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SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2023

Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation

The preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions (including normal, recurring accruals) that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements present the consolidated results of operations, financial condition, and cash flows of the Company and its subsidiaries and those investment companies, partnerships and joint ventures in which the Company has control and a majority economic interest as well as those VIEs that meet the requirements for consolidation.

Financial results in the historical consolidated financial statements may not be indicative of the results of operations, comprehensive income (loss), financial position, equity or cash flows that would have been achieved had we operated as a separate, standalone entity during the reporting periods presented. We believe that the consolidated financial statements include all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations of the Company.

All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. The years “2023”, “2022” and “2021” refer to the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively.

Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements, Future Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements and Out of Period Adjustment

Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements


Description			Effect on the Financial Statement or Other Significant Matters
ASU 2018-12: Financial Services - Insurance (Topic 944)
This ASU provides targeted improvements to existing recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure requirements for long-duration contracts issued by an insurance entity. The ASU primarily impacts four key areas, including: 1. Measurement of the liability for future policy benefits for traditional and limited payment contracts. The ASU requires companies to review, and if necessary, update cash flow assumptions at least annually for non-participating traditional and limited-payment insurance contracts. The ASU also prescribes the discount rate to be used in measuring the liability for future policy benefits for traditional and limited payment long-duration contracts. 2. Measurement of Market Risk Benefits (“MRBs”). MRBs, as defined under the ASU, will encompass certain GMxB features associated with variable annuity products and other general account annuities with other than nominal market risk. 3. Amortization of deferred acquisition costs. The ASU simplifies the amortization of deferred acquisition costs and other balances amortized in proportion to premiums, gross profits, or gross margins, requiring such balances to be amortized on a constant level basis over the expected term of the contracts. 4. Expanded footnote disclosures. The ASU requires additional disclosures including information about significant inputs, judgements, assumptions and methods used in measurement.			On January 1, 2023, the Company adopted the new accounting standard ASU 2018-12 using the modified retrospective approach, except for MRBs which will use the full retrospective approach. Refer to “Transition impact of ASU 2018-12, Financial Services- Insurance (Topic 944): Targeted Improvements to the Accounting for Long-Duration Contracts” section within this note for further details.

Future Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements


Description	Effective Date and Method of Adoption	Effect on the Financial Statement or Other Significant Matters
ASU 2023-07: Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures
This ASU provides improvements to reportable segment disclosure requirements, primarily through enhanced disclosures about significant segment expenses. In addition, the amendments enhance interim disclosure requirements, clarify circumstances in which an entity can disclose multiple measures of segment profit or loss, provide new segment disclosure requirements for entities with a single reportable segment and contain other disclosure requirements.	The ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. A calendar year public entity will adopt the ASU for its 2024 Form 10-K. The ASU should be adopted retrospectively to all periods presented in the financial statements unless it is impracticable to do so.	The Company is currently assessing the additional required disclosures under the ASU including providing new segment disclosure requirements for entities with a single reportable segment. Management is evaluating the impact the adoption of this guidance will have on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
ASU 2023-09: Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures
The ASU enhanced existing income tax disclosures primarily related to the rate reconciliation and income taxes paid information. With regard to the improvements to disclosures of rate reconciliation, a public business entity is required on an annual basis to (1) disclose specific categories in the rate reconciliation and (2) provide additional information for reconciling items that meet a quantitative threshold. Similarly, a public entity is required to provide the amount of income taxes paid (net of refunds received) disaggregated by (1) federal, state, and foreign taxes and by(2) individual jurisdictions in which income taxes paid (net of refunds received) is equal to or greater than 5 percent of total income taxes paid (net of refunds received). The ASU also includes certain other amendments to improve the effectiveness of income tax disclosures, for example, an entity is required to provide (1) pretax income (or loss) from continuing operations disaggregated between domestic and foreign, and (2) income tax expense (or benefit) from continuing operations disaggregated by federal, state, and foreign.	The ASU will be effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. Entities are required to apply the ASU on a prospective basis.	The adoption of ASU 2023-09 is not expected to materially impact the Company’s financial position, results of operation, or cash flows.

Investments

The carrying values of fixed maturities classified as AFS are reported at fair value. Changes in fair value are reported in OCI, net of allowance for credit losses, policy related amounts and deferred income taxes. Changes in credit losses are recognized in Investment gains (losses), net. The redeemable preferred stock investments that are reported in fixed maturities include REIT, perpetual preferred stock and redeemable preferred stock. These securities may not have a stated maturity, may not be cumulative and do not provide for mandatory redemption by the issuer.

The Company determines the fair values of fixed maturities and equity securities based upon quoted prices in active markets, when available, or through the use of alternative approaches when market quotes are not readily accessible or available. These alternative approaches include matrix or model pricing and use of independent pricing services, each supported by reference to principal market trades or other observable market assumptions for similar securities. More specifically, the matrix pricing approach to fair value is a discounted cash flow methodology that incorporates market interest rates commensurate with the credit quality and duration of the investment. The Company’s management, with the assistance of its investment advisors, evaluates AFS debt securities that experienced a decline in fair value below amortized cost for credit losses which are evaluated in accordance with the new financial instruments credit losses guidance. Integral to this review is an assessment made each quarter, on a security-by-security basis, by the IUS Committee, of various indicators of credit deterioration to determine whether the investment security has experienced a credit loss. This assessment includes, but is not limited to, consideration of the severity of the unrealized loss, failure, if any, of the issuer of the security to make scheduled payments, actions taken by rating agencies, adverse conditions specifically related to the security or sector, and the financial strength, liquidity and continued viability of the issuer.

The Company recognizes an allowance for credit losses on AFS debt securities with a corresponding adjustment to earnings rather than a direct write down that reduces the cost basis of the investment, and credit losses are limited to the amount by which the security’s amortized cost basis exceeds its fair value. Any improvements in estimated credit losses on AFS debt securities are recognized immediately in earnings. Management does not use the length of time a security has been in an unrealized loss position as a factor, either by itself or in combination with other factors, to conclude that a credit loss does not exist.

When the Company determines that there is more than 50% likelihood that it is not going to recover the principal and interest cash flows related to an AFS debt security, the security is placed on nonaccrual status and the Company reverses accrued interest receivable against interest income. Since the nonaccrual policy results in a timely reversal of accrued interest receivable, the Company does not record an allowance for credit losses on accrued interest receivable.

If there is no intent to sell or likely requirement to dispose of the fixed maturity security before its recovery, only the credit loss component of any resulting allowance is recognized in income (loss) and the remainder of the fair value loss

is recognized in OCI. The amount of credit loss is the shortfall of the present value of the cash flows expected to be collected as compared to the amortized cost basis of the security. The present value is calculated by discounting management’s best estimate of projected future cash flows at the effective interest rate implicit in the debt security at the date of acquisition. Projections of future cash flows are based on assumptions regarding probability of default and estimates regarding the amount and timing of recoveries. These assumptions and estimates require use of management judgment and consider internal credit analyses as well as market observable data relevant to the collectability of the security. For mortgage and asset-backed securities, projected future cash flows also include assumptions regarding prepayments and underlying collateral value.

Write-offs of AFS debt securities are recorded when all or a portion of a financial asset is deemed uncollectible. Full or partial write-offs are recorded as reductions to the amortized cost basis of the AFS debt security and deducted from the allowance in the period in which the financial assets are deemed uncollectible. The Company elected to reverse accrued interest deemed uncollectible as a reversal of interest income. In instances where the Company collects cash that it has previously written off, the recovery will be recognized through earnings or as a reduction of the amortized cost basis for interest and principal, respectively.

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

Partnerships, investment companies and joint venture interests that the Company has control of and has an economic interest in or those that meet the requirements for consolidation under accounting guidance for consolidation of VIEs are consolidated. Those that the Company does not have control of and does not have a majority economic interest in and those that do not meet the VIE requirements for consolidation are reported on the equity method of accounting and are reported in other equity investments. The Company records its interests in certain of these partnerships on a month or one quarter lag.

Trading securities, which include equity securities and fixed maturities, are carried at fair value based on quoted market prices, with realized and unrealized gains (losses) reported in net investment income (loss) in the consolidated statements of income (loss).

The carrying values of certain fixed maturities are reported at fair value where the fair value option has been elected. The fair value option allows the Company to elect fair value as an alternative measurement for selected financial assets and financial liabilities not otherwise reported at fair value. Such elections have been made to help mitigate volatility in earnings that result from different measurement attributes. Electing the fair value option also allows the consistent accounting in net investment income (loss) for certain assets and liabilities. Changes in fair value of fixed maturities that have elected the fair value option are reflected in realized and unrealized gains (losses) reported in net investment income (loss) in the consolidated statements of income (loss).

Notes issued by consolidated variable interest entities represent notes issued by certain asset-backed investment vehicles, primarily CLOs, which we are required to consolidate. The creditors of these VIEs do not have recourse to the Company in excess of the assets contained within the VIEs. The Company has elected the fair value option for the majority of these notes and has based the fair value on the corresponding debt security collateral. Changes in fair value are reported in net investment income (loss).

COLI has been purchased by the Company and certain subsidiaries on the lives of certain key employees and the Company and these subsidiaries are named as beneficiaries under these policies. COLI is carried at the cash surrender value of the policies. As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the carrying value of COLI was $921 million and $886 million, respectively, and is reported in other invested assets in the consolidated balance sheets.

Cash and cash equivalents includes cash on hand, demand deposits, money market accounts, overnight commercial paper and highly liquid debt instruments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less. Due to the short-term nature of these investments, the recorded value is deemed to approximate fair value. Cash and securities segregated primarily includes U.S. Treasury Bills segregated by AB in a special reserve bank custody account for the exclusive benefit of its brokerage customers under Rule 15c3-3 of the Exchange Act.

Securities Sold under Agreements to Repurchase

Securities sold under agreements to repurchase involve the temporary exchange of securities for cash or other collateral of equivalent value, with agreement to redeliver a like quantity of the same or similar securities at a future date prior to maturity at a fixed and determinable price. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase transactions are conducted by the Company under a standardized securities industry master agreement, amended to suit the requirements of each respective counterparty. Transfers of securities under these agreements to repurchase are evaluated by the Company to determine whether they satisfy the criteria for accounting treatment as secured borrowing arrangements. Agreements not meeting the criteria would require recognition of the transferred securities as sales with related forward repurchase commitments. All of the Company’s securities repurchase transactions are accounted for as secured borrowings with the related obligations distinctly captioned in the consolidated balance sheets on a gross basis.

Securities Lending Program

The Company enters into securities lending transactions whereby securities are loaned to third parties, primarily major brokerage firms. Securities lending transactions are treated as financing arrangements and the associated liability is recorded as the amount of cash received. Income and expenses associated with securities lending transactions are reported within net investment income in the consolidated statements of income (loss).

Derivatives

Derivatives are financial instruments whose values are derived from interest rates, foreign exchange rates, financial indices, values of securities or commodities, credit spreads, market volatility, expected returns and liquidity. Values can also be affected by changes in estimates and assumptions, including those related to counterparty behavior and non-performance risk used in valuation models. Derivative financial instruments generally used by the Company include equity, currency, and interest rate futures, total return and/or other equity swaps, interest rate swaps and floors, swaptions, variance swaps and equity options, all of which may be exchange-traded or contracted in the OTC market. All derivative positions are carried in the consolidated balance sheets at fair value, generally by obtaining quoted market prices or through the use of valuation models.

Freestanding derivative contracts are reported in the consolidated balance sheets either as assets within “other invested assets” or as liabilities within “other liabilities.” The Company nets the fair value of all derivative financial instruments with counterparties for which an ISDA Master Agreement and related CSA have been executed. All changes in the fair value of the Company’s freestanding derivative positions not designated to hedge accounting relationships, including net receipts and payments, are included in “net derivative gains (losses)” without considering changes in the fair value of the economically associated assets or liabilities.

The Company has designated certain derivatives it uses to economically manage asset/liability risk in relationships which qualify for hedge accounting. To qualify for hedge accounting, we formally document our designation at inception of the hedge relationship as a cash flow, fair value or net investment hedge. This documentation includes our risk management objective and strategy for undertaking the hedging transaction. The Company identifies how the hedging instrument is expected to offset the designated risks related to the hedged item and the method that will be used to retrospectively and prospectively assess the hedge effectiveness. To qualify for hedge accounting, a hedging instrument must be assessed as being highly effective in offsetting the designated risk of the hedged item. Hedge effectiveness is formally assessed and documented at inception and periodically throughout the life of the hedge accounting relationship.

The Company does not exclude any components of the hedging instrument from the effectiveness assessments and therefore does not separately measure or account for any excluded components of the hedging instrument.

While in cash flow hedge relationships, any periodic net receipts and payments from the hedging instrument are included in the income or expense line that the hedged item’s periodic income or expense is recognized. Other changes in the fair value of the hedging instrument while in a cash flow hedging relationship are reported within OCI. These amounts are deferred in AOCI until they are reclassified to Net income (loss). The reclassified amount offsets the effect of the cash flows on Net income (loss) in the same period when the hedged item affects earnings and on the same line as the hedged item.

We discontinue cash flow hedge accounting prospectively when the Company determines: (1) the hedging instrument is no longer highly effective in offsetting changes in the cash flow from the hedged risk, (2) the hedged item is no longer probable of occurring within two months of their forecast, or (3) the hedging instrument is otherwise

redesignated from the hedging relationship. Changes in the fair value of the derivative after discontinuation of cash flow hedge accounting are accounted for as freestanding derivative positions not designated to hedge accounting relationships unless and until the derivative is redesignated to a hedge accounting relationship. When cash flow hedge accounting is discontinued the amounts deferred in AOCI during the hedge relationship continue to be deferred in AOCI, as long as the hedged items continue to be probable of occurring within two months of their forecast, until the hedged item affects Net income (loss). Any amount deferred in AOCI for hedged items which are no longer probable of occurring within two months of their forecast will be reclassified to “net derivative gains (losses)” at that time.

The Company is a party to financial instruments and other contracts that contain “embedded” derivative instruments. At inception, the Company assesses whether the economic characteristics of the embedded instrument are “clearly and closely related” to the economic characteristics of the remaining component of the “host contract” and whether a separate instrument with the same terms as the embedded instrument would meet the definition of a derivative instrument. Once those criteria are met the resulting embedded derivative is bifurcated from the host contract, carried in the consolidated balance sheets at fair value, and changes in its fair value are recognized immediately and captioned in the consolidated statements of income (loss) according to the nature of the related host contract. For certain financial instruments that contain an embedded derivative that otherwise would need to be bifurcated and reported at fair value, the Company instead may elect to carry the entire instrument at fair value.

Mortgage Loans on Real Estate

The Company invests in commercial, agricultural and residential mortgage loans which are included in the consolidated balance sheets as mortgage loans on real estate. Mortgage loans are stated at unpaid principal balances, net of unamortized discounts and the allowance for credit losses. The Company calculates the allowance for credit losses in accordance with the CECL model in order to provide for the risk of credit losses in the lending process.

Expected credit losses for loans with similar risk characteristics are estimated on a collective (i.e., pool) basis in order to meet CECL’s risk of loss concept which requires the Company to consider possibilities of loss, even if remote.

For collectively evaluated mortgages, the Company estimates the allowance for credit losses based on the amortized cost basis of its mortgages over their expected life using a PD / LGD model. The PD / LGD model incorporates the Company’s reasonable and supportable forecast of macroeconomic information over a specified period. The length of the reasonable and supportable forecast period is reassessed on a quarterly basis and may be adjusted as appropriate over time to be consistent with macroeconomic conditions and the environment as of the reporting date. For periods beyond the reasonable and supportable forecast period, the model reverts to historical loss information. The PD and LGD are estimated at the loan-level based on loans’ current and forecasted risk characteristics as well as macroeconomic forecasts. The PD is estimated using both macroeconomic conditions as well as individual loan risk characteristics including LTV ratios, DSC ratios, DTI ratio, seasoning, collateral type, geography, and underlying credit. The LGD is driven primarily by the type and value of collateral, and secondarily by expected liquidation costs and time to recovery.

For individually evaluated mortgages, the Company continues to recognize a valuation allowance on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s original effective interest rate or on its collateral value.

The CECL model is configured to the Company’s specifications and takes into consideration the detailed risk attributes of each discrete loan in the mortgage portfolio which will vary by loan type, but are not limited to the following:

•LTV ratio – Derived from current loan balance divided by the fair market value of the property. An LTV ratio in excess of 100% indicates an underwater mortgage.

•DSC ratio – Derived from actual operating earnings divided by annual debt service. If the ratio is below 1.0x, then the income from the property does not support the debt.

•DTI ratio - Is used for residential mortgage loans to assess a borrower’s ability to repay a loan. DTI ratio is derived by adding up all of the borrower’s debt payments and dividing that sum by the borrower’s gross monthly income.

•Consumer Credit Score - Is used for residential mortgage loans to determine the borrower’s credit worthiness and eligibility for a residential loan based upon credit reports.

•Occupancy – Criteria varies by property type but low or below market occupancy is an indicator of sub-par property performance.

•Lease expirations – The percentage of leases expiring in the upcoming 12 to 36 months are monitored as a decline in rent and/or occupancy may negatively impact the debt service coverage ratio. In the case of single-tenant properties or properties with large tenant exposure, the lease expiration is a material risk factor.

•Other – Any other factors such as maturity, borrower/tenant related issues, payment status, property condition, or current economic conditions may call into question the performance of the loan.

Mortgage loans that do not share similar risk characteristics with other loans in the portfolio are individually evaluated quarterly by the Company’s IUS Committee. The allowance for credit losses on these individually evaluated mortgages is a loan-specific reserve as a result of the loan review process that is recorded based on the present value of expected future cash flows discounted at the loan’s effective interest rate or based on the fair value of the collateral. The individually assessed allowance for mortgage loans can increase or decrease from period to period based on such factors.

Individually assessed loans may include, but are not limited to, mortgages that have deteriorated in credit quality such as a TDR and reasonably expected TDRs, mortgages for which foreclosure is probable, and mortgages which have been classified as “potential problem” or “problem” loans within the Company’s IUS Committee processes as described below.

Within the IUS process, commercial mortgages 60 days or more past due and agricultural and residential mortgages 90 days or more past due, as well as all mortgages in the process of foreclosure, are identified as problem mortgage loans. Based on its monthly monitoring of mortgages, a class of potential problem mortgage loans are also identified, consisting of mortgage loans not currently classified as problem mortgage loans but for which management has doubts as to the ability of the borrower to comply with the present loan payment terms and which may result in the loan becoming a problem or being modified. The decision whether to classify a performing mortgage loan as a potential problem involves judgments by management as to likely future industry conditions and developments with respect to the borrower or the individual mortgaged property.

Individually assessed mortgage loans without provision for losses are mortgage loans where the fair value of the collateral or the net present value of the expected future cash flows related to the loan equals or exceeds the recorded investment. Interest income earned on mortgage loans where the collateral value is used to measure impairment is recorded on a cash basis. Interest income on mortgage loans where the present value method is used to measure impairment is accrued on the net carrying value amount of the loan at the interest rate used to discount the cash flows.

Mortgage loans are placed on nonaccrual status once management believes the collection of accrued interest is not probable. Once mortgage loans are classified as nonaccrual mortgage loans, interest income is recognized under the cash basis of accounting and the resumption of the interest accrual would commence only after all past due interest has been collected or the mortgage loan has been restructured to where the collection of interest is considered likely. The Company charges off loan balances and accrued interest that are deemed uncollectible.

The components of amortized cost for mortgage loans on the consolidated balance sheets excludes accrued interest amounts because the Company presents accrued interest receivables within other assets. Once mortgage loans are placed on nonaccrual status, the Company reverses accrued interest receivable against interest income. Since the nonaccrual policy results in the timely reversal of accrued interest receivable, the Company does not record an allowance for credit losses on accrued interest receivable.

Held-for-Sale

The Company classifies assets and liabilities (“disposal group”) as held-for-sale when the specified criteria in Accounting Standards Codification 360, Property, Plant and Equipment, are met. Assets and liabilities held-for-sale are presented separately within the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Depreciation of property, plant and equipment and amortization of intangible and right-of-use assets are not recorded while these assets are classified as held-for-sale. If, in any period, the carrying value of the disposal group exceeds the estimated fair value, less costs to sell, an impairment loss will be recognized.

Troubled Debt Restructuring

The investment the Company makes in commercial, agricultural and residential mortgage loans are included in the consolidated balance sheets as mortgage loans on real estate. The investments the Company makes in privately negotiated fixed maturities are included in the consolidated balance sheets as fixed maturities AFS. Under certain

circumstances, modifications are granted to these contracts. Each modification is evaluated as to whether a TDR has occurred. A modification is a TDR when the borrower is in financial difficulty and the creditor makes concessions. Generally, the types of concessions may include reducing the face amount or maturity amount of the debt as originally stated, reducing the contractual interest rate, extending the maturity date at an interest rate lower than current market interest rates and/or reducing accrued interest. The Company considers the amount, timing and extent of the concession granted in determining any impairment or changes in the specific credit allowance recorded in connection with the TDR. A credit allowance may have been recorded prior to the period when the loan is modified in a TDR. Accordingly, the carrying value (net of the allowance) before and after modification through a TDR may not change significantly, or may increase if the expected recovery is higher than the pre-modification recovery assessment.

Net Investment Income (Loss), Investment Gains (Losses) Net and Unrealized Investment Gains (Losses)

Realized investment gains (losses) are determined by identification with the specific asset and are presented as a component of revenue. Changes in the allowance for credit losses are included in investment gains (losses), net.

Realized and unrealized holding gains (losses) on trading and equity securities are reflected in net investment income (loss).

Unrealized investment gains (losses) on fixed maturities designated as AFS held by the Company are accounted for as a separate component of AOCI, net of related deferred income taxes, as are amounts attributable to certain pension operations, Closed Block’s policyholders’ dividend obligation, insurance liability loss recognition, DAC related to UL policies, investment-type products and participating traditional life policies.

Changes in unrealized gains (losses) reflect changes in fair value of only those fixed maturities classified as AFS and do not reflect any change in fair value of policyholders’ account balances and future policy benefits.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

See Note 8 of the Notes to these Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding determining the fair value of financial instruments.

Recognition of Insurance Income and Related Expenses

Deposits related to UL and investment-type contracts are reported as deposits to policyholders’ account balances. Revenues from these contracts consist of fees assessed during the period against policyholders’ account balances for mortality charges, policy administration charges and surrender charges. Policy benefits and claims that are charged to expense include benefit claims incurred in the period in excess of related policyholders’ account balances.

DAC

Acquisition costs that vary with and are primarily related to the acquisition of new and renewal insurance business, reflecting incremental direct costs of contract acquisition with independent third parties or employees that are essential to the contract transaction, as well as the portion of employee compensation, including employee fringe benefits and other costs directly related to underwriting, policy issuance and processing, medical inspection, and contract selling for successfully negotiated contracts including commissions, underwriting, agency and policy issue expenses, are deferred.

Contracts are measured on a grouped basis utilizing cohorts consistent with those used in the calculation of future policy benefit reserves. DAC is amortized on a constant level basis for the grouped contracts over the expected term of the contract. For life insurance products, DAC is amortized in proportion to the face amount in force. For annuity products DAC is amortized in proportion to policy counts. The constant level basis used for amortization determines the current period amortization considering both the current period’s actual experience and future projections. The amortization pattern is revised quarterly on a prospective basis. Amortization of DAC is included in Amortization of DAC, part of total benefits and other deductions.

For some products, policyholders can elect to modify product benefits, features, rights or coverages that occur by the exchange of a contract for a new contract, or by amendment, endorsement, or rider to a contract, or by election or coverage within a contract. These transactions are known as internal replacements. If such modification substantially changes the contract, the associated DAC is written off immediately through income and any new acquisition costs associated with the replacement contract are deferred.

Amount due to and from Reinsurers

For each of its reinsurance agreements, the Company determines whether the agreement provides indemnification against loss or liability relating to insurance risk in accordance with applicable accounting standards. Cessions under reinsurance agreements do not discharge the Company’s obligations as the primary insurer. The Company reviews all

contractual features, including those that may limit the amount of insurance risk to which the reinsurer is subject or features that delay the timely reimbursement of claims.

For reinsurance of existing in-force blocks of long-duration contracts that transfer significant insurance risk, the difference, if any, between the amounts paid (received), and the liabilities ceded (assumed) related to the underlying contracts is considered the net cost of reinsurance at the inception of the reinsurance agreement. Subsequent amounts paid (received) on the reinsurance of in-force blocks, as well as amounts paid (received) related to new business, are recorded as premiums ceded (assumed); and amounts due from reinsurers (amounts due to reinsurers) are established.

Assets and liabilities relating to reinsurance agreements with the same reinsurer may be recorded net on the balance sheet if a right of offset exists within the reinsurance agreement. In the event that reinsurers do not meet their obligations to the Company under the terms of the reinsurance agreements, reinsurance recoverable balances could become uncollectible. In such instances, reinsurance recoverable balances are stated net of allowances for uncollectible reinsurance.

Premiums, policy charges and fee income, and policyholders’ benefits include amounts assumed under reinsurance agreements and are net of reinsurance ceded. Amounts received from reinsurers for policy administration are reported in other revenues.

For reinsurance contracts, reinsurance recoverable balances are generally calculated using methodologies and assumptions that are consistent with those used to calculate the direct liabilities.

Ceded reinsurance transactions are recognized and measured in a manner consistent with underlying reinsured contracts, including using consistent assumptions. Assumed and ceded reinsurance contract rights and obligations are accounted for on a basis consistent with our direct contract. The reinsurance cost or benefit for traditional life non-participating and limited-payment contracts is recognized in proportion to the Gross Premiums of the underlying direct cohorts. The locked-in single A discount rate used to calculate the reinsurance cost or benefit is established at inception of the reinsurance contract. Changes to the single A discount rate are reflected in comprehensive income at each reporting date.

If the Company determines that a reinsurance agreement does not expose the reinsurer to a reasonable possibility of a significant loss from insurance risk, the Company records the agreement using the deposit method of accounting. Deposits received are included in other liabilities and deposits made are included within other assets. As amounts are paid or received, consistent with the underlying contracts, the deposit assets or liabilities are adjusted. Interest on such deposits is recorded as other income or other operating costs and expenses, as appropriate.

Sales Inducement Assets

Sales inducement assets are offered on certain deferred annuity products in the form of either immediate bonus interest credited or enhanced interest crediting rates for a period of time. The interest crediting expense associated with these sales inducement assets is deferred and amortized over the lives of the underlying contracts in a manner consistent with the amortization of DAC. Unamortized balances are included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets and amortization is included in interest credited to policyholders’ account balances in the consolidated statements of income (loss).

Policyholders’ Account Balances, Future Policy Benefits and Other Policyholders’ Liabilities and Market Risk Benefits

Policyholders’ Account Balances

Policyholders’ account balances relate to contracts or contract features where the Company has no significant insurance risk. This liability represents the contract value that has accrued to the benefit of the policyholder as of the balance sheet date.

Obligations arising from funding agreements are also reported in policyholders’ account balances in the consolidated balance sheets. As a member of the FHLB, the Company has access to collateralized borrowings. The Company may also issue funding agreements to the FHLB. Both the collateralized borrowings and funding agreements would require the Company to pledge qualified mortgage-backed assets and/or government securities as collateral.

Future Policy Benefits and Other Policyholders’ Liabilities

The liability for future policy benefits is estimated based upon the present value of future policy benefits and related claim expenses less the present value of estimated future net premiums where net premium equals gross premium under the contract multiplied by the net premium ratio. Related claim expenses include termination and settlement costs and exclude acquisition costs and non-claim related costs. The liability is estimated using current assumptions that include discount rate, mortality, and lapses. Assumptions are based on judgments that consider the Company’s historical experience, industry data, and other factors.

For participating traditional life insurance policies, future policy benefit liabilities are calculated using a net level premium method based on guaranteed mortality and dividend fund interest rates. The liability for annual dividends represents the accrual of annual dividends earned. Terminal dividends are accrued in proportion to face amount over the life of the contract.

For non-participating traditional life insurance policies (Term) and limited pay contracts (Payout, Pension), contracts are grouped into cohorts by contract type and issue year. The Company quarterly updates its estimate of cash flows using actual experience and current future cash flow assumptions, which is reflected in an updated net premium ratio used to calculate the liability. The ratio of actual and future expected claims to actual and future expected premiums determines the net premium ratio. The policy administration expense assumption is not updated after policy issuance. If actual expenses differ from the original expense assumptions, the differences are recognized in the period identified. The revised net premium ratio is used to determine the updated liability for future policy benefits as of the beginning of the reporting period, discounted at the original contract issuance rate. Changes in the liability due to current discount rates differing from original rates are included in other comprehensive income within the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

For non-participating traditional life insurance policies and limited pay contracts, the discount rate assumption used is corporate A rated forward curve. We use a forward curve based upon a Bloomberg index. The liability is remeasured each quarter with the remeasurement change reported in other comprehensive income. The locked-in discount rate is generally based on expected investment returns at contract inception for contracts issued prior to January 1, 2021 and the upper medium grade fixed income corporate instrument yield (i.e., single A) at contract inception for contracts issued after January 1, 2021. The Company developed an LDTI discount rate methodology used to calculate the LFPB for its traditional insurance liabilities and constructed a discount rate curve that references upper-medium grade (low credit risk) fixed-income instrument yields (i.e. Single-A rated Corporate bond yields) which are meant to reflect the duration characteristics of the corresponding insurance liabilities. The methodology uses observable market data, where available, and uses various estimation techniques in line with fair value guidance (such as interpolation and extrapolation) where data is limited. Discount rates are updated quarterly.

For limited-payment products, Gross Premiums received in excess of net premiums are deferred at initial recognition as a deferred profit liability (“DPL”). DPL will be amortized in relation to the expected future benefit payments. As the calculation of the DPL is based on discounted cash flows, interest accrues on the unamortized DPL balance using the discount rate determined at contract issuance. The DPL is updated at the same time as the estimates for cash flows for the liability for future policy benefits. Any difference between the recalculated and beginning of period DPL is recognized in remeasurement gain or loss in the consolidated statements of income (loss), Remeasurement of Liability for Future Policy Benefits, part of total benefits and other deductions. On the consolidated balance sheets the DPL is recorded in the liability for future policy benefits.

Additional liabilities for contract or contract feature that provide for additional benefits in addition to the account balance but are not market risk benefits or embedded derivatives (“additional insurance liabilities”) are established by estimating the expected value of death or other insurance benefits in excess of the projected contract accumulation value and recognizing the excess over the estimated life based on expected assessments (i.e., benefit ratio). The liability equals the current benefit ratio multiplied by cumulative assessments recognized to date, plus interest, less cumulative excess payments to date. These reserves are recorded within future policy benefits and other policyholders’ liabilities. The determination of this estimated future policy benefits liability is based on models that involve numerous assumptions and subjective judgments, including those regarding expected market rates of return and volatility, contract surrender and withdrawal rates, and mortality experience. There can be no assurance that actual experience will be consistent with management’s estimates. Assumptions are reviewed annually and updated with the remeasurement gain or loss reflected in total benefit expense.

The Company recognizes an adjustment in other comprehensive income for the additional insurance liabilities for unrealized gains and losses not included when calculating the present value of expected assessments for the benefit ratios.

The Company conducts annual premium deficiency testing except for liability for future policy benefits for non-participating traditional and limited payment contracts. The Company reviews assumptions and determines whether the sum of existing liabilities and the present value of future Gross Premiums is sufficient to cover the present value of future benefits to be paid and settlement costs. Anticipated investment income is considered when performing premium deficiency for long duration contracts. The anticipated investment income is projected based on current investment portfolio returns grading to long term reinvestment rates over the projection periods, based on anticipated gross reinvestment spreads, defaults and investment expenses. Premium deficiency reserves are recorded in certain instances where the policyholder liability for a particular line of business may not be deficient in the aggregate to trigger loss recognition, but the pattern of earnings may be such that profits are expected to be recognized in earlier years followed by losses in later years. This pattern of profits followed by losses is exhibited in our VISL business and is generated by the cost structure of the product or secondary guarantees in the contract. The secondary guarantee ensures that, subject to specified conditions, the policy will not terminate and will continue to provide a death benefit even if there is insufficient policy value to cover the monthly deductions and charges. We accrue for these PFBL using a dynamic approach that changes over time as the projection of future losses change.

Market Risk Benefits

Market risk benefits (“MRBs”) are contracts or contract features that provide protection to the contract holder from other than nominal capital market risk and expose the Company to other than nominal capital market risk. Market risk benefits include contract features that provide minimum guarantees to policyholders and include GMIB, GMDB, GMWB, GMAB, and ROP DB benefits. MRBs are identified and measured at fair value on a seriatim basis using an ascribed fee approach based upon policyholder behavior projections and risk neutral economic scenarios adjusted based on the facts and circumstances of the Company’s product features. The MRB Asset and MRB Liability will be equal to the estimated present value of benefits and risk margins less the estimated present value of ascribed fees. Ascribed fees will consist of the fee needed at policy inception date, under a stochastically generated set of risk-neutral scenarios, so that the present value of claims, including any risk charge, is equal to the present value of the projected attributed fees which will be capped at estimated present value of total policyholder contractual fees. The attributed fee percentage is considered a fixed term of the MRB feature and is held static over the life of the contract. Discount rates are updated quarterly. Changes in fair value are recognized as a remeasurement gain/loss in the Change in market risk benefits and purchased market risk benefits, part of total benefits and other deductions except for the portion of the change in the fair value due to change in the Company’s own credit risk, which is recognized in other than comprehensive income. Additionally, when an annuitization occurs (for annuitization benefits) or upon extinguishment of the account balance (for withdrawal benefits) the balance related to the MRB will be derecognized and the amount deducted (after derecognition of any related amount included in accumulated other comprehensive income) shall be used in the calculation of the liability for future policy benefits for the payout annuity. Upon derecognition, any related balance will be removed from AOCI.

The Company has issued and continues to offer certain variable annuity products with GMDB and/or contain a GMLB (collectively, the “GMxB features”) which, if elected by the policyholder after a stipulated waiting period from contract issuance, guarantees a minimum lifetime annuity based on predetermined annuity purchase rates that may be in excess of what the contract account value can purchase at then-current annuity purchase rates. This minimum lifetime annuity is based on predetermined annuity purchase rates applied to a GMIB base. The Company previously issued certain variable annuity products with GMIB, GWBL, GMWB, and GMAB features. The Company has also assumed reinsurance for products with GMxB features.

Features in ceded reinsurance contracts that meet the definition of MRBs are accounted for at fair value as a purchased MRB. The fees used to determine the fair value of the reinsured market risk benefit are those defined in the reinsurance contract. The expected periodic future premiums would represent cash outflows and the expected future benefits would represent cash inflows in the fair value calculation. On the ceded side, the Purchased MRB will be measured considering the counterparty credit risk of the reinsurer, while the direct contract liabilities will be measured considering the instrument-specific credit risk of the insurer. As a result of the difference in the treatment of the counterparty credit risk, the fair value of the direct and ceded contracts may be different even if the contractual fees and benefits are the same. Changes in instrument-specific credit risk of the Company is included in the fair value of its market risk benefit, whether in an asset or liability position, and whether related to an issued or purchased MRB, is

recognized in OCI. The counterparty credit risk of the reinsurer is recorded in the consolidated statements of income (loss).

Policyholders’ Dividends

The amount of policyholders’ dividends to be paid (including dividends on policies included in the Closed Block) is determined annually by the board of directors of the issuing insurance company. The aggregate amount of policyholders’ dividends is related to actual interest, mortality, morbidity and expense experience for the year and judgment as to the appropriate level of statutory surplus to be retained by the Company.

Separate Accounts

Generally, Separate Accounts established under New York State and Arizona State Insurance Law are not chargeable with liabilities that arise from any other business of the Company. Separate Accounts assets are subject to General Account claims only to the extent Separate Accounts assets exceed Separate Accounts liabilities. Assets and liabilities of the Separate Account represent the net deposits and accumulated net investment earnings (loss) less fees, held primarily for the benefit of policyholders, and for which the Company does not bear the investment risk. Separate Accounts assets and liabilities are shown on separate lines in the consolidated balance sheets. Assets held in Separate Accounts are reported at quoted market values or, where quoted values are not readily available or accessible for these securities, their fair value measures most often are determined through the use of model pricing that effectively discounts prospective cash flows to present value using appropriate sector-adjusted credit spreads commensurate with the security’s duration, also taking into consideration issuer-specific credit quality and liquidity. Investment performance (including investment income, net investment gains (losses) and changes in unrealized gains (losses)) and the corresponding amounts credited to policyholders of such Separate Accounts are offset within the same line in the consolidated statements of income (loss).

Deposits to Separate Accounts are reported as increases in Separate Accounts assets and liabilities and are not reported in the consolidated statements of income (loss). Mortality, policy administration and surrender charges on all policies including those funded by Separate Accounts are included in revenues.

The Company reports the General Account’s interests in Separate Accounts as trading securities, at fair value, in the consolidated balance sheets.

Leases

The Company does not record leases with an initial term of 12 months or less in its consolidated balance sheets, but instead recognizes lease expense for these leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term. For leases with a term greater than one year, the Company records in its consolidated balance sheets at the time of lease commencement or modification a RoU operating lease asset and a lease liability, initially measured at the present value of the lease payments. Lease costs are recognized in the consolidated statements of income (loss) over the lease term on a straight-line basis. RoU operating lease assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and RoU operating lease liabilities represent the Company’s obligation to make lease payments arising from the lease.

Broker-Dealer Revenues, Receivables and Payables

Equitable Advisors and certain of the Company’s other subsidiaries provide investment management, brokerage and distribution services for affiliates and third parties. Third-party revenues earned from these services are reported in other income in the Company’s consolidated statement of income (loss).

Receivables from and payables to clients include amounts due on cash and margin transactions. Securities owned by customers are held as collateral for receivables; such collateral is not reflected in the consolidated financial statements.

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill recorded by the Company represents the excess of purchase price over the estimated fair value of identifiable net assets of companies acquired in a business combination and relates principally to the acquisition of SCB Inc., an investment research and management company formerly known as Sanford C. Bernstein Inc. (“Bernstein Acquisition”), the purchase of AB Units, and AB’s acquisition of CarVal on July 1, 2022. The Company tests goodwill for recoverability each annual reporting period at December 31 and at interim periods if facts or circumstances are indicative of potential impairment.

The Company uses a market valuation approach. Under the market valuation approach, the fair value of the reporting unit is based on its adjusted market valuation assuming a control premium. The Company determined that this valuation technique provided a more exact determination of fair value for the reporting unit and was applied during its annual testing for goodwill recoverability at December 31, 2023 and 2022.

The Company’s intangible assets primarily relate to AB’s acquisition of CarVal and reflect amounts assigned to acquired investment management contracts based on their estimated fair values at the time of acquisition, less accumulated amortization. These intangible assets generally are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful life, ranging from six to twenty years. All intangible assets are periodically reviewed for impairment as events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. If the carrying value exceeds fair value, impairment tests are performed to measure the amount of the impairment loss, if any.

Deferred Sales Commissions, Net

Commissions paid to financial intermediaries in connection with the sale of shares of open-end AB sponsored mutual funds sold without a front-end sales charge (“back-end load shares”) are capitalized as deferred sales commissions and amortized over periods not exceeding five and one-half years for U.S. fund shares and four years for non-U.S. fund shares, the periods of time during which the deferred sales commissions are generally recovered. These commissions are recovered from distribution services fees received from those funds and from CDSC received from shareholders of those funds upon the redemption of their shares. CDSC cash recoveries are recorded as reductions of unamortized deferred sales commissions when received. Since January 31, 2009, AB sponsored U.S. mutual funds have not offered back-end load shares to new investors.

Management periodically reviews the deferred sales commission asset for impairment as events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. If these factors indicate impairment in value, a comparison is made of the carrying value to the undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the asset over its remaining life. If it is determined the deferred sales commission asset is not fully recoverable, the asset will be deemed impaired and a loss will be recorded in the amount by which the recorded amount of the asset exceeds its estimated fair value.

Capitalized Computer Software and Hosting Arrangements

Capitalized computer software and hosting arrangements include certain internal and external costs used to implement internal-use software and cloud computing hosting arrangements. These capitalized computer costs are included in other assets in the consolidated balance sheets and amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the software or term of the hosting arrangement that ranges between three and five years. Capitalized amounts are periodically tested for impairment in accordance with the guidance on impairment of long-lived assets. An immediate charge to earnings is recognized if capitalized computer costs no longer are deemed to be recoverable. In addition, service potential is periodically reassessed to determine whether facts and circumstances have compressed the software’s useful life or a significant change in the term of the hosting arrangement such that acceleration of amortization over a shorter period than initially determined would be required.

Short-term and Long-term Debt

Liabilities for short-term and long-term debt are primarily carried at an amount equal to unpaid principal balance, net of unamortized discount or premium and debt issue costs. Original-issue discount or premium and debt-issue costs are recognized as a component of interest expense over the period the debt is expected to be outstanding, using the interest

method of amortization. Interest expense is generally presented within interest expense in the consolidated statements of income (loss). Short-term debt represents debt coming due in the next twelve months, including that portion of debt otherwise classified as long-term.

Income Taxes

The Company and certain of its consolidated subsidiaries and affiliates file a consolidated federal income tax return. The Company provides for federal and state income taxes currently payable, as well as those deferred due to temporary differences between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities. Current federal income taxes are charged or credited to operations based upon amounts estimated to be payable or recoverable as a result of taxable operations for the current year. Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized based on the difference between financial statement carrying amounts and income tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted income tax rates and laws. Valuation allowances are established when management determines, based on available information, that it is more likely than not that deferred tax assets will not be realized.

Under accounting for uncertainty in income taxes guidance, the Company determines whether it is more likely than not that a tax position will be sustained upon examination by the appropriate taxing authorities before any part of the benefit can be recorded in the consolidated financial statements. Tax positions are then measured at the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon settlement.

ABLP is a private partnership for federal income tax purposes and, accordingly, is not subject to federal and state corporate income taxes. However, ABLP is subject to a 4.0% New York City unincorporated business tax. AB Holding is subject to a 3.5% federal tax on partnership gross income from the active conduct of a trade or business. Domestic corporate subsidiaries of AB are subject to federal, state and local income taxes. Foreign corporate subsidiaries are generally subject to taxes in the foreign jurisdictions where they are located.

Recognition of Investment Management and Service Fees and Related Expenses

Investment management, advisory and service fees

Investment management and service fees principally include the Investment Management and Research segment’s investment advisory and service fees, distribution revenues and institutional research services revenue. Investment advisory and service base fees, generally calculated as a percentage, referred to as BPs, of assets under management, are recorded as revenue as the related services are performed. Certain investment advisory contracts, including those associated with hedge funds, provide for a performance-based fee, in addition to or in lieu of a base fee which is calculated as either a percentage of absolute investment results or a percentage of the investment results in excess of a stated benchmark over a specified period of time.

Investment management and administrative service fees are also earned by EIM and EIMG and reported in the Individual Retirement, Group Retirement, Protection Solutions and Legacy segments as well as certain asset-based fees associated with insurance contracts.

AB provides asset management services by managing customer assets and seeking to deliver returns to investors. Similarly, EIM and EIMG provides investment management and administrative services, such as fund accounting and compliance services, to EQAT and 1290 Funds as well as two private investment trusts established in the Cayman Islands, AXA Allocation Funds Trust and AXA Offshore Multimanager Funds Trust (collectively, the “Other AXA Trusts”). The contracts supporting these revenue streams create a distinct, separately identifiable performance obligation for each day the assets are managed for the performance of a series of services that are substantially the same and have the same pattern of transfer to the customer. Accordingly, these investment management, advisory, and administrative service base fees are recorded over time as services are performed and entitle the Company to variable consideration. Base fees, generally calculated as a percentage of AUM, are recognized as revenue at month-end when the transaction price no longer is variable and the value of the consideration is determined. These fees are not subject to claw back and there is minimal probability that a significant reversal of the revenue recorded will occur.

Certain investment advisory contracts of AB, including those associated with hedge funds or other alternative investments, provide for a performance-based fee (including carried interest), in addition to a base advisory fee, calculated either as a percentage of absolute investment results or a percentage of investment results in excess of a stated benchmark over a specified period of time. These performance-based fees are forms of variable consideration and, therefore, are excluded from the transaction price until it becomes probable there will not be significant reversal of the cumulative revenue recognized. At each reporting date, the Company evaluates constraining factors surrounding

the variable consideration to determine the extent to which, if any, revenues associated with the performance-based fee can be recognized. Constraining factors impacting the amount of variable consideration included in the transaction price include contractual claw-back provisions, the length of time of the uncertainty, the number and range of possible amounts, the probability of significant fluctuations in the fund’s market value and the level in which the fund’s value exceeds the contractual threshold required to earn such a fee and the materiality of the amount being evaluated.

Sub-advisory and sub-administrative expenses associated with these services are calculated and recorded as the related services are performed in other operating costs and expense in the consolidated statements of income (loss) as the Company is acting in a principal capacity in these transactions and, as such, reflects these revenues and expenses on a gross basis.

Research services

Research services revenue principally consists of brokerage transaction charges received by SCB LLC, SCBL and AB’s other sell side subsidiaries for providing equity research services to institutional clients. Brokerage commissions for trade execution services and related expenses may be used to pay for equity research services in accordance with Section 28(e) of the Exchange Act and are recorded on a trade-date basis when the performance obligations are satisfied. Generally, the transaction price is agreed upon at the point of each trade and based upon the number of shares traded or the value of the consideration traded. Research revenues are recognized when the transaction price is quantified, collectability is assured and significant reversal of such revenue is not probable.

Distribution services

Revenues from distribution services include fees received as partial reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with the sale of certain AB sponsored mutual funds and the 1290 Funds and for the distribution primarily of EQAT Trust shares to separate accounts in connection with the sale of variable life and annuity contracts. The amount and timing of revenues recognized from performance of these distribution services often is dependent upon the contractual arrangements with the customer and the specific product sold as further described below.

Most open-end management investment companies, such as U.S. funds and the EQAT and the 1290 Funds, have adopted a plan under Rule 12b-1 of the Investment Company Act that allows for certain share classes to pay out of assets, distribution and service fees for the distribution and sale of its shares (“12b-1 Fees”). These open-end management investment companies have such agreements with the Company, and the Company has selling and distribution agreements pursuant to which it pays sales commissions to the financial intermediaries that distribute the shares. These agreements may be terminated by either party upon notice (generally 30 days) and do not obligate the financial intermediary to sell any specific amount of shares.

The Company records 12b-1 fees monthly based upon a percentage of the NAV of the funds. At month-end, the variable consideration of the transaction price is no longer constrained as the NAV can be calculated and the value of consideration is determined. These services are separate and distinct from other asset management services as the customer can benefit from these services independently of other services. The Company accrues the corresponding 12b-1 fees paid to sub-distributors monthly as the expenses are incurred. The Company is acting in a principal capacity in these transactions; as such, these revenues and expenses are recorded on a gross basis in the consolidated statements of income (loss).

AB sponsored mutual funds offer back-end load shares in limited instances and charge the investor a CDSC if the investment is redeemed within a certain period. The variable consideration for these contracts is contingent upon the timing of the redemption by the investor and the value of the sales proceeds. Due to these constraining factors, the Company excludes the CDSC fee from the transaction price until the investor redeems the investment. Upon redemption, the cash consideration received for these contractual arrangements is recorded as a reduction of unamortized deferred sales commissions.

AB’s Luxembourg subsidiary, the management company for most of its non-U.S. funds, earns a management fee which is accrued daily and paid monthly, at an annual rate, based on the average daily net assets of the fund. With respect to certain share classes, the management fee also may contain a component paid to distributors and other financial intermediaries and service providers to cover shareholder servicing and other administrative expenses (also referred to as an “All-in-Fee”). Based on the conclusion that asset management is distinct from distribution, the Company allocates a portion of the investment and advisory fee to distribution revenues for the servicing component based on standalone selling prices.

Other revenues

Also reported as investment management and service fees in the Company’s consolidated statements of income (loss) are other revenues from contracts with customers, primarily consisting of shareholder servicing fees, mutual fund reimbursements and other brokerage income.

Shareholder services, including transfer agency, administration and record-keeping are provided by AB to company-sponsored mutual funds. The consideration for these services is based on a percentage of the NAV of the fund or a fixed-fee based on the number of shareholder accounts being serviced. The revenues are recorded at month-end when the constraining factors involved with determining NAV or the numbers of shareholders’ accounts are resolved.

Other income

Revenues from contracts with customers reported as other income in the Company’s consolidated statements of income (loss) primarily consist of advisory account fees and brokerage commissions from the Company’s broker-dealer operations and sales commissions from the Company’s general agents for the distribution of non-affiliate insurers’ life insurance and annuity products. These revenues are recognized at month-end when constraining factors, such as AUM and product mix, are resolved and the transaction pricing no longer is variable such that the value of consideration can be determined. The change in deposit asset/liability accounts arising from reinsurance agreements which do not expose the reinsurer to a reasonable possibility of significant loss from insurance risk is included in other income.

Accounting and Consolidation of VIEs

For all new investment products and entities developed by the Company, the Company first determines whether the entity is a VIE, which involves determining an entity’s variability and variable interests, identifying the holders of the equity investment at risk and assessing the five characteristics of a VIE. Once an entity is determined to be a VIE, the Company then determines whether it is the primary beneficiary of the VIE based on its beneficial interests. If the Company is deemed to be the primary beneficiary of the VIE, the Company consolidates the entity.

Quarterly, management of the Company reviews its investment management agreements and its investments in, and other financial arrangements with, certain entities that hold client AUM to determine the entities the Company is required to consolidate under this guidance. These entities include certain mutual fund products, hedge funds, structured products, group trusts, collective investment trusts, and limited partnerships.

The analysis performed to identify variable interests held, determine whether entities are VIEs or VOEs, and evaluate whether the Company has a controlling financial interest in such entities requires the exercise of judgment and is updated on a continuous basis as circumstances change or new entities are developed. The primary beneficiary evaluation generally is performed qualitatively based on all facts and circumstances, including consideration of economic interests in the VIE held directly and indirectly through related parties and entities under common control, as well as quantitatively, as appropriate.

Consolidated VIEs

Consolidated CLOs

The Company is the investment manager of certain asset-backed investment vehicles, commonly referred to as CLOs, and certain other vehicles for which the Company earns fee income for investment management services. The Company may sell or syndicate investments through these vehicles, principally as part of the strategic investing activity as part of its investment management businesses. Additionally, the Company may invest in securities issued by these vehicles which are eliminated in consolidation of the CLOs.

As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, Equitable Financial holds $113 million and $85 million of equity interests in the CLOs. The Company consolidated the CLOs as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 as it is the primary beneficiary due to the combination of both its equity interest held by Equitable Financial and the majority ownership of AB, which functions as the CLOs loan manager. The assets of the CLOs are legally isolated from the Company’s creditors and can only be used to settle obligations of the CLOs. The liabilities of the CLOs are non-recourse to the Company and the Company has no obligation to satisfy the liabilities of the CLOs. As of December 31, 2023, Equitable Financial holds $23 million of equity interests in a SPE established to purchase loans from the market in anticipation of a new CLO transaction. The Company consolidated the SPE as of December 31, 2023 as it is the

primary beneficiary due to the combination of both its equity interest held by Equitable Financial and the majority ownership of AB, which functions as the SPE loan manager.

Resulting from this consolidation in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets are fixed maturities, at fair value using the fair value option with total assets of $1.7 billion and $1.5 billion notes issued by consolidated variable interest entities, at fair value using the fair value option with total liabilities of $1.6 billion and $1.2 billion at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The unpaid outstanding principal balance of the notes and short-term borrowing is $1.6 billion and $1.4 billion at December 31, 2023 and 2022.

Consolidated Limited Partnerships and LLCs

As of December 31, 2023 and 2022 the Company consolidated limited partnerships and LLCs for which it was identified as the primary beneficiary under the VIE model. Included in other invested assets, mortgage loans on real estate, other equity investments, trading securities, cash and other liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets at December 31, 2023 and 2022 are total net assets of $1.8 billion and $644 million, respectively related to these VIEs.

Consolidated AB-Sponsored Investment Funds

Included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are assets of $309 million and $581 million, liabilities of $10 million and $56 million, and redeemable noncontrolling interests of $203 million and $369 million, respectively, associated with the consolidation of AB-sponsored investment funds under the VIE model. Also included in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 are assets of $121 million and $0 million, liabilities of $3 million and $0 million, and redeemable noncontrolling interests of $7 million and $0 million, respectively, from consolidation of AB-sponsored investment funds under the VOE model.

Non-Consolidated VIEs

As of December 31, 2023 and 2022 respectively, the Company held approximately $2.6 billion and $2.4 billion of investment assets in the form of equity interests issued by non-corporate legal entities determined under the guidance to be VIEs, such as limited partnerships and limited liability companies, including CLOs, hedge funds, private equity funds and real estate-related funds. The Company continues to reflect these equity interests in the consolidated balance sheets as other equity investments and applies the equity method of accounting for these positions. The net assets of these non-consolidated VIEs are approximately $268.6 billion and $282.5 billion as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 respectively. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss from its direct involvement with these VIEs is the carrying value of its investment of $2.6 billion and $2.4 billion and approximately $1.3 billion and $1.3 billion of unfunded commitments as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Company has no further economic interest in these VIEs in the form of guarantees, derivatives, credit enhancements or similar instruments and obligations.

Non-Consolidated AB-Sponsored Investment Products

As of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the net assets of investment products sponsored by AB that are non-consolidated VIEs are approximately $54.6 billion and $46.4 billion, respectively. The Company’s maximum exposure to loss from its direct involvement with these VIEs is its investment of $10 million and $6 million as of December 31, 2023 and 2022. The Company has no further commitments to or economic interest in these VIEs.

Assumption Updates and Model Changes

The Company conducts its annual review of its assumptions and models during the third quarter of each year. The annual review encompasses assumptions underlying the valuation of MRB, liabilities for future policyholder benefits and additional liability update.

However, the Company updates its assumptions as needed in the event it becomes aware of economic conditions or events that could require a change in assumptions that it believes may have a significant impact to the carrying value of product liabilities and assets and consequently materially impact its earnings in the period of the change.

MRB Update

The Company updates its assumptions to reflect emerging experience for withdrawals, mortality and lapse election. This includes actuarial judgement informed by actual experience of how policy holders are expected to use these policies in the future. In addition, as part of the 2021 assumption update, the reference interest rate utilized in our GAAP fair value calculations was updated from the LIBOR swap curve to the US Treasury curve due to the impending

cessation of LIBOR and our GAAP fair value liability risk margins. There were no other significant change to the process used to calculate the MRB balances.

LFPB Update

The significant assumptions for the LFPB balances include mortality and lapses for our Traditional life businesses. The primary assumption for the payout block of business is mortality. Impacts to expected net premiums and expected future policy benefits due to assumption changes in 2021 can be observed in the liability for future policy benefit roll forward tables.

Additional Liability Update

The significant assumptions for the additional insurance liability balances include mortality, lapses, premium payment pattern, and interest crediting assumption.

Fair Value Disclosures

U.S. GAAP establishes a fair value hierarchy that requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value, and identifies three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

Level 1 Unadjusted quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets. Level 1 fair values generally are supported by market transactions that occur with sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis.

Level 2 Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar instruments, quoted prices in markets that are not active, and inputs to model-derived valuations that are directly observable or can be corroborated by observable market data.

Level 3 Unobservable inputs supported by little or no market activity and often requiring significant management judgment or estimation, such as an entity’s own assumptions about the cash flows or other significant components of value that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

The Company uses unadjusted quoted market prices to measure fair value for those instruments that are actively traded in financial markets. In cases where quoted market prices are not available, fair values are measured using present value or other valuation techniques. The fair value determinations are made at a specific point in time, based on available market information and judgments about the financial instrument, including estimates of the timing and amount of expected future cash flows and the credit standing of counterparties. Such adjustments do not reflect any premium or discount that could result from offering for sale at one time the Company’s entire holdings of a particular financial instrument, nor do they consider the tax impact of the realization of unrealized gains or losses. In many cases, the fair value cannot be substantiated by direct comparison to independent markets, nor can the disclosed value be realized in immediate settlement of the instrument.

Management is responsible for the determination of the value of investments carried at fair value and the supporting methodologies and assumptions. Under the terms of various service agreements, the Company often utilizes independent valuation service providers to gather, analyze, and interpret market information and derive fair values based upon relevant methodologies and assumptions for individual securities. These independent valuation service providers typically obtain data about market transactions and other key valuation model inputs from multiple sources and, through the use of widely accepted valuation models, provide a single fair value measurement for individual securities for which a fair value has been requested. As further described below with respect to specific asset classes, these inputs include, but are not limited to, market prices for recent trades and transactions in comparable securities, benchmark yields, interest rate yield curves, credit spreads, quoted prices for similar securities, and other market-observable information, as applicable. Specific attributes of the security being valued are also considered, including its term, interest rate, credit rating, industry sector, and when applicable, collateral quality and other security- or issuer-specific information. When insufficient market observable information is available upon which to measure fair value, the Company either will request brokers knowledgeable about these securities to provide a non-binding quote or will employ internal valuation models. Fair values received from independent valuation service providers and brokers and those internally modeled or otherwise estimated are assessed for reasonableness.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis

Fair value measurements are required on a non-recurring basis for certain assets only when an impairment or other events occur. For the periods ended December 31, 2023 and December 31, 2022, the Company recognized impairment adjustments and impairment losses, respectively, to adjust the carrying value of held-for-sale asset and liabilities to their fair value less cost to sell. The value is measured on a nonrecurring basis and categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. The fair value was determined using a market approach, estimated based on the negotiated value of the asset and liabilities. See Note 25 of the Notes to these Consolidated Financial Statements for additional details of the Held-for-Sale assets and liabilities.