfolio is selected from a compilation of approximately 600 Aa-rated bonds across the full range of maturities. Since yields can vary widely at each maturity point, the Company generally avoids using the highest and lowest yielding bonds at the maturity points, so as to avoid relying on bonds that might be mispriced or misrated. This refinement process generally results in having a distribution from the 10th to 90th percentile. The Aa portfolio is then selected and, accordingly, its value is a measure of the benefit obligation at December 31, 2010. A single equivalent discount rate is calculated to equate the value of the Aa portfolio to the cash flows for the benefit obligation. The result is rounded to the nearest 5 basis points and the benefit obligation is recalculated using the rounded discount rate.
The domestic discount rate used to value the pension and postretirement benefit obligations at December 31, 2009 and 2008 is based upon rates commensurate with current yields on high quality corporate bonds. The first step in determining the discount rate is the compilation of approximately 300 Aa-rated bonds across the full
range of maturities. Since yields can vary widely at each maturity point, the Company generally avoids using the highest and lowest yielding bonds at the maturity points, so as to avoid relying on bonds that might be mispriced or misrated. This refinement process generally results in having a distribution from the 10th to 90th percentile. A spot yield curve is developed from this data that is then used to determine the present value of the expected disbursements associated with the pension and postretirement obligations, respectively. This results in the present value for each respective benefit obligation. A single discount rate is calculated that results in the same present value. The rate is then rounded to the nearest 25 basis points and the benefit obligation is recalculated using the rounded discount rate.
The pension and postretirement expected long-term rates of return on plan assets for 2010 were determined based upon an approach that considered an expectation of the allocation of plan assets during the measurement period of 2010. Expected returns are estimated by asset class as noted in the discussion of investment policies and strategies below. Expected returns on asset classes are developed using a building-block approach that is forward looking and are not strictly based upon historical returns. The building blocks for equity returns include inflation, real return, a term premium, an equity risk premium, capital appreciation, effect of active management, expenses and the effect of rebalancing. The building blocks for fixed maturity returns include inflation, real return, a term premium, credit spread, capital appreciation, effect of active management, expenses and the effect of rebalancing.
The Company applied the same approach to the determination of the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets in 2011. The expected long-term rate of return for 2011 is 7.0% for both the pension and postretirement plans.
issued by Prudential Insurance. Assets are represented by a “unit of account.” The redemption value of those units is based on a per unit value whose value is the result of the accumulated values of underlying investments. The underlying investments are valued in accordance with the corresponding valuation method for the investments held.
U.S. Government Securities (both Federal and State & Other), Non-U.S. Government Securities, and Corporate Debt-See Note 20 for a discussion of the valuation methodologies for fixed maturity securities.
Structured Debt (Gateway Recovery Trust)-The value is based primarily on unobservable inputs including probability weighted cash flows and reinvestment yield assumptions.
Hedge Funds-The value of interests in hedge funds is based on the underlying investments that include equities, debt and other investments.
Primarily cash and cash equivalents, short term investments, payables and receivables and open future contract positions (including fixed income collateral).
This category invests in commercial real estate and real estate securities funds, whose objective is to outperform an index.
Cash and cash equivalents, short term investments, payables and receivables and open future contract positions (including fixed income collateral).
This category invests in U.S. equity funds, primarily large cap equities whose objective is to track an index.
A summary of pension and postretirement plan asset allocation as of the year ended December 31, are as follows:
The Company anticipates that it will make cash contributions in 2011 of approximately $110 million to the pension plans and approximately $10 million to the postretirement plans.
The following table sets forth the federal, state and foreign operating and capital loss carryforwards for tax purposes, at December 31:
$357 million expires between 2014 and 2020 and $48 million has an unlimited carryforward.
The Company’s liability for income taxes includes the liability for unrecognized tax benefits, interest and penalties which relate to tax years still subject to review by the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) or other taxing authorities. Audit periods remain open for review until the statute of limitations has passed. Generally, for tax years which produce net operating losses, capital losses or tax credit carryforwards (“tax attributes”), the statute of limitations does not close, to the extent of these tax attributes, until the expiration of the statute of limitations for the tax year in which they are fully utilized. The completion of review or the expiration of the statute of limitations for a given audit period could result in an adjustment to the liability for income taxes. The statute of limitations for the 2002 tax year expired on April 30, 2009. The statute of limitations for the 2003 tax year expired on July 31, 2009. The statute of limitations for the 2004 through 2007 tax years will expire in February 2012, unless extended. Tax years 2008 and 2009 are still open for IRS examination. The Company does not anticipate any significant changes within the next 12 months to its total unrecognized tax benefits related to tax years for which the statute of limitations has not expired.
the liability for unrecognized tax benefits and related interest of $272 million, primarily related to tax years prior to 2002 as a result of the expiration of the statute of limitations for the 2002 and 2003 tax years.
In August 2007, the IRS released Revenue Ruling 2007-54, which included, among other items, guidance on the methodology to be followed in calculating the DRD related to variable life insurance and annuity contracts. In September 2007, the IRS released Revenue Ruling 2007-61. Revenue Ruling 2007-61 suspended Revenue Ruling 2007-54 and informed taxpayers that the U.S. Treasury Department and the IRS intend to address through new regulations the issues considered in Revenue Ruling 2007-54, including the methodology to be followed in determining the DRD related to variable life insurance and annuity contracts. On February 14, 2011, the Obama Administration released the “General Explanations of the Administration’s Revenue Proposals.” Although the Administration has not released proposed statutory language, one proposal would change the method used to determine the amount of the DRD. A change in the DRD, including the possible retroactive or prospective elimination of this deduction through regulation or legislation, could increase actual tax expense and reduce the Company’s consolidated net income. These activities had no impact on the Company’s 2008, 2009 or 2010 results.
In December 2006, the IRS completed all fieldwork with respect to its examination of the consolidated federal income tax returns for tax years 2002 and 2003. The final report was initially submitted to the Joint Committee on Taxation for their review in April 2007. The final report was resubmitted in March 2008 and again in April 2008. The Joint Committee returned the report to the IRS for additional review of an industry issue regarding the methodology for calculating the DRD related to variable life insurance and annuity contracts. The IRS completed its review of the issue and proposed an adjustment with respect to the calculation of the DRD. In order to expedite receipt of an income tax refund related to the 2002 and 2003 tax years, the Company agreed to such adjustment. The report, with the adjustment to the DRD, was submitted to the Joint Committee on Taxation in October 2008. The Company was advised on January 2, 2009 that the Joint Committee completed its consideration of the report and took no exception to the conclusions reached by the IRS. Accordingly, the final report was processed and a $157 million refund was received in February 2009. The Company believed that its return position with respect to the calculation of the DRD was technically correct. Therefore, the Company filed protective refund claims on October 1, 2009 to recover the taxes associated with the agreed upon adjustment. The IRS recently issued an Industry Director Directive (“IDD”) stating that the methodology for calculating the DRD set forth in Revenue Ruling 2007-54 should not be followed. The IDD also confirmed that the IRS guidance issued before Revenue Ruling 2007-54, which guidance the Company relied upon in calculating its DRD, should be used to determine the DRD. The Company is working with its IRS audit team to bring the DRD issue to a close in accordance with the IDD. These activities had no impact on the Company’s 2008, 2009 or 2010 results.
In January 2007, the IRS began an examination of tax years 2004 through 2006. For tax years 2007 through 2010, the Company is participating in the IRS’s Compliance Assurance Program (“CAP”). Under CAP, the IRS assigns an examination team to review completed transactions contemporaneously during these tax years in order to reach agreement with the Company on how they should be reported in the tax returns. If disagreements arise, accelerated resolutions programs are available to resolve the disagreements in a timely manner before the tax
The Company’s affiliates in Japan file separate tax returns and are subject to audits by the local taxing authority. The general statute of limitations is five years from when the return is filed. During 2009, the Tokyo Regional Taxation Bureau concluded a routine tax audit of the tax returns of Prudential Life Insurance Company Ltd. for its tax years ending March 31, 2004 to March 31, 2008. These activities had no material impact on the Company’s 2008, 2009 or 2010 results.
The Company’s affiliates in South Korea file separate tax returns and are subject to audits by the local taxing authority. The general statute of limitations is five years from when the return is filed. During 2009, a local district office in the South Korean tax authority concluded a routine tax audit of the local taxes for tax years ending March 31, 2004 through March 31, 2007 of Prudential Life Insurance Company of Korea, Ltd. (“POK”). During 2010, South Korea’s National Tax Service concluded a general tax audit of POK’s tax years ending March 31, 2006 to March 31, 2010. These activities had no material impact on the Company’s 2008, 2009 or 2010 results.
maturities (corporate public and private bonds, most government securities, certain asset-backed and mortgage-backed securities, etc.), certain equity securities (mutual funds, which do not actively trade and are priced based on a net asset value) and commercial mortgage loans, short-term investments and certain cash equivalents (primarily commercial paper), and certain over-the-counter derivatives. Valuations are generally obtained from third party pricing services for identical or comparable assets or liabilities or through the use of valuation methodologies using observable market inputs. Prices from services are validated through comparison to trade data and internal estimates of current fair value, generally developed using market observable inputs and economic indicators.
Level 3-Fair value is based on at least one or more significant unobservable inputs for the asset or liability. These inputs reflect the Company’s assumptions about the inputs market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. The Company’s Level 3 assets and liabilities primarily include: certain private fixed maturities and equity securities, certain manually priced public equity securities and fixed maturities, certain highly structured over-the-counter derivative contracts, certain commercial mortgage loans, certain consolidated real estate funds for which the Company is the general partner, and embedded derivatives resulting from certain products with guaranteed benefits. Prices are determined using valuation methodologies such as option pricing models, discounted cash flow models and other similar techniques. Non-binding broker quotes, which are utilized when pricing service information is not available, are reviewed for reasonableness based on the Company’s understanding of the market, and are generally considered Level 3. Under certain conditions, based on its observations of transactions in active markets, the Company may conclude the prices received from independent third party pricing services or brokers are not reasonable or reflective of market activity. In those instances, the Company may choose to over-ride the third-party pricing information or quotes received and apply internally developed values to the related assets or liabilities. To the extent the internally developed valuations use significant unobservable inputs, they are classified as Level 3. As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, these over-rides on a net basis were not material.
Beginning in the second quarter of 2010, the Company observed an increasingly active market, as evidence of orderly transactions in asset-backed securities collateralized by sub-prime mortgages became more apparent. Additionally, the valuation based on the pricing the Company received from independent pricing services was not materially different from its internal estimates of current market value for these securities. As a result, where third party pricing information based on observable inputs was used to fair value the security, and based on the assessment that the market has been becoming increasingly active, the Company reported fair values for these asset-backed securities collateralized by sub-prime mortgages in Level 2 since June 30, 2010. As of
December 31, 2010, the fair value of these securities included in Level 2 were $4,591 million included in Fixed Maturities Available for Sale-Asset-Backed Securities and $208 million included in Trading Account Assets Supporting Insurance Liabilities-Asset-Backed Securities.
If the Company ultimately concludes that pricing information received from the independent pricing service is not reflective of market activity, non-binding broker quotes are used, if available. If the Company concludes the values from both pricing services and brokers are not reflective of market activity, it may over-ride the information from the pricing service or broker with an internally developed valuation. As of December 31, 2010 and 2009 over-rides on a net basis were not material. Internally developed valuations or non-binding broker quotes are also used to determine fair value in circumstances where vendor pricing is not available. These estimates may use significant unobservable inputs, which reflect our own assumptions about the inputs market participants would use in pricing the asset. Circumstances where observable market data are not available may include events such as market illiquidity and credit events related to the security. Pricing service over-rides, internally developed valuations and non-binding broker quotes are generally included in Level 3 in our fair value hierarchy.
Private fixed maturities also include debt investments in funds that, in addition to a stated coupon, pay a return based upon the results of the underlying portfolios. The fair values of these securities are determined by reference to the funds’ net asset value (“NAV”). Since the NAV at which the funds trade can be observed by redemption and subscription transactions between third parties, the fair values of these investments have been reflected within Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.
Trading Account Assets-Trading account assets (including trading account assets supporting insurance liabilities) consist primarily of public corporate bonds, treasuries, equity securities and derivatives whose fair values are determined consistent with similar instruments described above under “Fixed Maturity Securities” and below under “Equity Securities” and “Derivative Instruments.” Other trading account assets also include certain assets originally purchased under TALF, as described below under “Long-Term Debt.”
Equity Securities-Equity securities consist principally of investments in common and preferred stock of publicly traded companies, privately traded securities, as well as common stock mutual fund shares. The fair values of most publicly traded equity securities are based on quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets and are classified within Level 1 in the fair value hierarchy. Estimated fair values for most privately traded equity securities are determined using valuation and discounted cash flow models that require a substantial level of judgment. In determining the fair value of certain privately traded equity securities the discounted cash flow model may also use unobservable inputs, which reflect the Company’s assumptions about the inputs market participants would use in pricing the asset. Most privately traded equity securities are classified within Level 3. The fair values of common stock mutual fund shares that transact regularly (but do not trade in active markets because they are not publicly available) are based on transaction prices of identical fund shares and are classified within Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. The fair values of preferred equity securities are based on prices obtained from independent pricing services and, in order to validate reasonability, are compared with directly observed recent market trades. Accordingly, these securities are generally classified within Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.
Other Long-Term Investments-Other long-term investments include limited partnerships which are consolidated because the Company is either deemed to exercise control or considered the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity. These entities are considered investment companies and follow specialized industry accounting whereby their assets are carried at fair value. The investments held by these entities include various feeder fund investments in underlying master funds (whose underlying holdings generally include public fixed maturities and equity securities), as well as wholly-owned real estate held within other investment funds. The fair value of the feeder fund investments in master funds are generally determined by reference to the investments in the underlying master funds.
The fair value of real estate held in consolidated investment funds is determined through an independent appraisal process. The appraisals generally utilize a discounted cash flow model, following an income approach that incorporates various assumptions including rental revenue, operating expenses and discount rates. The cash flow approach is supplemented with replacement cost estimates and comparable recent sales data when available. These appraisals and the related assumptions are updated at least annually, and incorporate historical property experience and any observable market data, including any market transactions. Since many of the assumptions utilized are unobservable and are considered to be significant inputs to the valuation, the real estate investments within other long-term investments have been reflected within Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.
OTC derivative contracts are executed under master netting agreements with counterparties with a Credit Support Annex, or CSA, which is a bilateral ratings-sensitive agreement that requires collateral postings at established credit threshold levels. These agreements protect the interests of the Company and its counterparties,
Derivatives classified as Level 3 include first-to-default credit basket swaps, look-back equity options and other structured products. These derivatives are valued based upon models with some significant unobservable market inputs or inputs from less actively traded markets. The fair values of first-to-default credit basket swaps are derived from relevant observable inputs such as: individual credit default spreads, interest rates, recovery rates and unobservable model-specific input values such as correlation between different credits within the same basket. Look-back equity options and other structured options and derivatives are valued using simulation models such as the Monte Carlo technique. The input values for look-back equity options are derived from observable market indices such as interest rates, dividend yields, equity indices as well as unobservable model-specific input values such as certain volatility parameters. Level 3 methodologies are validated through periodic comparison of the Company’s fair values to broker-dealer values.
liabilities are senior to debt, the Company believes that reflecting the financial strength ratings of the Company’s insurance subsidiaries in the valuation of the liability appropriately takes into consideration the Company’s own risk of non-performance. To reflect the market’s perception of its non-performance risk, the Company incorporates an additional spread over LIBOR into the discount rate used in the valuations of the embedded derivatives associated with its optional living benefit features. The additional spread over LIBOR is determined taking into consideration publicly available information relating to the financial strength of the Company’s insurance subsidiaries, as indicated by the credit spreads associated with funding agreements issued by these subsidiaries. The Company adjusts these credit spreads to remove any liquidity risk premium. The additional spread over LIBOR incorporated into the discount rate as of December 31, 2010 generally ranged from 50 to 150 basis points for the portion of the interest rate curve most relevant to these liabilities. This additional spread is applied at an individual contract level and only to those embedded derivatives in a liability position and not to those in a contra-liability position.
Transfers between Levels 1 and 2-Periodically there are transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 for foreign common stocks held in the Company’s Separate Account. In certain periods, an adjustment may be made to the fair value of these assets beyond the quoted market price to reflect events that occurred between the close of foreign trading markets and the close of U.S. trading markets for that day. If an adjustment is made in the reporting period, these Separate Account assets are classified as Level 2. When an adjustment is not made, they are classified as Level 1. This type of adjustment was made at December 31, 2009, but not at December 31, 2010. As a result, for the year ended December 31, 2010, $3.4 billion of transfers from Level 2 to Level 1 occurred for these Separate Account assets on a net basis.
Changes in Level 3 assets and liabilities-The following tables provide a summary of the changes in fair value of Level 3 assets and liabilities for the year ended December 31, 2010, as well as the portion of gains or losses included in income for the year ended December 31, 2010 attributable to unrealized gains or losses related to those assets and liabilities still held at December 31, 2010.
The following tables provide a summary of the changes in fair value of Level 3 assets and liabilities for the year ended December 31, 2009, as well as the portion of gains or losses included in income for the year ended December 31, 2009, attributable to unrealized gains or losses related to those assets and liabilities still held at December 31, 2009.
Other transfers out of Level 3 were typically due to the use of observable inputs in valuation methodologies as well as the utilization of pricing service information for certain assets that the Company was able to validate. Other transfers into Level 3 were primarily the result of unobservable inputs utilized within valuation methodologies and the use of broker quotes (that could not be validated) when previously, information from third party pricing services (that could be validated) was utilized.
Other represents the impact of consolidation or deconsolidation of funds and reclasses of certain assets between reporting categories.
The following tables present the balance of derivative assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis, as of the date indicated, by primary underlying. These tables exclude embedded derivatives which are recorded with the associated host contract. The derivative assets and liabilities shown below are included in “Other trading account assets,” “Other long-term investments” or “Other liabilities” in the tables presented previously in this note, under the headings “Assets and Liabilities by Hierarchy Level” and “Changes in Level 3 Assets and Liabilities.”
Changes in Level 3 derivative assets and liabilities-The following tables provide a summary of the changes in fair value of Level 3 derivative assets and liabilities for the year ended December 31, 2010, as well as the portion of gains or losses included in income for the year ended December 31, 2010, attributable to unrealized gains or losses related to those assets and liabilities still held at December 31, 2010.
Impairments of $6 million and $12 million for the years ended December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively, were recorded for mortgage servicing rights. The impairments were based on internal models and were classified as Level 3 in the hierarchy. In addition, impairments of $7 million for the year ended December 31, 2009 were recorded for real estate investments, some of which were classified as discontinued operations. The impairments were based on appraisal values or purchase agreements and were classified as Level 3 in the hierarchy.
For the year ended December 31, 2008, the Company recorded impairments of $316 million on certain equity method investments in operating joint ventures held within the international investments segment. The inputs used in determining these impairments were classified as Level 3 in the valuation hierarchy and consisted primarily of market multiples and discounted cash flows.
Fair Value Option-The following table presents information regarding changes in fair values recorded in earnings for commercial mortgage loans, other long-term investments and long-term debt, where the fair value option has been elected.
Interest income on commercial mortgage loans is included in net investment income. For the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, the Company recorded $22 million, $37 million and $41 million of interest income, respectively, on these fair value option loans. Interest income on these loans is recorded based on the effective interest rates as determined at the closing of the loan.
The fair values and aggregate contractual principal amounts of commercial mortgage loans, for which the fair value option has been elected, were $364 million and $393 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2010, and $479 million and $556 million, respectively, as December 31, 2009. As of December 31, 2010, such loans that were in nonaccrual status had fair values of $86 million and aggregate contractual principal amounts of $97 million. None of the loans where the fair value option has been elected are more than 90 days past due and still accruing.
Equity index options are contracts which will settle in cash based on differentials in the underlying indices at the time of exercise and the strike price. The Company uses combinations of purchases and sales of equity index options to hedge the effects of adverse changes in equity indices within a predetermined range. These hedges do not qualify for hedge accounting.
Under currency forwards, the Company agrees with other parties to deliver a specified amount of an identified currency at a specified future date. Typically, the price is agreed upon at the time of the contract and payment for such a contract is made at the specified future date. As noted above, the Company uses currency forwards to mitigate the risk that unfavorable changes in currency exchange rates will reduce U.S. dollar equivalent earnings generated by certain of its non-U.S. businesses, primarily its international insurance and investments operations. The Company executes forward sales of the hedged currency in exchange for U.S. dollars at a specified exchange rate. The maturities of these forwards correspond with the future periods in which the non-U.S. earnings are expected to be generated. These earnings hedges do not qualify for hedge accounting.
Credit derivatives are used by the Company to enhance the return on the Company’s investment portfolio by creating credit exposure similar to an investment in public fixed maturity cash instruments. With credit derivatives the Company sells credit protection on an identified name, or a basket of names in a first to default
structure, and in return receives a quarterly premium. With single name credit default derivatives, this premium or credit spread generally corresponds to the difference between the yield on the referenced name’s public fixed maturity cash instruments and swap rates, at the time the agreement is executed. With first to default baskets, the premium generally corresponds to a high proportion of the sum of the credit spreads of the names in the basket. If there is an event of default by the referenced name or one of the referenced names in a basket, as defined by the agreement, then the Company is obligated to pay the counterparty the referenced amount of the contract and receive in return the referenced defaulted security or similar security. See Note 23 for a discussion of guarantees related to these credit derivatives. In addition to selling credit protection, in limited instances the Company has purchased credit protection using credit derivatives in order to hedge specific credit exposures in the Company’s investment portfolio.
The Company uses “to be announced” (“TBA”) forward contracts to gain exposure to the investment risk and return of mortgage-backed securities. TBA transactions can help the Company to achieve better diversification and to enhance the return on its investment portfolio. TBAs provide a more liquid and cost effective method of achieving these goals than purchasing or selling individual mortgage-backed pools. Typically, the price is agreed upon at the time of the contract and payment for such a contract is made at a specified future date. Additionally, pursuant to the Company’s mortgage dollar roll program, TBAs or mortgage-backed securities are transferred to counterparties with a corresponding agreement to repurchase them at a future date. These transactions do not qualify as secured borrowings and are accounted for as derivatives.
The Company invests in fixed maturities that, in addition to a stated coupon, provide a return based upon the results of an underlying portfolio of fixed income investments and related investment activity. The Company accounts for these investments as available for sale fixed maturities containing embedded derivatives. Such
embedded derivatives are marked to market through “Realized investment gains (losses), net,” based upon the change in value of the underlying portfolio.
Excludes embedded derivatives which contain multiple underlyings. The fair value of these embedded derivatives was a net liability of $70 million as of December 31, 2010 and a net liability of $391 million as of December 31, 2009, included in “Future policy benefits” and “Fixed maturities, available for sale.”
For the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, the ineffective portion of derivatives accounted for using hedge accounting was not material to the Company’s results of operations and there were no material amounts reclassified into earnings relating to instances in which the Company discontinued cash flow hedge accounting because the forecasted transaction did not occur by the anticipated date or within the additional time period permitted by the authoritative guidance for the accounting for derivatives and hedging. In addition, there were no instances in which the Company discontinued fair value hedge accounting due to a hedged firm commitment no longer qualifying as a fair value hedge.
Presented below is a roll forward of current period cash flow hedges in “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” before taxes:
For effective net investment hedges, the amounts, before applicable taxes, recorded in the cumulative translation adjustment account within “Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” were $(73) million in 2010, $127 million in 2009 and $268 million in 2008.
The following table sets forth the composition of the Company’s credit derivatives where the Company has written credit protection excluding the credit derivative related to surplus notes issued by a subsidiary of Prudential Insurance and embedded derivatives contained in externally-managed investments in the European market, by industry category as of the dates indicated.
The Company holds certain externally-managed investments in the European market which contain embedded derivatives whose fair value are primarily driven by changes in credit spreads. These investments are medium term notes that are collateralized by investment portfolios primarily consisting of investment grade European fixed income securities, including corporate bonds and asset-backed securities, and derivatives, as well as varying degrees of leverage. The notes have a stated coupon and provide a return based on the performance of the underlying portfolios and the level of leverage. The Company invests in these notes to earn a coupon through maturity, consistent with its investment purpose for other debt securities. The notes are accounted for under U.S. GAAP as available for sale fixed maturity securities with bifurcated embedded derivatives (total return swaps). Changes in the value of the fixed maturity securities are reported in Equity under the heading “Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)” and changes in the market value of the embedded total return swaps are included in current period earnings in “Realized investment gains (losses), net.” The Company’s maximum exposure to loss from these investments was $754 million and $723 million at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
Certain of the Company’s derivative agreements with some of its counterparties contain credit-risk related triggers. If the Company’s credit rating were to fall below a certain level, the counterparties to the derivative instruments could request termination at the then fair value of the derivative or demand immediate full collateralization on derivative instruments in net liability positions. If a downgrade occurred and the derivative positions were terminated, the Company anticipates it would be able to replace the derivative positions with other counterparties in the normal course of business. The aggregate fair value of all derivative instruments with credit-risk-related contingent features that are in a net liability position were $590 million as of December 31, 2010. In the normal course of business the Company has posted collateral related to these instruments of $517 million as of December 31, 2010. If the credit-risk-related contingent features underlying these agreements had been triggered on December 31, 2010, the Company estimates that it would be required to post a maximum of $73 million of additional collateral to its counterparties.
The Company has organized its principal operations into the Financial Services Businesses and the Closed Block Business. Within the Financial Services Businesses, the Company operates through three divisions, which together encompass seven reportable segments. The Company’s real estate and relocation services business as well as businesses that are not sufficiently material to warrant separate disclosure and divested businesses are included in Corporate and Other operations within the Financial Services Businesses. Collectively, the businesses that comprise the three operating divisions and Corporate and Other are referred to as the Financial Services Businesses.
U.S. Individual Life and Group Insurance Division. The U.S. Individual Life and Group Insurance division consists of the Individual Life and Group Insurance segments. The Individual Life segment manufactures and distributes individual variable life, term life and universal life insurance products primarily to the U.S. mass middle, mass affluent and affluent markets. The Group Insurance segment manufactures and distributes a full range of group life, long-term and short-term group disability, long-term care and group corporate-, bank- and trust-owned life insurance in the U.S. primarily to institutional clients for use in connection with employee and membership benefit plans.
International Insurance and Investments Division. The International Insurance and Investments division consists of the International Insurance and International Investments segments. The International Insurance segment manufactures and distributes individual life insurance, retirement and related products to the mass affluent and affluent markets in Japan, Korea and other foreign countries through its Life Planner operations. In addition, similar products are offered to the broad middle income market across Japan through Life Advisors, the proprietary distribution channel of the Company’s Gibraltar Life operation. The International Investments segment offers proprietary and non-proprietary asset management, investment advice and services to retail and institutional clients in selected international markets.
Corporate and Other. Corporate and Other includes corporate operations, after allocations to business segments, and real estate and relocation services, as well as divested businesses. Corporate operations consist primarily of: (1) investment returns on capital that is not deployed in any business segments; (2) returns from investments not allocated to business segments, including debt-financed investment portfolios, as well as tax credit investments and other tax enhanced investments financed by business segments; (3) capital debt that is used or will be used to meet the capital requirements of the Company and the related interest expense; (4) income and expense from qualified pension and other employee benefit plans, after allocations to business segments; (5) corporate-level income and expense, after allocations to business segments, including corporate governance, corporate advertising, philanthropic activities and deferred compensation; (6) certain retained obligations relating to pre-demutualization policyholders whom the Company had previously agreed to provide insurance for reduced or no premium in accordance with contractual settlements related to prior individual life insurance sales practices remediation; (7) businesses that have been placed in wind-down status but have not divested; (8) results of our capital protection strategies; and (9) the impact of transactions with other segments. The divested businesses consist primarily of the property and casualty insurance businesses, financial advisory business, and commercial mortgage securitization operations.
In managing the Financial Services Businesses, the Company analyzes the operating performance of each segment using “adjusted operating income.” Adjusted operating income does not equate to “income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in earnings of operating joint ventures” or “net income” as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP but is the measure of segment profit or loss used by the Company to evaluate segment performance and allocate resources, and consistent with authoritative guidance, is the measure of segment performance presented below.
Effective with the third quarter of 2010, the Company amended its definition of adjusted operating income as it relates to certain variable annuity contracts and defined contribution accounts that contain optional guaranteed living benefit features. Changes in the fair value of these optional living benefit features, which are accounted for as embedded derivatives, are primarily driven by changes in the policyholders’ account balance and changes in the capital market and policyholder behavior assumptions used in the valuation of the embedded derivatives, including equity market returns, interest rates, market volatility, benefit utilization, contract lapses, contractholder mortality, and withdrawal rates. The changes in fair value of the embedded derivative liabilities also reflect an increase or decrease in the market-perceived risk of the Company’s non-performance. The Company hedges or limits its exposure to certain risks associated with these living benefit features through a combination of product design elements and externally purchased hedging instruments. In addition, beginning in the second quarter of 2009, the Company expanded its hedging program to include a portion of the market exposure related to the overall capital position of the variable annuity business. During the second quarter of 2010, the equity component of the capital hedge within the variable annuity business was replaced with a new capital hedge program that more broadly addressed equity market exposure of the statutory capital within the Financial Services Businesses as a whole. Changes in the value of the embedded derivatives inclusive of the market-perceived risk of the Company’s non-performance, and the related hedge positions are reported in “Realized investment gains (losses), net.” Historically, adjusted operating income included the changes in fair value of these embedded derivatives and related hedge positions, in the period they occurred, and also included the related impact to amortization of deferred policy acquisition and other costs.
The following table presents amounts included within the U.S. GAAP results of the Individual Annuities and Retirement segments and Corporate and Other operations that have been excluded from adjusted operating income under the amended definition for the periods indicated:
Represents the net impact of capital hedge related activities and consolidating adjustments associated with these living benefit guarantees, which are excluded from adjusted operating income under the amended definition.
Adjusted operating income of the International Insurance segment and International Investments segment, excluding the global commodities group, reflect the impact of an intercompany arrangement with Corporate and Other operations pursuant to which the segments’ non-U.S. dollar denominated earnings in all countries for a particular year, including its interim reporting periods, are translated at fixed currency exchange rates. The fixed rates are determined in connection with a currency hedging program designed to mitigate the risk that unfavorable rate changes will reduce the segments’ U.S. dollar equivalent earnings. Pursuant to this program, the Company’s Corporate and Other operations execute forward currency contracts with third parties to sell the net exposure of projected earnings from the hedged currency in exchange for U.S. dollars at a specified exchange rate. The maturities of these contracts correspond with the future periods in which the identified non-U.S. dollar denominated earnings are expected to be generated. These contracts do not qualify for hedge accounting under U.S. GAAP and, as noted above, all resulting profits or losses from such contracts are included in “Realized investment gains (losses), net.” When the contracts are terminated in the same period that the expected earnings emerge, the resulting positive or negative cash flow effect is included in adjusted operating income (net losses of $93 million and $36 million, and net gains of $11 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively). As of December 31, 2010 and 2009, the fair value of open contracts used for this purpose were net liabilities of $252 million and $16 million, respectively.
The Company uses interest rate and currency swaps and other derivatives to manage interest and currency exchange rate exposures arising from mismatches between assets and liabilities, including duration mismatches. For the derivative contracts that do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment, mark-to-market adjustments of open contracts as well as periodic settlements are included in “Realized investment gains (losses), net.” However, the periodic swap settlements, as well as other derivative related yield adjustments, are included in adjusted operating income to reflect the after-hedge yield of the underlying instruments. In certain instances, when these derivative contracts are terminated or offset before their final maturity, the resulting realized gains or losses recorded within “Realized investment gains (losses), net” are recognized in adjusted operating income over periods that generally approximate the expected terms of the derivatives or underlying instruments in order for adjusted operating income to reflect the after-hedge yield of the underlying instruments. Adjusted operating
The Company conducts certain activities for which “Realized investment gains (losses), net” are a principal source of earnings for its businesses and therefore included in adjusted operating income, particularly within the Company’s Asset Management segment. For example, Asset Management’s proprietary investing business makes investments for sale or syndication to other investors or for placement or co-investment in the Company’s managed funds and structured products. The “Realized investment gains (losses), net” associated with the sale of these proprietary investments, as well as related derivative results, are a principal activity for this business and included in adjusted operating income. In addition, the “Realized investment gains (losses), net” associated with loans originated by the Company’s commercial mortgage operations, as well as related derivative results and retained mortgage servicing rights, are a principal activity for this business and included in adjusted operating income. Net realized investment gains of $18 million, losses of $274 million and gains of $66 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively, related to these and other businesses were included in adjusted operating income as an adjustment to “Realized investment gains (losses), net.”
The Company has certain investments in its general account portfolios that are classified as trading. These trading investments are carried at fair value and included in “Other trading account assets, at fair value” on the Company’s statements of financial position. Realized and unrealized gains and losses for these investments are recorded in “Asset management fees and other income,” and interest and dividend income for these investments is recorded in “Net investment income.” Consistent with the exclusion of realized investment gains and losses with respect to other investments managed on a consistent basis, the net gains or losses on these investments, which is recorded within “Asset management fees and other income,” is excluded from adjusted operating income and is reflected as an adjustment to “Realized investment gains (losses), net.” In addition, prior to the Company’s repayment of the obligation in 2010, the secured financing received from the Federal Reserve under TALF was reflected within “Long-term debt,” and carried at fair value under the fair value option under authoritative guidance around fair value. The changes in the fair value of this debt, which were recorded within “Asset management fees and other income,” was also excluded from adjusted operating income and reflected as an adjustment to “Realized investment gains (losses), net.” This is consistent with the securities purchased with the proceeds from this financing, which were carried at fair value and included in “Other trading account assets, at fair value” as discussed above. The net impact of these adjustments was to exclude from adjusted operating income net gains of $10 million and $55 million, and net losses of $300 million, for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
As a result of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition filed by Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (“Lehman Brothers”) on September 15, 2008, the Company experienced losses related to the unsecured portion of its counterparty exposure on derivative transactions it had entered into with Lehman Brothers and its affiliates. These losses are recorded within “Asset management fees and other income” within the Company’s Corporate and Other operations and are excluded from adjusted operating income consistent with the adjusted operating income treatment of similar credit-related losses that are recorded within “Realized investment gains (losses), net.” For the year ended December 31, 2008, $75 million of these losses were recorded in “Asset management fees and other income” and are excluded from adjusted operating income as a related adjustment to “Realized investment gains (losses), net.” Any subsequent recoveries of these losses will also be excluded from adjusted operating income. There were no adjustments for the years ended December 31, 2010 or 2009.
The U.S. Retirement Solutions and Investment Management Division and U.S. Individual Life and Group Insurance Division results reflect deferred policy acquisition costs as if the individual annuity business and group
being leased, the future rental expense net of any expected sub-lease income, and to release this reserve over the remaining commitment period. Of the total non-cancelable operating leases and sub-lease income amounts listed above, $59 million and $55 million, respectively, has been accrued at December 31, 2010.
In connection with the Company’s commercial mortgage operations, it originates commercial mortgage loans. Commitments for loans that will be held for sale are recognized as derivatives and recorded at fair value. In certain of these transactions, the Company prearranges that it will sell the loan to an investor, including to governmental sponsored entities as discussed below, after the Company funds the loan.
The Company has provided a guarantee to a syndication of lenders in connection with a retail development project in Singapore that is 50% co-owned by the Company and an unconsolidated real estate fund managed by the Company. The principal provisions in the guarantee require that the loan-to-value ratio of the retail development project be maintained at 60% or lower, based on an external appraisal. A loan-to-value ratio in excess of 60% would require the Company and its co-owner to jointly and severally pay down the loan balance to the 60% level. The loan-to-value ratio, based on a December 2010 appraisal is 43.5%. Other obligations under the guarantee include guaranteeing the interest-servicing on the loan on a proportionate basis and undertaking to complete the project and fund all development costs, including cost overruns. The Company’s exposure under the guarantee assumes the co-owner honors its joint guarantee.
As part of the commercial mortgage activities of the Company’s Asset Management segment, the Company provides commercial mortgage origination, underwriting and servicing for certain government sponsored entities, such as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The Company has agreed to indemnify the government sponsored entities for a portion of the credit risk associated with certain of the mortgages it services through a delegated authority
arrangement. Under these arrangements, the Company originates multi-family mortgages for sale to the government sponsored entities based on underwriting standards they specify, and make payments to them for a specified percentage share of losses they incur on certain loans serviced by the Company. The Company’s percentage share of losses incurred generally varies from 2% to 20% of the loan balance, and is typically based on a first-loss exposure for a stated percentage of the loan balance, plus a shared exposure with the government sponsored entity for any losses in excess of the stated first-loss percentage, subject to a contractually specified maximum percentage. The Company services $8,511 million of mortgages subject to these loss-sharing arrangements as of December 31, 2010, all of which are collateralized by first priority liens on the underlying multi-family residential properties. As of December 31, 2010, these mortgages had an average debt service coverage ratio of 1.72 times and an average loan-to-value ratio of 72%. The Company’s total share of losses related to indemnifications that were settled were $3 million, $0 million and $2 million for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2009 and 2008, respectively.
In January 2011, a purported state-wide class action, Garcia v. The Prudential Insurance Company of America was dismissed by the Second Judicial District Court, Washoe County, Nevada. The complaint is brought on behalf of Nevada beneficiaries of life insurance policies sold by the Company for which, unless the beneficiaries elected another settlement method, death benefits were placed in retained asset accounts that earn interest and are subject to withdrawal in whole or in part at any time by the beneficiaries. The complaint alleges that by failing to disclose material information about the accounts, the Company wrongfully delayed payment and improperly retained undisclosed profits, and seeks damages, injunctive relief, attorneys’ fees and prejudgment and post-judgment interest. In February 2011, plaintiff appealed the dismissal. As previously reported, in December 2009, an earlier purported nationwide class action raising substantially similar allegations brought by the same plaintiff in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Garcia v. Prudential Insurance Company of America, was dismissed. In December 2010, a purported state-wide class action complaint, Phillips v. Prudential Financial, Inc., was filed in the Circuit Court of the First Judicial Circuit, Williamson County, Illinois. The complaint makes allegations under Illinois law, substantially similar to the Garcia cases, on behalf of a class of Illinois residents whose death benefits were settled by retained assets accounts. In January 2011, the case was removed to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. In July 2010, a purported nationwide class action that makes allegations similar to those in the Garcia and Phillips actions relating to retained asset accounts of beneficiaries of a group life insurance contract owned by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (“VA Contract”) that covers the lives of members and veterans of the U.S. armed forces, Lucey et al. v. Prudential Insurance Company of America, was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. The complaint challenges the use of retained asset accounts to settle death benefit claims, asserting violations of federal and state law, breach of contract and fraud and seeking compensatory and treble damages and equitable relief. In October 2010, the Company filed a motion to dismiss the complaint. In November 2010, a second purported nationwide class action brought on behalf of the same beneficiaries of the VA Contract, Phillips v. Prudential Insurance Company of America and Prudential Financial, Inc., was filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, and makes substantially the same claims. In November and December 2010, two additional actions brought on behalf of the same putative class, alleging substantially the same claims and the same relief, Garrett v. The Prudential Insurance Company of America and Prudential Financial, Inc. and Witt v. The Prudential Insurance Company of America were filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. In February 2011, Phillips,
$6.5 billion. In February 2010, the New Jersey Supreme Court assigned the cases for centralized case management to the Superior Court, Bergen County. The Company participated in a court-ordered mediation that has resulted in a settlement in principle.
Prudential Securities was a defendant in a number of industry-wide purported class actions in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York relating to its former securities underwriting business, captioned In re: Initial Public Offering Securities Litigation, alleging, among other things, that the underwriters engaged in a scheme involving tying agreements, undisclosed compensation arrangements and research analyst conflicts to manipulate and inflate the prices of shares sold in initial public offerings in violation of the federal securities laws. In September 2009, the court entered a final order approving settlement of the litigation. In October 2009, an appeal of the settlement was filed with the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
In October 2006, a purported class action lawsuit, Bouder v. Prudential Financial, Inc. and Prudential Insurance Company of America, was filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, claiming that Prudential failed to pay overtime to insurance agents in violation of federal and Pennsylvania law, and that improper deductions were made from these agents’ wages in violation of state law. The complaint seeks back overtime pay and statutory damages, recovery of improper deductions, interest, and attorneys’ fees. In March 2008, the court conditionally certified a nationwide class on the federal overtime claim. Separately, in March 2008, a purported nationwide class action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the
Southern District of California, Wang v. Prudential Financial, Inc. and Prudential Insurance, claiming that the Company failed to pay its agents overtime and provide other benefits in violation of California and federal law and seeking compensatory and punitive damages in unspecified amounts. In September 2008, Wang was transferred to the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey and consolidated with the Bouder matter. Subsequent amendments to the complaint have resulted in additional allegations involving purported violations of an additional nine states’ overtime and wage payment laws. In February 2010, Prudential moved to decertify the federal overtime class that had been conditionally certified in March 2008, and moved for summary judgment on the federal overtime claims of the named plaintiffs. In July 2010, plaintiffs filed a motion for class certification of the state law claims. In August 2010, the district court granted Prudential’s motion for summary judgment, dismissing the federal overtime claims. The motion for class certification of the state law claims is pending.
On December 31, 2009, the Company completed the sale of its minority joint venture interest in Wachovia Securities. In the fourth quarter of 2009, “Equity in earnings of operating joint ventures, net of taxes” includes a pre-tax gain on the sale of $2.247 billion. In addition, “General and administrative expenses” includes certain one-time costs related to the sale of the joint venture interest of $104 million for pre-tax compensation costs and costs related to increased contributions to the Company’s charitable foundation. The total of these items is an after-tax gain of $1.389 billion, or $2.95 per share of Common Stock. See Note 7 for additional information.