Total investments and Cash and cash equivalents increased $2 billion primarily driven by derivative collateral postings, cash flows from insurance operations and unrealized gains on investments due to declining interest rates, partially offset by a return of capital, net investment acquisitions and debt repayments; and
As of December 31, 2019, we have sufficient assets to cover our economic liability.
The Company has developed long-term savings and retirement products, which are distributed through its affiliated broker-dealer company, Prudential Annuities Distributors, Inc. (“PAD”), and third-party distribution networks. The Company issued variable and fixed deferred and immediate annuities for individuals and groups in the United States of America and Puerto Rico. In addition, the Company has a relatively small in force block of variable life insurance policies. The Company stopped actively selling products by March 2010; However, the Company continues to accept additional customer deposits on certain in force contracts, subject to applicable contract provisions and administrative rules.
When an OTTI of a debt security has occurred, the amount of the OTTI recognized in earnings depends on whether the Company intends to sell the security or more likely than not will be required to sell the security before recovery of its amortized cost basis. If the debt security meets either of these two criteria, the OTTI recognized in earnings is equal to the entire difference between the security’s amortized cost basis and its fair value at the impairment measurement date. For OTTI of debt securities that do not meet these criteria, the net amount recognized in earnings is equal to the difference between the amortized cost of the debt security and its net present value calculated as described above. Any difference between the fair value and the net present value of the debt security at the impairment measurement date is recorded in OCI. Unrealized gains or losses on securities for which an OTTI has been recognized in earnings is tracked as a separate component of AOCI.
If it is determined that a derivative no longer qualifies as an effective cash flow hedge or management removes the hedge designation, the derivative will continue to be carried on the balance sheet at its fair value, with changes in fair value recognized currently in “Realized investment gains (losses), net.” The component of AOCI related to discontinued cash flow hedges is reclassified to the Statements of Operations line associated with the hedged cash flows consistent with the earnings impact of the original hedged cash flows.
Requires an entity to measure all market risk benefits (e.g., living benefit and death benefit guarantees associated with variable annuities) at fair value, and record market risk benefit assets and liabilities separately on the Statements of Financial Position. Changes in fair value of market risk benefits are recorded in net income, except for the portion of the change that is attributable to changes in an entity’s non-performance risk ("NPR"), which is recognized in OCI.
Derivative Instruments - Derivatives are recorded at fair value either as assets, within "Other invested assets", or as liabilities, within “Payables to parent and affiliates” or "Other liabilities", except for embedded derivatives which are recorded with the associated host contract. The fair values of derivative contracts can be affected by changes in interest rates, foreign exchange rates, credit spreads, market volatility, expected returns, NPR, liquidity and other factors.
The Company’s contracts with guarantees may offer more than one type of guarantee in each contract; therefore, the amounts listed may not be mutually exclusive. The liabilities related to the net amount at risk are reflected within “Future policy benefits.” As of December 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company had the following guarantees associated with these contracts, by product and guarantee type:
The Company uses reinsurance as part of its risk management and capital management strategies for certain of its living benefit guarantees and variable annuity base contracts. Effective April 1, 2016, the Company recaptured the risks related to its variable annuity living benefit guarantees that were previously reinsured to affiliates. In addition, the Company reinsured variable annuity base contracts, along with the living benefit guarantees, from Pruco Life, excluding the PLNJ business which was reinsured to Prudential Insurance. This reinsurance covers new and in force business and excludes business reinsured externally.
In December, September, June and March 2019, the Company paid an extra-ordinary dividend of $241 million, $245 million, $247 million and $245 million, respectively, to its parent, PAI, which was recorded as a return of capital. In December, September, June and March 2018, the Company paid an extra-ordinary dividend of $225 million, $250 million, $250 million and $300 million, respectively to PAI, which was recorded as a return of capital. In December, September, and June 2017, the Company paid an extra-ordinary dividend of $650 million, $200 million and $100 million, respectively to PAI, which was recorded as a return of capital.