PRUDENTIAL DISCOVERY PREMIER GROUP VARIABLE CONTRACT ACCOUNT

DISCOVERY PREMIER

GROUP RETIREMENT ANNUITY

This prospectus describes the Prudential DISCOVERY PREMIER^® Group Variable Annuity Contracts (the “Contracts”). The prospectus and the Statement of Additional Information (“SAI”) may not describe every investment option available to you under your plan. The prospectus and SAI only describe the Contract, a group variable annuity contract and the separate account (and its Subaccounts) within the group variable annuity contract. The Contract is sold by The Prudential Insurance Company of America to retirement plans qualifying for federal tax benefits under sections 401, 403(b), 403(c), 408 or 457 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended (the “Code”) and to non-qualified deferred compensation plans and non-qualified annuity arrangements. In this prospectus, The Prudential Insurance Company of America may be referred to as either “Prudential” or as “we” or “us.” We may refer to a participant under a retirement plan as “you.”

As a plan participant, you can allocate contributions made on your behalf in a number of ways. You can allocate contributions to one or more of the 35 Subaccounts and the Guaranteed Interest Account, which are made available to you through your plan. Each Subaccount invests in one of the following portfolios of The Prudential Series Fund (the “Prudential Series Fund”) or other listed portfolios:

THE PRUDENTIAL SERIES FUND

You also can allocate contributions to the Guaranteed Interest Account, which guarantees a stipulated rate of interest if held for a specified period of time, if made available to you through your plan. In this prospectus, we do not describe that account in detail. Rather, we mention the Guaranteed Interest Account only where necessary to explain how the Prudential Discovery Premier Group Variable Contract Account works.

In this prospectus, we provide information that you should know before you invest. We have filed additional information about the Contracts with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in a SAI, dated May 1, 2016. That SAI is legally a part of this prospectus. If you are a participant in certain types of plans (generally, 403(b) plans), you can get a copy of the SAI free of charge by contacting us at the address or telephone number shown on the cover page. The SEC maintains a website (http://www.sec.gov) that contains the SAI, material incorporated by reference, and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC (File No. 333-95637). The SEC’s mailing address is 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549-0102, and its public reference number is (202) 551-8090.

The accompanying prospectuses for the funds and the related statements of additional information describe the investment objectives and risks of investing in the funds. We may offer additional funds and Subaccounts in the future. The contents of the SAI, with respect to the Contracts, appear in the “Other Information” section of this prospectus.

Please read this prospectus and keep it for future reference. It is accompanied by a current prospectus for each of the funds. Read the fund prospectuses carefully and retain them for future reference.

In compliance with United States law, Prudential will deliver this prospectus to Contractholders that currently reside outside the United States.

As with all variable annuity contracts, the fact that we have filed a registration statement with the SEC does not mean that the SEC has determined that the Contracts are a good investment. Nor has the SEC determined that this prospectus is complete or accurate. It is a criminal offense to state otherwise.

The Prudential Insurance Company of America

Prudential Retirement Service Center

30 Scranton Office Park

Scranton, PA 18507-1789

Telephone (877) 778-2100

PROSPECTUS CONTENTS

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GLOSSARY

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SUMMARY OF CONTRACT EXPENSES

The purpose of this summary is to help you to understand the costs and expenses you will pay for participating in the Discovery Premier Group Retirement Annuity. The following tables describe the fees and expenses that you will pay when buying, owning, and surrendering an interest in the Contract. State premium taxes may also be deducted.

For more detailed information, including additional information about current and maximum charges, see the “Charges, Fees and Deductions” section of this prospectus. For more detailed expense information about the underlying mutual funds, please refer to the individual fund prospectuses, which you will find attached at the back of this prospectus.

Participant Transaction Expenses

Withdrawal Charge

Effective October 1, 2009, Prudential has waived the withdrawal charge for all Contracts.

Charge for Premium Tax

There is a charge for premium tax imposed on us by certain states/jurisdictions of 0% to 3.5% of the Contract Value.

Periodic Charges

The next table describes the fees and expenses you will pay periodically during the time that you participate in the Contract, not including underlying mutual fund fees and expenses.

Insurance and Administrative Expenses (as a percentage of average Participant Account Value)

Loan Fees (if applicable)

Total Annual Mutual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that are deducted from underlying mutual fund assets, including management fees, distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees, and other expenses)

The next item shows the minimum and maximum total operating expenses charged by the underlying mutual funds that you may pay periodically during the time that you participate in the Contract. More detail concerning each underlying mutual fund’s fees and expenses is contained in the prospectus for each underlying mutual fund. The minimum and maximum total operating expenses depicted below are based on historical fund expenses for the year ended December 31, 2015. Fund expenses are not fixed or guaranteed by the Discovery Premier Group Retirement Annuity, and may vary from year to year.

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Expense Example

This example is intended to help you compare the cost of participating in the Contract with the cost of investing in other group variable annuity contracts. These costs include participant transaction expenses, contract fees (administrative fee), separate account annual expenses, and underlying mutual fund fees and expenses. The expenses in this example do not vary whether you surrender your interest in the annuity, do not surrender your interest in the annuity, or annuitize at the end of the applicable stated time period.

The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Contract for the time periods indicated. The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and assumes the maximum fees and expenses of any of the mutual funds, which do not reflect any expense reimbursements or waivers. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions, your costs would be as indicated in the tables below.

The cumulative expenses shown below assume a maximum administrative fee of 0.75% and a maximum mortality and expense risk charge of 0.15%. If the previously stated fees are less than the maximum, these expenses would be reduced accordingly.

Notes for Expense Example

This example does not show past or future expenses. Actual expenses may be higher or lower. Premium taxes are not reflected in the examples. Depending on the state you live in, a charge for premium taxes may apply. Your actual fees will vary based on the amount of your contract and your specific allocation among the investment options.

Financial Statements

The financial statements of Prudential and the Account are included in the Statement of Additional Information (SAI). For a free copy of the SAI, contact the Prudential Retirement Service Center by calling (877) 778-2100, or writing to Prudential Retirement, 30 Scranton Office Park, Scranton, PA 18507-1789.

A table of accumulation unit values has been included at the end of this prospectus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE CONTRACTS

Prudential offers the Contracts to retirement plans qualifying for federal tax benefits under Sections 401, 403(b), 403(c), 408 or 457 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and to non-qualified deferred compensation plans and non-qualified annuity arrangements. The Contracts are group annuity contracts that we typically issue to Employers. These Employers then make contributions under the Contract on behalf of their employees. A person for whom contributions have been made and to whom they remain credited under a Contract is a “Participant.” Prudential is solely responsible for its obligations under the Discovery Premier Group Retirement Annuity, and there are no support agreements from third parties relating to the capitalization of Prudential.

The value of a Participant’s investment depends upon the performance of the selected investment option[s]. Currently, there are 35 Variable Investment Options, each of which is called a Subaccount. Prudential may limit the number of Subaccounts an Employer may select in order to ensure that Prudential is the owner of the assets in the Subaccounts for tax purposes. We invest the assets of each Subaccount in one of the funds listed in “The Funds” section. You may direct contributions to one or a combination of Variable Investment Options as well as the Guaranteed Interest Account. We set up a separate Participant Account to record your investment choices. You can withdraw amounts held under your Participant Account, in whole or in part, prior to the Annuity Date. We also provide for a death benefit under the Contract.

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Through payroll deduction or similar agreements with the Contractholder, you may make contributions under the Contract if permitted under your retirement arrangement. In addition, you may make contributions in ways other than payroll deduction under certain circumstances if permitted under your retirement arrangement.

Prudential assesses charges under the Contracts for administering the Contracts, and for assuming mortality and expense risks under the Contracts. We deduct a mortality and expense risk charge equal to a maximum annual rate of 0.15% from the assets held in the Variable Investment Options with respect to all the Contracts. We also deduct an administrative charge equal to a maximum annual rate of 0.75% from the assets held in the Variable Investment Options. You can find further details about the administrative charge in the “Summary of Contract Expenses” and “Administrative Fee” sections.

A charge against each of the funds’ assets is also made by the investment adviser for providing investment advisory and management services. You can find further details about charges under the section entitled “Charges, Fees and Deductions.”

Unless restricted by the retirement arrangement under which you are covered, or by a section of the Code, you may withdraw, at any time, all or part of your Participant Account. See the “Withdrawals” section. If you withdraw, you may be taxed under the Code, including, under certain circumstances, a 10% tax penalty on premature withdrawals. The 10% tax penalty does not apply to Section 457 plans. See the “Federal Tax Status” section. In addition, you may transfer all or a part of your Participant Account Value among the Subaccounts and the Guaranteed Interest Account without the imposition of tax liability.

As explained below, notices, forms and requests for transactions related to the Contracts may be provided in traditional paper form or by electronic means, including telephone and internet. Prudential reserves the right to vary the means available, including limiting them to electronic means, from Contract to Contract by Contract terms, related service agreements with the Contractholder, or notice to the Contractholder and Participants. See section “Requests, Consents and Notices” for further information.

All written requests, notices, and transfer requests required or permitted by the Contracts (other than withdrawal requests and death benefit claims) should be sent to Prudential at the address shown on the cover of this prospectus. Transaction requests (including death benefit claims) received by Prudential in Good Order on a given Business Day will be effective for that Business Day; however, an earlier transaction cutoff time will apply with respect to a given retirement plan for which we have established an earlier transaction cutoff time. Good Order requires receipt of confirmation and all necessary information to ensure the instruction is permitted under and in compliance with the applicable retirement plan. Instructions that are not in Good Order will be effective on the Business Day that Good Order is determined. Instructions received on a day that is not a Business Day or after the close of a Business Day will be deemed to have been received on the next Business Day.

You may effect permitted telephone transactions by calling Prudential at (877) 778-2100. All permitted internet transactions may be made through www.prudential.com/online/retirement. You must send all written withdrawal requests or death benefit claims to Prudential by one of the following three means: (1) by U.S. mail to: Prudential, P.O. Box 5410, Scranton, PA 18505-5410; (2) delivery service other than the U.S. mail (e.g., Federal Express, etc.) sent to our office at the following address: Prudential, 30 Scranton Office Park, Scranton, PA 18507-1789; or (3) fax to Prudential, Attention: Client Payments at (866) 439-8602. Under certain Contracts, the Contractholder or a third party acting on their behalf provides record keeping services that would otherwise be performed by Prudential. See the “Modified Procedures” section. Prudential may provide other permitted telephone numbers or internet addresses.

We intend this brief description of the Contracts to provide a broad overview of the more significant features of the Contracts. More detailed information about the Contracts can be found in subsequent sections of this prospectus and in the Contracts themselves. We reserve the right to terminate a Contract if, after a specified period of time after the Contract’s issuance, the number of participants enrolled falls below a specified number.

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Right to Cancel

If permissible under your plan and applicable state law, you may cancel your interest in the Contract and request a refund within a certain period of time known as the “free look” period. The free look period is generally ten (10) days from the date you begin participation under the Contract, but may be longer, depending on applicable state law. During the applicable free look period, you can request a refund by returning the Contract either to the representative who sold it to you, or to the Prudential Retirement Service Center, at the address shown on the first page of this prospectus.

Generally, you will bear the investment risk during the free look period and will receive a refund equal to your Contract Value, plus the amount of any fees or other charges applied and less applicable federal and state income tax withholding, as of the date you stopped participation in the Contract. If applicable state law requires the return of your Purchase Payments, we will return the greater of the Contract Value, as described above, or the amount of your total Purchase Payments, less applicable federal and state income tax withholding. In addition, certain distributions from qualified plans, which are not directly rolled over or transferred to another eligible qualified plan, are subject to a mandatory 20% withholding for federal income tax. The 20% withholding requirement does not apply to: (1) distributions for the life or life expectancy of the Participant, or joint and last survivor expectancy of the Participant and a designated Beneficiary; or (2) distributions for a specified period of 10 years or more; (3) distributions required as minimum distributions; or (4) hardship distribution of salary deferral amounts. Amounts that are received under a Contract used in connection with a Section 457 Plan are treated as wages for federal income tax purposes and are, thus, subject to general withholding requirements.

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GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT PRUDENTIAL,

PRUDENTIAL DISCOVERY PREMIER GROUP VARIABLE

CONTRACT ACCOUNT AND THE INVESTMENT OPTIONS

AVAILABLE UNDER THE CONTRACTS

The Prudential Insurance Company of America

The Prudential Insurance Company of America (“Prudential”) is a New Jersey stock life insurance company that has been doing business since October 13, 1875. Prudential is licensed to sell life insurance and annuities in the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, and in all states. Our corporate office is located at 751 Broad Street, Newark, NJ. We have been investing for pension funds since 1928.

Prudential is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential Financial, Inc. (“Prudential Financial”), a New Jersey insurance holding company. Prudential Financial exercises significant influence over the operations and capital structure of Prudential. However, neither Prudential Financial nor any other related company has any legal responsibility to pay amounts that Prudential may owe under the Contract.

Prudential generally is responsible for the administrative and record keeping functions of the Prudential Discovery Premier Group Variable Contract Account and pays the expenses associated with them. These functions include enrolling Participants, receiving and allocating contributions, maintaining Participant Accounts and preparing and distributing confirmations, statements, and reports. The administrative and record keeping expenses that we bear include salaries, rent, postage, telephone, travel, legal, actuarial and accounting fees, office equipment, stationery and maintenance of computer and other systems.

Prudential is reimbursed for these administrative and record keeping expenses by the daily charge against the assets of each Subaccount for administrative expenses.

Prudential Discovery Premier Group Variable Contract Account

Prudential established the Prudential Discovery Premier Group Variable Contract Account (the “Discovery Account”) on November 9, 1999, under New Jersey law as a separate investment account. The Discovery Account meets the definition of a “separate account” under federal securities laws. Prudential is the legal owner of the assets in the Discovery Account, and is obligated to provide all benefits under the Contracts. Prudential will at all times maintain assets in the Discovery Account with a total market value sufficient to support its obligations under the Contracts. Prudential segregates the Discovery Account assets from all of its other assets. Thus, such assets that are held in support of client accounts are not chargeable with liabilities arising out of any other business Prudential conducts. The Discovery Account’s assets may include funds contributed by Prudential to commence operation of the Discovery Account, and may include accumulations of the charges Prudential makes against the Discovery Account. From time to time, Prudential will transfer these additional assets to Prudential’s General Account. Before making any such transfer, Prudential will consider any possible adverse impact the transfer might have on the Discovery Account.

Prudential registered the Discovery Account with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (“1940 Act”) as a unit investment trust, which is a type of investment company. This registration does not mean that the SEC supervises the management or investment policies or practices of the Discovery Account. For state law purposes, the Discovery Account is treated as a part or division of Prudential. There are currently 35 Subaccounts within the Discovery Account. These Subaccounts invest in the corresponding funds available under the Contracts. We may establish additional Subaccounts in the future. For Contracts funding retirement plans subject to the fiduciary responsibility provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, such additional Subaccounts will be made available only upon the consent of the plan fiduciary.

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The Funds

The following is a list of each fund, its investment objective and its investment adviser and/or subadviser:

The Prudential Series Fund

Share Class: Class I

Conservative Balanced Portfolio    Seeks total investment return consistent with a conservatively managed diversified portfolio.

Portions of this portfolio are subadvised by PGIM, Inc. (“PGIM”) (formerly known as Prudential Investment Management, Inc.), an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential Financial, and Quantitative Management Associates LLC (“QMA”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of PGIM.

Diversified Bond Portfolio    Seeks a high level of income over a longer term while providing reasonable safety of capital.

The investment subadviser for this portfolio is PGIM.

Equity Portfolio    Seeks long-term growth of capital.

The investment subadviser for this portfolio is Jennison Associates LLC (“Jennison”), an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential Financial.

Flexible Managed Portfolio    Seeks total return consistent with an aggressively managed diversified portfolio.

Portions of this portfolio are subadvised by PGIM and QMA.

Global Portfolio    Seeks long-term growth of capital.

This portfolio is subadvised by Brown Advisory, LLC; LSV Asset Management; William Blair Investment Management, LLC; QMA and T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.

Government Income Portfolio    Seeks a high level of income over the long term consistent with the preservation of capital.

The investment subadviser for this portfolio is PGIM.

High Yield Bond Portfolio    Seeks high total return.

The investment subadviser for this portfolio is PGIM.

Jennison Portfolio    Seeks long-term growth of capital.

The investment subadviser for this portfolio is Jennison.

Jennison 20/20 Focus Portfolio    Seeks long-term growth of capital.

The investment subadviser for this portfolio is Jennison.

Money Market Portfolio    Seeks maximum current income consistent with the stability of capital and the maintenance of liquidity.

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If pursuant to SEC rules, the Prudential Series Fund Money Market Portfolio suspends payment of redemption proceeds in connection with a liquidation of that portfolio, we will delay payment of any transfer, full or partial withdrawal, or death benefit from the corresponding Subaccount until the portfolio is liquidated.

The investment subadviser for this portfolio is PGIM.

Small Capitalization Stock Portfolio    Seeks long-term growth of capital.

The investment subadviser for this portfolio is QMA.

Stock Index Portfolio    Seeks to achieve investment results that generally correspond to the performance of publicly-traded common stocks.

The investment subadviser for this portfolio is QMA.

Value Portfolio    Seeks capital appreciation.

The investment subadviser for this portfolio is Jennison.

Prudential Investments LLC (“PI”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Prudential Financial, serves as the overall investment manager for the Prudential Series Fund and its portfolios.

PI manages the portfolios using a “manager-of-managers” structure. Under this structure, PI is authorized to select (with approval of the Fund’s independent trustees) one or more subadvisers to handle the actual day-to-day investment management of each portfolio. PI monitors each subadviser’s performance through quantitative and qualitative analysis, and periodically reports to the Fund’s board of trustees as to whether each subadviser’s agreement should be renewed, terminated or modified. PI is also responsible for allocating assets among the subadvisers if a portfolio has more than one subadviser. In those circumstances, the allocation for each subadviser can range from 0% to 100% of a portfolio’s assets, and PI can change the allocations without board or shareholder approval.

AIM Variable Insurance Funds (Invesco Variable Insurance Funds)

Share Class: Series I

Invesco V.I. Core Equity Fund    The fund’s investment objective is long-term growth of capital. The portfolio management team seeks to construct a portfolio of issuers that have high or improving return on invested capital, quality management, a strong competitive position and which are trading at compelling valuations. The fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities and in derivatives and other instruments that have economic characteristics similar to such securities.

Invesco V.I. Mid Cap Growth Fund    The fund’s investment objective is to seek capital growth. The fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets (including any borrowings for investment purposes) in equity securities of mid-capitalization companies.

Invesco V.I. Government Securities Fund    The fund’s investment objective is total return, comprised of current income and capital appreciation. The fund invests, under normal circumstances, at least 80% of its net assets (plus any borrowings for investment purposes) in debt securities issued, guaranteed or otherwise backed by the U.S. government or its agencies, instrumentalities or sponsored corporations (each, a Federal Agency), and in derivatives and other instruments that have economic characteristics similar to such securities.

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Invesco V.I. International Growth Fund    The fund’s investment objective is long-term growth of capital. The fund invests primarily in equity securities and depository receipts of foreign issuers. The principal types of equity securities in which the fund invests are common and preferred stock.

The investment adviser for each fund is Invesco Advisers, Inc.

AB Variable Products Series Fund, Inc.

Share Class: Class A

AB VPS Growth and Income Portfolio    The portfolio seeks long-term growth of capital.

AB VPS Large Cap Growth Portfolio    The portfolio seeks long-term growth of capital.

AB VPS Small Cap Growth Portfolio    The portfolio seeks long-term growth of capital.

Effective February 1, 2013 this portfolio was closed to new investments, except with respect to those investing in Contracts which had this investment option as of January 31, 2013. Effective August 10, 2015, this portfolio has been re-opened to new investors.

The investment adviser for each fund is AllianceBernstein L.P.

American Century Variable Portfolios, Inc.

Share Class: Class I

VP Income & Growth Fund    The fund seeks capital growth by investing in common stocks. Income is a secondary objective.

The investment adviser for this fund is American Century Investment Management, Inc.

Davis Variable Account Fund, Inc.

Share Class: N/A

Davis Value Portfolio    Davis Value Portfolio’s investment objective is long-term growth of capital. The fund will invest principally in common stocks (including indirect holdings of common stock through depository receipts) issued by large companies with market capitalizations of at least $10 billion. Historically, the fund has invested a significant portion of its assets in financial services companies and in foreign companies, and may also invest in mid- and small-capitalization companies.

The investment adviser for this fund is Davis Selected Advisers, L.P.

Delaware VIP^® Trust

Share Class: Standard

Delaware VIP^® Emerging Markets Series    The Series invests primarily in a broad range of equity securities of companies located in emerging market countries. Emerging market countries include those currently considered to

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be developing by the World Bank, the United Nations or the countries’ governments. These countries typically are located in the Asia-Pacific region, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Central America, South America, and Africa. Under normal circumstances, at least 80% of the Series’ net assets, plus the amount of any borrowings for investment purposes, will be invested in emerging market issuers (80% policy). The Series’ may invest in companies of any size and may invest more than 25% of its total assets in the securities of issuers located in the same country.

The investment adviser for this fund is Delaware Management Company (“DMC”), a series of Delaware Management Business Trust, which is a subsidiary of Delaware Management Holdings, Inc. (“DMHI”). DMHI is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Macquarie Group Ltd. DMC makes investment decisions for the Series, manages the Series’ business affairs, and provides daily administrative services.

The Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund, Inc.

Share Class: Initial

The Dreyfus Socially Responsible Growth Fund, Inc.    The fund seeks to provide capital growth, with current income as a secondary goal. To pursue its goals, the fund, under normal circumstances, invests at least 80% of its net assets in the common stocks of companies that, in the opinion of the fund’s management, meet traditional investment standards and conduct their business in a manner that contributes to the enhancement of the quality of life in America. The fund’s investment strategy combines a disciplined investment process that consists of computer modeling techniques, fundamental analysis and risk management with a social investment process. In selecting stocks, the portfolio managers begin by using computer models to identify and rank stocks within an industry or sector, based on several characteristics, including value, growth and financial profile. Next, based on fundamental analysis, the portfolio managers designate the most attractive of the higher ranked securities as potential purchase candidates, drawing on a variety of sources, including company management and internal as well as Wall Street research. The portfolio managers then evaluate each stock considered to be a potential purchase candidate to determine whether the company enhances the quality of life in America by considering its record in the areas of protection and improvement of the environment and the proper use of our natural resources, occupational health and safety, consumer protection and product purity and equal employment opportunity.

The investment adviser for this fund is The Dreyfus Corporation.

Franklin Templeton Variable Insurance Products Trust

Share Class: Class 1

Franklin Small-Mid Cap Growth VIP Fund    Seeks long-term capital growth. Under normal market conditions, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in investments of small capitalization and mid-capitalization companies.

The investment adviser for this fund is Franklin Advisers, Inc.

Templeton Foreign VIP Fund    Seeks long-term capital growth. Under normal market conditions, the fund invests at least 80% of its net assets in investments of issuers located outside the U.S., including those in emerging markets.

The investment adviser for this fund is Templeton Investment Counsel, LLC.

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Janus Aspen Series

Share Class: Institutional

Enterprise Portfolio    Seeks long-term growth of capital. The portfolio pursues its investment objective by investing primarily in common stocks selected for their growth potential, and normally invests at least 50% of its equity assets in medium-sized companies. Medium-sized companies are those whose market capitalization falls within the range of companies in the Russell Midcap^® Growth Index. Market capitalization is a commonly used measure of the size and value of a company. The portfolio may also invest in foreign securities, which may include investments in emerging markets.

Global Research Portfolio    Seeks long-term growth of capital. The portfolio pursues its investment objective by investing primarily in common stocks selected for their growth potential. The portfolio may invest in companies of any size located anywhere in the world, from larger, well-established companies to smaller, emerging growth companies. The portfolio typically invests at least 40% of its net assets in securities of issuers or companies that are economically tied to different countries throughout the world, excluding the United States. The portfolio may have significant exposure to emerging markets. Because the portfolio’s investments in foreign securities are partially based on the composition of the Portfolio’s benchmark index, the MSCI World Index^SM, the portfolio’s exposure to foreign markets may fluctuate in connection with variations in the foreign exposure of the portfolio’s benchmark index. The portfolio may also invest in foreign equity and debt securities.

The investment adviser for each fund is Janus Capital Management LLC.

MFS^® Variable Insurance Trust

Share Class: Initial

MFS^® Growth Series    The fund’s investment objective is to seek capital appreciation. MFS normally invests the fund’s assets primarily in equity securities. MFS focuses on investing the fund’s assets in the stocks of companies it believes to have above average earnings growth potential compared to other companies (growth companies).

MFS^® Investors Trust Series    The fund’s investment objective is to seek capital appreciation. MFS normally invests the fund’s assets primarily in equity securities. While MFS may invest the fund’s assets in companies of any size, MFS primarily invests in companies with large capitalizations. In selecting investments for the fund, MFS is not constrained to any particular investment style. MFS may invest the fund’s assets in the stocks of companies it believes to have above average earnings growth potential compared to other companies (growth companies), in the stocks of companies it believes are undervalued compared to their perceived worth (value companies), or in a combination of growth and value companies.

MFS^® Total Return Bond Series    The fund’s investment objective is to seek total return with an emphasis on current income, but also considering capital appreciation. MFS normally invests at least 80% of the fund’s net assets in debt instruments. Debt instruments include corporate bonds, U.S. Government securities, asset-backed securities, municipal instruments, foreign government securities, and other obligations to repay money borrowed. In conjunction with a team of investment research analysts, the portfolio managers select investments for the fund.

MFS^® Total Return Series    The fund’s investment objective is to seek total return. MFS invests the fund’s assets in equity securities and debt instruments. MFS seeks to invest between 40% and 75% of the fund’s assets in equity securities and at least 25% of the fund’s assets in fixed-income senior securities. Of the fund’s investments in equity securities, MFS focuses on investing the fund’s assets in the stocks of companies it believes are undervalued compared to their perceived worth (value companies). Of the fund’s investments in debt instruments, MFS generally invests substantially all of these investments in investment grade quality debt instruments.

The investment adviser for each fund is Massachusetts Financial Services Company (“MFS”).

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MFS^® Variable Insurance Trust II

Share Class: Initial

MFS^® Massachusetts Investors Growth Stock Portfolio    The fund’s investment objective is to seek capital appreciation. MFS normally invests at least 80% of the fund’s net assets in stocks. MFS focuses on investing the fund’s assets in the stocks of companies it believes to have above average earnings growth potential compared to other companies (growth companies). While MFS may invest the fund’s assets in companies of any size, MFS primarily invests in companies with large capitalizations. MFS may invest the fund’s assets in foreign securities.

The investment adviser for the fund is Massachusetts Financial Services Company (“MFS”).

PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust

Share Class: Administrative

PIMCO Short-Term Portfolio    The investment objective is maximum current income, consistent with the preservation of capital and daily liquidity. The portfolio seeks to achieve its investment objective by investing under normal circumstances at least 65% of its total assets in a diversified portfolio of Fixed Income Instruments of varying maturities, which may be represented by forwards or derivatives such as options, futures contracts, or swap agreements. “Fixed Income Instruments” include bonds, debt securities and other similar instruments issued by various U.S. and non-U.S. public-or private-sector entities.

PIMCO serves as investment adviser and the administrator (serving in its capacity as administrator, the “Administrator”) for the portfolio. Subject to the supervision of the Board of Trustees of PIMCO Variable Insurance Trust (the “Trust”), PIMCO is responsible for managing the investment activities of the portfolio and the portfolio’s business affairs and other administrative matters.

T. Rowe Price Equity Series, Inc.

Share Class: N/A

T. Rowe Price Equity Income Portfolio    The fund seeks a high level of dividend income and long-term capital growth primarily through investments in stocks.

The investment manager for this fund is T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., wholly owned by T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., a publicly traded financial services holding company.

Further information about the Fund portfolios is available in the accompanying prospectus for each fund.

Payments to Prudential

Respecting this Contract, Prudential has entered into agreements with certain funds and/or the investment advisers of such funds to provide administrative and support services to such funds. Pursuant to the terms of these agreements Prudential receives a total fee of up to 0.35% annually of the average assets allocated to the funds under the Contract. These types of payments are sometimes referred to as “revenue sharing” payments. These agreements, including the fees paid and services provided, can vary for each underlying fund that has portfolios which underlie Subaccounts. We and our affiliates may profit from these payments. The funds for these payments come from, in whole or in part, the assets of the fund itself and/or the assets of the fund’s investment advisor. The

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existence of these payments tends to increase the overall cost of investing in the underlying portfolio. Contractholders, through their indirect investment in the funds, indirectly bear the costs of these fees (see the funds’ prospectuses for more information). We have an incentive to offer portfolios managed by affiliated sub-advisers because of the fees that those affiliates will receive. We may consider those sub-adviser financial incentive factors in determining which portfolios to offer under the Contract. In general, allocations made to affiliated portfolios (i.e., the Prudential Series Fund) benefit us financially, Prudential has selected the portfolios for inclusion as investment options under this Contract in Prudential’s role as the issuer of this Contract, and Prudential does not provide investment advice or recommend any particular portfolio.

We also receive Rule 12b-1 fees for some underlying portfolios which compensate our affiliate, Prudential Investment Management Services LLC, for distribution and administrative services (including record keeping services and the mailing of prospectuses and reports to contract owners invested in the underlying portfolios). These fees are paid by the underlying portfolio out of each underlying portfolio’s assets and are therefore borne by contract owners.

In addition, the investment adviser, subadviser or distributor of the underlying funds may also compensate us by providing reimbursement or paying directly for, among other things, marketing and/or administrative services and/or other services they provide in connection with the Contract. These services may include, but are not limited to: co-sponsoring various meetings and seminars attended by broker-dealer firms’ registered representatives, plan sponsors and Participants, and creating marketing material discussing the Contract and the available options. The amounts paid depend on the nature of the meetings, the number of meetings attended by the adviser, subadviser, or distributor, the number of participants and attendees at the meetings, the costs expected to be incurred, and the level of the adviser’s, subadviser’s or distributor’s participation. These payments or reimbursements may not be offered by all advisers, subadvisers, or distributors, and the amounts of such payments may vary between and among each adviser, subadviser, and distributor depending on their respective participation.

In addition to the payments that we receive from underlying funds and/or their affiliates, those same funds and/or their affiliates may make payments to us and/or our affiliates within the Prudential Financial group related to the offering of investment options within variable annuities or life insurance offered by different Prudential business units.

Other Fund Information

The investment advisers to the various funds charge a daily investment management fee as compensation for their services, as more fully described in the prospectus for each fund.

Prudential recognizes that in the future it may become disadvantageous for both variable life insurance and variable annuity contract separate accounts to invest in the same underlying mutual fund. Although neither Prudential nor the Funds currently foresee any such disadvantage, the Funds’ Boards of Directors intend to monitor events in order to identify any material conflict between variable life insurance and variable annuity contractholders and to determine what action, if any, should be taken in response to a conflict. Material conflicts could result from such things as: (1) changes in state insurance law, (2) changes in federal income tax law, (3) changes in the investment management of any portfolio of the funds, or (4) differences between voting instructions given by variable life insurance and variable annuity contractholders.

As detailed in the Prudential Series Fund prospectus, although the Series Fund Money Market Portfolio is designed to be a stable investment option, it is possible to lose money in that portfolio. For example, when prevailing short-term interest rates are very low, the yield on the Money Market Portfolio may be so low that, when separate account and contract charges are deducted, you experience a negative return.

A full description of the funds appears in the accompanying prospectuses for each fund and in the related statements of additional information. There is no assurance that the investment objectives will be met.

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A fund may have an investment objective and investment policies closely resembling those of a mutual fund within the same complex that is sold directly to individual investors. Despite such similarities, there can be no assurance that the investment performance of any such fund will resemble that of its retail fund counterpart.

Under certain Contracts, not all funds described in this prospectus are available to Participants. Under those Contracts, of the funds described in this prospectus, your Employer may choose up to 28 funds that will be available to you. (The limit on the number of funds does not apply to contracts used with qualified pension and profit sharing plans described in Section 401(a) of the Code.) Once your Employer has made that choice, it cannot substitute other funds for any funds that it has already selected. However, if your employer chooses fewer than 28 funds initially, we will permit it to select additional funds, so long as the total number of funds available to Participants does not exceed 28. Prudential reserves the right to change the number of funds that an Employer may make available to Participants to comport with future amendments of the Code and future rulings or interpretations issued by the Internal Revenue Service.

Guaranteed Interest Account

The Guaranteed Interest Account is a credited interest option available to certain group annuity contracts issued by Prudential. Amounts that you allocate to the Guaranteed Interest Account become part of the General Account of Prudential. Prudential’s General Account consists of all assets of Prudential recognized for statutory accounting purposes other than those specifically allocated to the Discovery Account and other separate accounts of Prudential. Subject to applicable law, Prudential has sole discretion over the investment of the assets of the General Account.

Because of exemptive and exclusionary provisions, Prudential has not registered interests in the General Account (which include interests in the Guaranteed Interest Account) under the Securities Act of 1933, nor has Prudential registered the General Account as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940. Accordingly, the prospectus and SAI only describe aspects of the Guaranteed Interest Account to the extent such aspect of the Guaranteed Interest Account impacts the Discovery Account. You can request additional information from your plan regarding the Guaranteed Interest Account.

Prudential has been advised that the staff of the SEC has not reviewed the disclosures in the prospectus relating to the General Account. While Prudential may not be required to register interests in the General Account or register the General Account as an investment company, the disclosures we make regarding the General Account are subject to certain provisions of the federal securities laws relating to the accuracy and completeness of statements made in prospectuses.

Transfers between the Guaranteed Interest Account and the Discovery Account are limited by the Contract in one of the following ways:

Either:

Your Plan and Prudential agreed that:

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Please refer to the SAI for more information about the Guaranteed Interest Account.

THE CONTRACTS

Prudential generally issues the Contracts to Employers whose employees may become Participants. Under an Individual Retirement Account (“IRA”), a Participant’s spouse may also become a Participant. Prudential may issue a Contract to an association that represents Employers of employees who become Participants, to an association or union that represents members that become Participants, and to a trustee of a trust with participating Employers whose employees become Participants. Even though an Employer, an association or a trustee is the Contractholder, the Contract normally provides that Participants will have the rights and interests under them that are described in this prospectus. When a Contract is used to fund a deferred compensation plan established by a tax exempt entity under Section 457 of the Code, all rights under the Contract are owned by the Employer to whom, or on whose behalf, the Contract is issued. All amounts that we pay under the Contract are payable to the Employer, and are its exclusive property. For a plan established under Section 457 of the Code, the employee has no rights or interests under the Contract, including any right or interest in any Subaccount of the Discovery Account, except as provided in the Employer’s plan. This may also be true with respect to certain non-qualified annuity arrangements.

Also, a particular plan, even if it is not a deferred compensation plan, may limit a Participant’s exercise of certain rights under a Contract. Participants should check the provisions of their Employer’s plan or any agreements with the Employer to see if there are any such limitations and, if so, what they are.

The Accumulation Period

Contributions; Crediting Units; Enrollment Forms; Deduction for Administrative Expenses.

If permitted under your retirement arrangement, an Employer will make contributions periodically to the Contract pursuant to a payroll deduction or similar agreement between the Participant and his/her Employer. In addition, you may make contributions in ways other than payroll deduction under certain circumstances.

As a Participant, you designate what portion of the contributions made on your behalf should be invested in the Subaccounts or the Guaranteed Interest Account. The Participant may change this designation usually by notifying Prudential as described under the “Requests, Consents and Notices” section. Under certain Contracts, an entity other than Prudential keeps certain records. Participants under those Contracts must contact the record keeper. See the “Modified Procedures” section.

Prudential credits the full amount (100%) of each contribution designated for investment in any Subaccount to a Participant Account maintained for the Participant. Except for the initial contribution, the number of Units that Prudential credits to a Participant in a Subaccount is determined by dividing the amount of the contribution made on his/her behalf to that Subaccount by the Subaccount’s Unit Value determined as of the end of the Business Day during which the contribution is received by Prudential in Good Order at the address shown on the cover page of this prospectus or such other address as Prudential may direct.

Prudential generally will invest the initial contribution made for a Participant in a Subaccount no later than two Business Days after it is received by Prudential, if it is preceded or accompanied by satisfactory enrollment

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information. If the Contractholder submits an initial contribution on behalf of one or more new Participants for the Contract that is not preceded or accompanied by satisfactory enrollment information, then Prudential will allocate such contribution to the plan’s default fund upon receipt, and also will send a notice to the Contractholder or its agent that requests allocation information for each such Participant. If Prudential does not receive the necessary enrollment information in response to this initial notice, Prudential will deliver up to three additional notices to the Contractholder or its agent at monthly intervals that request such allocation information. During the time period in which the initial contribution is allocated to that default fund, the Participant will not be invested in the Contract. Depending on the characteristics of the plan’s default fund, the Participant may experience a gain or loss on money allocated to that option. After 105 days have passed from the time that Units of the plan’s default fund were purchased on behalf of Participants who failed to provide the necessary enrollment information, Prudential will redeem the relevant Units and pay the proceeds (including earnings) to the Contractholder. Any proceeds that Prudential pays to the Contractholder under this procedure may be considered a prohibited and taxable reversion to the Contractholder under current provisions of the Code. Similarly, proceeds that Prudential returns may cause the Contractholder to violate a requirement under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), as amended, to hold all plan assets in trust. The Contractholder may avoid both problems if it arranges to have the proceeds paid into a qualified trust or annuity contract. A change in the value of a Unit will not affect the number of Units of a particular Subaccount credited to a Participant. However, the dollar value of a Unit will vary from Business Day to Business Day depending upon the investment experience of the Subaccount.

Prudential determines the value of a Participant Account in a Subaccount on any particular day by multiplying the total number of Units credited to the Participant by the Subaccount’s Unit Value on that day.

Prudential typically sets the Unit Value for each Subaccount at $10.00 on the date of commencement of operations of that Subaccount. Prudential determines the Unit Value for any subsequent Business Day as of the end of that day by multiplying the unit change factor for that day by the Unit Value for the preceding Business Day.

Prudential determines the unit change factor for any Business Day by dividing the current day net asset value for fund shares by the net asset value for shares on the previous Business Day. This factor is then reduced by a daily equivalent of the mortality and expense risk fee and the administrative fee. Prudential determines the value of the assets of a Subaccount by multiplying the number of fund shares held by that Subaccount by the net asset value of each share, and adding the value of dividends declared by the fund but not yet paid.

If your Plan is serviced by Fidelity Investments Institutional Operations Company, Inc. and Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC (collectively, “Fidelity”), then your contributions, transfers, and redemptions are priced in a different manner. Specifically, if any such transaction is received in Good Order by Fidelity on a given Business Day, the order will purchase or sell (as applicable) Units of the Subaccounts at the Unit Value in effect for that Business Day.

Allocation of Purchase Payments

A Participant determines how the initial contribution will be allocated among the Subaccounts by specifying the desired allocation on the application or enrollment form. If allowed by his/her plan, a Participant also may specify the allocation of the initial contribution through our automated voice response system, (877) 778-2100, the Participant website, www.prudential.com/online/retirement, or by contacting the Prudential Retirement Service Center at (877) 778-2100. A Participant may choose to allocate nothing to a particular Subaccount. Unless a Participant tells us otherwise, we will allocate subsequent contributions in the same proportions as the most recent contribution made by that Participant. A Participant may change the way in which subsequent contributions are allocated by providing Prudential with proper instruction as described under the “Requests, Consents and Notices” section of this prospectus.

If a third party (rather than Prudential) provides record keeping services to your plan and has been designated as our pricing agent, then purchases, withdrawals and transfers received in Good Order by that record keeper on a given Business Day will be priced by Prudential as of that Business Day.

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Asset Allocation Program

We may make available an asset allocation program to assist you in determining how to allocate Purchase Payments. If you choose to participate in the program, you may do so by utilizing a form available in the employee enrollment kit. The form will depict various asset allocation models based on age and risk tolerance. You also may participate in the program by providing instructions by telephone or through the internet, if permitted under your plan. We offer the asset allocation program at no charge to you. You are under no obligation to participate in the program or to invest according to its model allocations. You may ignore, in whole or in part, the model investment allocations provided by the program.

Asset allocation is a sophisticated method of diversification that allocates assets among classes to manage investment risk and enhance returns over the long term. However, asset allocation does not guarantee a profit or protect against a loss. You are not obligated to participate or to invest according to the program’s model allocations. We do not intend to provide any personalized investment advice in connection with these programs and you should not rely on these programs as providing individualized investment recommendations to you. The asset allocation programs do not guarantee better investment results. We reserve the right to terminate or change the asset allocation programs at any time.

Transfers

A Participant may transfer out of an investment option into any combination of other investment options available under the Contract, which are made available through a Participant’s plan. Generally, the transfer request may be in dollars, such as a request to transfer $1,000 from one investment option to another, or may be in terms of a percentage reallocation among investment options. Under certain Contracts, Prudential may require that transfer requests be effected in terms of whole number percentages only, and not by dollar amount. A Participant generally may make transfers by proper notice to Prudential as described under the “Requests, Consents and Notices” section.

If a Contractholder chooses telephone privileges, each Participant will automatically be enrolled to use the Telephone Transfer System. We have adopted procedures designed to ensure that requests by telephone are genuine. We will not be held liable for following unauthorized telephone instructions we reasonably believe to be genuine. We cannot guarantee that a Participant will be able to get through to complete a telephone transfer during peak periods such as periods of drastic economic or market change.

Unless restricted by the retirement arrangement under which a Participant is covered, when Prudential receives a duly completed written transfer request form or properly authorized telephone transfer request, Prudential will transfer all or a portion of the Participant Account in any of the Subaccounts to another Subaccount or the Guaranteed Interest Account. Prudential may restrict transfers from the Guaranteed Interest Account. There is no minimum transfer amount. As of the Business Day you make the transfer request, Prudential will reduce the Subaccount(s) from which the transfer is made by the number of Units obtained by dividing the amount to be transferred by the Unit Value for the applicable Business Day. If the transfer is made to another Subaccount as of the same day, the number of Units Prudential credits to the Participant in that Subaccount will be increased by means of a similar calculation. Prudential reserves the right to limit the frequency of these transfers. All transfers are subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this prospectus and in the Contract(s) covering a Participant.

Prudential may stipulate different procedures for Contracts under which another entity provides record keeping services.

Certain Contracts may prohibit transfers from the Guaranteed Interest Account into non-equity investment options that are characterized in such Contracts as “competing” with Prudential’s General Account options with regard to investment characteristics. If a Contract precludes such transfers, the Contract will further require that amounts

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transferred from the Guaranteed Interest Account into non-competing investment options, such as a Subaccount investing in a stock fund, may not for 90 days thereafter be transferred into a “competing” option or back to the Guaranteed Interest Account.

A Contract may include a provision that, upon discontinuance of contributions for all Participants of an Employer covered under a Contract, the Contractholder may request Prudential to make transfer payments from any of the Subaccounts to a designated alternate funding agency. If the Contract is used in connection with certain tax deferred annuities subject to Section 403(b) of the Code, or with IRAs, Prudential will promptly notify each affected Participant and each Beneficiary of a deceased Participant that such a request has been received. Within thirty days of receipt of such notice, each recipient may elect in writing on a form approved by Prudential to have any of his/her Participant Account Value transferred to the alternate funding agency. If he/she does not so elect, his/her investment options will continue in force under the Contract. If he/she does so elect, his/her account will be canceled as of a “transfer date” which is the Business Day specified in the Contractholder’s request or 90 days after Prudential receives the request, whichever is later. The product of Units in the Participant’s Subaccounts immediately prior to cancellation and the appropriate Unit Value on the transfer date will be transferred to the designated alternate funding agency in cash. Please note that there is a different class of Contracts that allows a Contractholder to stop making contributions and request a transfer of Units from any investment option to a designated alternate funding agency without seeking participant consent to the transfer.

Subject to any conditions or limitations regarding transfers contained in the Section 403(b) tax deferred annuity arrangement under which a Participant is covered, a Participant who does not make an election to transfer his/her Participant Account Value to an Alternate Funding Agency may:

Contributions may be discontinued for all Participants under a Contract or for all Participants of an Employer covered under the Contract used in connection with a deferred compensation plan subject to Section 457 of the Code due to certain circumstances, such as a change in any law or regulation, which would have an adverse effect on Prudential in fulfilling the terms of the Contract. If contributions are so discontinued, we may initiate transfer payments from any Subaccount to an alternate funding agency. The transfer would be made as described in the paragraph above.

Under certain types of retirement arrangements, the Retirement Equity Act of 1984 requires that in the case of a married Participant, certain requests for transfer payments other than those described above must include the consent of the Participant and spouse and must be notarized or witnessed by an authorized plan representative.

Transfers that you make among Subaccounts will take effect as of the end of the Business Day in which a proper transfer request is received at Prudential, in Good Order.

From time to time, Prudential may make an offer to holders of other variable annuities that Prudential or an affiliate issues to exchange their variable annuity contracts for interests in a Contract issued by the Account. Prudential will conduct any such exchange offer in accordance with SEC rules and other applicable law. Current SEC rules pertaining to exchange offers among affiliated variable annuity contracts generally require, with certain exceptions, that no fee be imposed at the time of the exchange. Under this rule, Prudential could charge an administrative fee at the time of the exchange, although we have no present intention of doing so. SEC rules also require us to give an exchanging variable annuity contractholder “credit,” for purposes of calculating any withdrawal charge applicable under the Contract, for the time during which the contractholder held the variable annuity that was exchanged.

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Redemption Fees and Abusive Trading Practices

The practice of making frequent transfers among Variable Investment Options in response to short-term fluctuations in markets, sometimes called “market timing” or “excessive trading,” can make it very difficult for a portfolio manager to manage an underlying mutual fund’s investments. Frequent transfers may cause the fund to hold more cash than otherwise necessary, disrupt management strategies, increase transaction costs or affect performance. For these reasons, the Contract was not designed for persons who make programmed, large or frequent transfers.

We consider “market timing/excessive trading” to be one or more trades into and out of (or out of and into) the same Variable Investment Option within a rolling 30-day period when each exceeds a certain dollar threshold. Automatic or system-driven transactions, such as contributions or loan repayments by payroll deduction, regularly scheduled or periodic distributions, or periodic rebalancing through an automatic rebalancing program do not constitute prohibited excessive trading and will not be subject to this criteria. In addition, certain investments are not subject to the policy, such as stable value funds, money market funds and funds with fixed unit values.

In light of the risks posed by market timing/excessive trading, we monitor transactions in an effort to identify such trading practices. We reserve the right to limit the number of your transfers in any year, and to take the other actions discussed below. We also reserve the right to refuse any transfer request if: (a) we believe that market timing (as we define it) has occurred; or (b) we are informed by an underlying fund that transfers in its shares must be restricted under its policies and procedures concerning excessive trading.

The ability of Prudential to monitor for frequent trading is limited for Contracts under which Prudential does not provide the Participant record keeping. In those cases, another entity maintains the individual records and submits to Prudential only aggregate orders combining the transactions of many Participants. Therefore, Prudential may be unable to monitor investments by individual investors. Under SEC rules, an underlying fund may ask us to identify third party administrators that hold individual Participant records and we are obligated to use our best efforts to identify whether or not the third party administrator is deemed an indirect intermediary.

In furtherance of our general authority to restrict transfers as described above, and without limiting other actions we may take in the future, we have adopted the following specific procedures:

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A portfolio also may assess a short term trading fee in connection with a transfer out of the Variable Investment Option investing in that portfolio that occurs within a certain number of days following the date of allocation to the Variable Investment Option. Each portfolio determines the amount of the short term trading fee and when the fee is imposed. The fee is retained by or paid to the portfolio and is not retained by us. The fee will be deducted from your Contract Value.

Although our transfer restrictions are designed to prevent excessive transfers, they are not capable of preventing every potential occurrence of excessive transfer activity.

Auto-Rebalancing

The Auto-Rebalancing feature allows for the automatic rebalance of Subaccount assets at specified intervals based on percentage allocations chosen by the Participant. For example, suppose a Participant’s initial investment allocation of Subaccounts is split 40% and 60%, respectively. Then, due to investment results, that split changes. A Participant may instruct that those assets be rebalanced to his/her original or different allocation percentages. Auto-Rebalancing can be performed on a one-time basis or periodically, with the frequency generally determined by the Contractholder. Rebalancing will take effect as of the end of the Business Day for each applicable interval. If the New York Stock Exchange and Prudential are not open on the rebalancing date, the transfer will take effect as of the end of the Business Day which immediately follows that date. Prudential currently imposes no charge for this feature. Prudential would impose such a charge only pursuant to an amendment to an administrative services agreement, which would have to be agreed to in writing (or its electronic equivalent) by both Prudential and the Contractholder.

Withdrawals

Under certain circumstances as described in the retirement arrangement under which a Participant is covered, a Participant may withdraw at any time all or part of his/her Participant Account Value that is attributable to Employer contributions or after-tax Participant contributions, if any.

The Code imposes restrictions on withdrawals from tax deferred annuities subject to Section 403(b) of the Code. Pursuant to Section 403(b)(11) of the Code, amounts attributable to a Participant’s salary reduction contributions (including the earnings thereon) that are made under a tax deferred annuity after December 31, 1988 can only be withdrawn (redeemed) when the Participant attains age 59 ¹/₂, separates from service with his/her Employer, dies, or becomes disabled (within the meaning of Section 72(m)(7) of the Code). However, the Code permits the withdrawal at any time of amounts attributable to tax deferred annuity salary reduction contributions (excluding the earnings thereon) that are made after December 31, 1988, in the case of a hardship. If the arrangement under which a Participant is covered contains a financial hardship provision, a Participant can make withdrawals in the event of the hardship.

Furthermore, subject to any restrictions upon withdrawals contained in the tax deferred annuity arrangement under which a Participant is covered, a Participant can withdraw at any time all or part of his/her Participant Account Value under a predecessor Prudential tax sheltered annuity contract, as of December 31, 1988. Amounts earned after December 31, 1988 on the December 31, 1988 balance in a Participant Account attributable to salary reduction contributions are, however, subject to the Section 403(b)(11) withdrawal restrictions discussed above.

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With respect to retirement arrangements other than tax deferred annuities subject to Section 403(b) of the Code, a Participant’s right to withdraw at any time all or part of his/her Participant Account Value may be restricted by the retirement arrangement under which he/she is covered. For example, Code Section 457 plans typically permit withdrawals only upon attainment of age 70 ¹/₂, severance from employment with the employer, or for unforeseeable emergencies.

We consider withdrawals as having been made first from contributions. This differs from the treatment of withdrawals for federal income taxes as described below, where generally, withdrawals are considered to have been made first from investment income.

We will effect the withdrawal as of the end of the Business Day in which a proper withdrawal request is received at Prudential in Good Order. Good Order requires receipt of confirmation and all necessary information to ensure the instruction is permitted under and in compliance with the applicable retirement plan. Instructions that are not in Good Order will be effective on the Business Day that Good Order is determined. Instructions received on a day that is not a Business Day or after the close of a Business Day will be deemed to have been received on the next Business Day.

Your withdrawal will be allocated proportionally from all investment options, unless you specify, in writing, the investment options from which you would like the withdrawal processed, if your Employer’s plan so permits you to specify. You may indicate the withdrawal amount as a dollar amount or as a percentage of the Participant Account Value in the applicable Subaccount(s), if your Employer’s plan permits.

We will generally pay the amount of any withdrawal within 7 days after receipt of a properly completed withdrawal request, in Good Order. We will pay the amount of any withdrawal requested, less any applicable tax withholding. We may delay payment of any withdrawal allocable to the Subaccount(s) for a longer period if the disposal or valuation of the Discovery Account’s assets is not reasonably practicable because the New York Stock Exchange is closed for other than a regular holiday or weekend, trading is restricted by the SEC, or the SEC declares that an emergency exists. We also may delay any payment in order to obtain information from the Employer of a Participant that is reasonably necessary to ensure that the payment is in compliance with the restrictions on withdrawals imposed by Section 403(b) of the Code, if applicable. In such an event, a withdrawal request will not be in Good Order and we will not process it until we obtain such information from the Employer. We may deny a request for a hardship withdrawal if your Employer has not informed us that it will provide information reasonably necessary to ensure that hardship withdrawals, in general, are in compliance with the restrictions on withdrawals imposed by Section 403(b). An explanation of why an employer may be unwilling to provide this information may be found in the “ERISA Considerations” section.

Systematic Withdrawal Plan

If permitted by the Code and the retirement arrangement under which a Participant is covered, Prudential may offer systematic withdrawals as an administrative privilege. Under a systematic withdrawal arrangement, a Participant may arrange for systematic withdrawals from the Subaccounts and the Guaranteed Interest Account in which he/she invests. A Participant may arrange for systematic withdrawals only if at the time he/she elects to have such an arrangement, the balance in his/her Participant Account is at least $5,000. A Participant who has not reached age 59 ¹/₂, however, may not elect a systematic withdrawal arrangement unless he/she has first separated from service with his/her Employer. In addition, the $5,000 minimum balance does not apply to systematic withdrawals made for the purpose of satisfying required minimum distribution rules.

Federal income tax provisions applicable to the retirement arrangement under which a Participant is covered may significantly affect the availability of systematic withdrawals, how they may be made, and the consequences of making them. Withdrawals by Participants are generally taxable as ordinary income. Participants who have not reached age 59 ¹/₂ may incur substantial tax penalties on withdrawals. Withdrawals made after a Participant has attained age 70 ¹/₂ and withdrawals by Beneficiaries must satisfy certain required minimum distribution rules. See the “Federal Tax Status” section.

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You may arrange systematic withdrawals only pursuant to an election in a form approved by Prudential. Under certain types of retirement arrangements, if a Participant is married, the Participant’s spouse must consent in writing to the election of systematic withdrawals with signatures notarized or witnessed by an authorized plan representative, or equivalent electronic procedure permitted by ERISA and related federal regulations. The election must specify that the systematic withdrawals will be made on a monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, or annual basis.

We will generally pay the amount of any withdrawal within 7 days after receipt of a properly completed withdrawal request, in Good Order. We will pay the amount of any withdrawal requested, less any applicable tax withholding. We may delay payment of any withdrawal allocable to the Subaccount(s) for a longer period if the disposal or valuation of the Discovery Account’s assets is not reasonably practicable because the New York Stock Exchange is closed for other than a regular holiday or weekend, trading is restricted by the SEC, or the SEC declares that an emergency exists. We also may delay any payment in order to obtain information from the Employer of a Participant that is reasonably necessary to ensure that the payment is in compliance with the restrictions on withdrawals imposed by Section 403(b) of the Code, if applicable. In such an event, a withdrawal request will not be in Good Order and we will not process it until we obtain such information from the Employer. We may deny a request for a hardship withdrawal if your Employer has not informed us that it will provide information reasonably necessary to ensure that hardship withdrawals, in general, are in compliance with the restrictions on withdrawals imposed by Section 403(b). An explanation of why an employer may be unwilling to provide this information may be found in the “ERISA Considerations” section.

Prudential will effect all systematic withdrawals as of the day of the month specified by the Contractholder, or, if such day is not a Business Day, then on the next succeeding Business Day. If the systematic withdrawal is made to satisfy required minimum distribution rules and the next succeeding Business Day would cause such payment to be made in the subsequent calendar year, then payment will be made on the last Business Day, preceding the day of the month specified by the Contractholder. Systematic withdrawals will continue until the Participant has withdrawn all of the balance in his/her Participant Account or has instructed Prudential in writing to terminate his/her systematic withdrawal arrangement. The Participant may elect to make systematic withdrawals in equal dollar amounts (in which case each withdrawal must be at least $250), unless it is made to satisfy required minimum distribution rules, or over a specified period of time (at least three years). Where the Participant elects to make systematic withdrawals over a specified period of time, the amount of each withdrawal (which will vary, reflecting investment experience during the withdrawal period) will be equal to the sum of the balances then in the Participant Account divided by the number of systematic withdrawals remaining to be made during the withdrawal period.

Prudential will take your systematic withdrawals proportionally from all the Subaccounts unless your Employer has directed Prudential to take such withdrawals first from your investment, if any, in the Guaranteed Interest Account. If your Employer has provided such direction, Prudential will take your systematic withdrawals from your investment, if any, in the Guaranteed Interest Account until that amount is exhausted and thereafter pro rata from the Subaccounts. Certain Contracts may specify that systematic withdrawals be deducted in a different manner than that described immediately above.

A Participant may change the frequency, amount or duration of his/her systematic withdrawals by submitting a form to Prudential or Prudential’s designee. Prudential will provide such a form to a Participant upon request. A Participant may make such a change only once during each calendar year.

A Participant may at any time instruct Prudential to terminate the Participant’s systematic withdrawal arrangement. No systematic withdrawals will be made for a Participant after Prudential has received this instruction. A Participant who chooses to stop making systematic withdrawals may not again make them until the next calendar year and may be subject to federal tax consequences as a result.

If a Participant arranges for systematic withdrawals, that will not affect any of the Participant’s other rights under the Contract, including the right to make withdrawals, and purchase a fixed dollar annuity.

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Suspension of Payments or Transfers

The SEC may require us to suspend or postpone payments made in connection with withdrawals or transfers for any period when:

Texas Optional Retirement Program

Special rules apply with respect to Contracts covering persons participating in the Texas Optional Retirement Program (“Texas Program”).

Under the terms of the Texas Program, Texas will contribute an amount somewhat larger than a Participant’s contribution. Texas’ contributions will be credited to the Participant Account. Until the Participant begins his/her second year of participation in the Texas Program, Prudential will have the right to withdraw the value of the Units purchased for this account with Texas’ contributions. If the Participant does not commence his/her second year of Texas Program participation, the value of those Units representing Texas’ contributions will be withdrawn and returned to the State.

A Participant has withdrawal benefits for Contracts issued under the Texas Program only in the event of the Participant’s death, retirement or termination of employment. Participants will not, therefore, be entitled to exercise the right of withdrawal in order to receive in cash the Participant Account Value credited to them under the Contract unless one of the foregoing conditions has been satisfied. A Participant may, however, transfer the value of the Participant’s interest under the Contract to another Prudential contract or contracts of other carriers approved under the Texas Program during the period of the Participant’s Texas Program participation.

Death Benefit

When Prudential receives due proof of a Participant’s death and a claim and payment election submitted in a form approved by us in Good Order, we generally will pay to the designated Beneficiary a death benefit made up of the balance in the Participant Account. The death benefit will be valued as of the end of the Business Day in which proof of death and a claim and payment election forms are received at Prudential in Good Order.

The appropriate address to which a death benefit claim generally should be sent is set out on the cover page of this prospectus. For certain Contracts, a death benefit claim should be sent to a designated record keeper rather than Prudential.

Prudential will pay the death benefit, according to the Participant’s instructions, in:

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Any such payment will be subject to the required minimum distribution rules of Code Section 401(a)(9) as described below under “Federal Tax Status.” If the Participant has not so directed, the Beneficiary may, within any time limit prescribed by or for the retirement arrangement that covered the Participant, elect:

Under certain types of retirement arrangements, the Retirement Equity Act of 1984 requires that in the case of a married Participant, a death benefit will be payable to the Participant’s spouse in the form of a “qualified pre-retirement survivor annuity.” A “qualified pre-retirement survivor annuity” is an annuity for the lifetime of the Participant’s spouse in an amount which can be purchased with no less than 50% of the balance in the Participant Account as of the Participant’s date of death. Under the Retirement Equity Act, the spouse of a Participant in a retirement arrangement which is subject to these rules may consent to waive the pre-retirement survivor annuity benefit. Such consent must acknowledge the effect of waiving the coverage, contain the signatures of the Participant and spouse, and must be notarized or witnessed by an authorized plan representative. Unless the spouse of a Participant in a Plan which is subject to these requirements properly consents to the waiver of the benefit, Prudential will pay 50% of the balance in the Participant Account to such spouse even if the designated Beneficiary is someone other than the spouse. Under these circumstances, Prudential would pay the remaining 50% to the Participant’s designated Beneficiary.

Unless the retirement arrangement that covered the Participant provides otherwise, a Beneficiary who elects to have a fixed-dollar annuity may choose from among the available forms of annuity. See the “Effecting an Annuity” section. The Beneficiary may elect to purchase an annuity immediately or at a future date. If an election includes systematic withdrawals, the Beneficiary will have the right to terminate such withdrawals and receive the remaining balance in the Participant Account in cash (or effect an annuity with it), or to change the frequency, size or duration of such withdrawals, subject to the required minimum distribution rules. See “Federal Tax Status” section of this prospectus. If the Beneficiary fails to make any election within any time limit prescribed by or for the retirement arrangement that covered the Participant, within seven days after the expiration of that time limit, Prudential will make a single cash payment to the Beneficiary. A specific Contract may provide that an annuity is payable to the Beneficiary if the Beneficiary fails to make an election.

With respect to the death benefits paid under a contract issued to a non-ERISA 403(b) plan or an IRA, if we do not receive instructions on where to send the payment within five (5) years of the date of death, the funds will be escheated in accordance with applicable state law. For other plan types, we will follow the plan sponsor’s direction.

Until Prudential pays a death benefit that results in reducing to zero the balance in the Participant Account, Prudential will maintain the Participant Account Value in the Subaccounts and the Guaranteed Interest Account that make up the Participant Account for the Beneficiary in the same manner as they had been for the Participant, except:

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Discontinuance of Contributions

By notifying Prudential, the Contractholder generally may discontinue contributions on behalf of all Participants under a Contract or for all Participants of an Employer covered under a Contract. Contributions under the Contract will also be discontinued for all Participants covered by a retirement arrangement that is terminated.

On 90 days’ advance notice to the Contractholder, Prudential may elect not to accept any new Participant, or not to accept further contributions for existing Participants.

The fact that contributions on a Participant’s behalf are discontinued does not otherwise affect the Participant’s rights under the Contracts. However, if contributions under a Program are not made for a Participant for a specified period of time (24 months in certain states, 36 months in others) and the total value of his/her Participant Account is at or below a specified amount ($1,000 in certain states, $2,000 in others), Prudential may, if permitted by the Code, elect to cancel that Participant Account unless prohibited by the retirement arrangement, and pay the Participant the value as of the date of cancellation.

Loan Program

The loans described in this section are generally available to Participants in 401(a) plans, 403(b) programs and 457(b) plans of eligible governmental employers. The ability to borrow, as well as the interest rate and other terms and conditions of the loan, may vary from Contract to Contract. Participants interested in borrowing should consult their Contractholder or Prudential.

For plans that are subject to ERISA, it is the responsibility of the plan fiduciary to ensure that the interest rate and other terms and conditions of the loan program comply with all Contract qualification requirements including the ERISA regulations.

The loans described in this section (which involve the Variable Investment Options) work as follows:

The term “Participant,” for the purposes of the loan program only, means a Participant or Beneficiary who is a “party in interest” to the plan including a Participant whose employment with a Plan Sponsor has ended.

Administration of Loan Program. A Participant loan is available only if the Participant makes a request for such a loan in accordance with the provisions of this loan program. To receive a Participant loan, a Participant must enter into an agreement, including a pledge or assignment of the portion of the Account Value used for security on the loan.

Non-Automated Loans (Loans Requested Via Paper Form)—A Participant may apply for a loan by submitting a duly completed loan application that has been signed by the Participant.

Automated Loans (Loans Requested Via Telephone or Internet)—If permitted under the Contract, a Participant may apply for a loan by submitting a duly completed loan application, in a form prescribed by Prudential and consistent with the terms of this loan program, by authorized electronic means. The date and time of receipt will be appropriately recorded.

A loan application fee of up to $75.00 will be charged for each new loan, which amount is not refundable. In addition, there is an annual loan maintenance fee of up to $60.00 which amount will be deducted from a Participant’s account. This annualized loan maintenance fee will be pro rated based on the number of full months that the loan is outstanding, and we generally deduct it quarterly. Under certain Contracts, we will deduct the loan maintenance fee annually.

Availability and Processing of Participant Loans. If loans are permitted under the terms of the Contract, loans will be made available to Participants. Prudential may however refuse to make a loan to any Participant who it

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reasonably believes will not repay the loan. A Participant who has defaulted on a previous loan from the plan and has not repaid such loan (with accrued interest) at the time of any subsequent loan will not be treated as creditworthy until such time as the Participant repays the defaulted loan (with accrued interest).

A Participant may not make, and the plan will not accept, a direct rollover of a loan from the plan of a Participant’s former employer.

We may delay the processing of a loan in order to obtain information from the Employer of a Participant that is reasonably necessary to ensure that the loan is in compliance with the restrictions imposed by Section 403(b) of the Code, if applicable. In such an event, a loan request will not be in Good Order and we will not process it until we obtain such information from the Employer. We may, however, refuse to make a loan if your Employer has not informed us that it is able to provide information reasonably necessary to ensure that loans, in general, are in compliance with the restrictions imposed by Section 403(b). An explanation of why an employer may be unwilling to provide this information may be found in the “ERISA Considerations” section.

Reasonable Rate of Interest. A Participant will be charged a reasonable rate of interest for any loan. The Contract will prescribe a means of establishing a reasonable interest rate. The interest rate on Participant loans will be declared quarterly; however, Prudential reserves the right to change the basis for determining the interest rate prospectively. The new basis will apply only to loans made after the effective date.

Adequate Security. All Participant loans must be adequately secured. The Participant’s vested Account Value will be used as security for a Participant loan provided the outstanding balance of all Participant loans made to such Participant does not exceed 50% of the Participant’s vested Account Value, determined immediately after the origination of each loan.

Periodic Repayment. A Participant loan must provide for level amortization with payments to be made not less frequently than quarterly. A Participant loan must be repaid within a period not exceeding five (5) years from the date the Participant receives the loan from the plan.

If permitted by the Contract, loan repayments may be made by payroll deduction. Repayment will begin as soon as is administratively practicable following issuance of the loan, but no more than 2 months from the date the loan is issued. Should payroll deductions not be possible, payments will be due directly from the Participant by check or similar payment method. Should a Participant be unable to use payroll repayment, the Contract may authorize regular payment no less frequently than quarterly on a revised schedule of amount and payment dates calculated to repay the loan, with interest in full, in substantially equal payments over the remaining original period of the loan.

Loans may be paid in full at any time without penalty. Any amount paid which is in excess of the scheduled payments then due, but less than the total outstanding balance, must be included with a scheduled payment and not under separate cover. The additional amount will be applied to the principal. Prepayments will not change the amount or timing of subsequent payments due prior to pay-off of the loan, but will simply reduce the total number of payments to be made.

Unpaid Leave of Absence. A Participant with an outstanding Participant loan may suspend loan payments to the plan for up to 12 months for any period during which the Participant is on an unpaid leave of absence. Upon the Participant’s return to employment (or after the end of the 12-month period, if earlier), the Participant’s outstanding loan will be re-amortized over the remaining period of such loan to make up for the missed payments. The re-amortized loan may extend beyond the original loan term so long as the loan is paid in full by the earliest of: (1) the date which is five (5) years from the original date of the loan (or the end of the suspension, if sooner), or (2) the original loan repayment deadline (or the end of the suspension period, if later) plus the length of the suspension period.

Military Leave. A Participant with an outstanding Participant loan also may suspend loan payments for any period such Participant is on military leave. Upon the Participant’s return from military leave (or the expiration of five years from the date the Participant began his/her military leave, if earlier), loan payments will recommence under the

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amortization schedule in effect prior to the Participant’s military leave, without regard to the five-year maximum loan repayment period. Alternatively, the loan may be reamortized to require a different level of loan payment, as long as the amount and frequency of such payments are not less than the amount and frequency under the amortization schedule in effect prior to the Participant’s military leave. Military leave personnel with loans will have further rights as determined by the Soldiers and Sailors Civil Relief Act of 1940 (generally limiting to 6% the annual percentage rate chargeable on loans during periods of military leave).

Loan Limitations. A Participant loan may not be made to the extent such loan (when added to the outstanding balance of all other loans made to the Participant) exceeds the lesser of:

The minimum loan amount is as specified in the Contract, or if not specified, as determined by Prudential and permitted under applicable law. For purposes of this limit, an “outstanding loan” includes a loan for which a “deemed distribution” has occurred, following the borrower’s default and pursuant to applicable law, unless the borrower repays the outstanding balance of the defaulted loan (including accrued interest through the date of repayment).

This maximum is set by federal tax law and applies to all loans from any plans of the Employer, including all annuity contracts offered under such plans. In applying the limitations under this section, all plans maintained by the Employer are aggregated and treated as a single plan. In addition, any assignment or pledge of any portion of the Participant’s interest in the plan and any loan, pledge, or assignment with respect to any insurance contract purchased under the plan will be treated as a loan under this section. Since Prudential cannot monitor a Participant’s loan activity relating to other plans offered to the Participant, or loan activity under annuity contracts not issued by Prudential, it is the Participant’s responsibility to do so. Provided that a Participant adheres to these limitations, the loan will not be treated as a taxable distribution. If, however, the Participant defaults on the loan by, for example, failing to make required payments, the defaulted loan amount will be treated as a taxable distribution. In that event, Prudential will send the appropriate tax information to the Participant and the Internal Revenue Service. Only one outstanding loan is allowed per Participant. A Participant may not renegotiate a loan.

Segregated Investment. A Participant loan is treated as a segregated investment on behalf of the individual Participant for whom the loan is made. If the Contract does not specify procedures designating the type of contributions from which the Participant loan will be made, such loan is deemed to be made on a proportionate basis from each type of contribution.

Unless requested otherwise on the Participant’s loan application, a Participant loan will be made equally from all investment funds in which the applicable contributions are held. A Participant or Beneficiary may direct the trustee, on his/her loan application, to withdraw the Participant loan amounts from a specific investment fund or funds, if the Employer’s plan permits. Unless specified otherwise in the Contract, loan repayments will be invested according to the Participant’s investment allocation for current contributions unless otherwise elected by the Participant.

Procedures for Loan Default. If the plan does not receive payment on a loan on a timely basis for whatever reason, regardless of whether the borrower normally makes repayment by salary deduction or direct payment, the loan will be considered in default unless payment is made within a grace period. The grace period will be the 90 day period after each due date (unless a shorter grace period is dictated by your plan), but may be extended by determination of Prudential, to the date the late payment is actually made for specific causes that are beyond the Participant’s control and are consistently determined and applied on a nondiscriminatory basis. In no event may the grace period extend beyond the end of the calendar quarter following the calendar quarter in which the payment was originally due.

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Loans default upon a determination by Prudential, consistently determined and applied on a nondiscriminatory basis, due to the following:

If a Participant defaults on a Participant loan, the plan may not offset the Participant’s Account Value until the Participant is otherwise entitled to an immediate distribution of the portion of the Account Value that will be offset and such amount being offset is available as security on the loan. For this purpose, a loan default is treated as an immediate distribution event to the extent the law does not prohibit an actual distribution of the type of contributions which would be offset as a result of the loan default. The Participant may repay the outstanding balance of a defaulted loan (including accrued interest through the date of repayment) at any time.

Pending the offset of a Participant’s Account Value following a defaulted loan, the following rules apply to the amount in default. Post default interest accrual on a defaulted loan applies to loans initiated after December 31, 2001.

The post-default accrued interest included in the loan offset is not reported as a taxable distribution at the time of the offset.

Loan repayments may continue beyond termination of employment, if allowed under the terms of your retirement plan. Otherwise, if permitted under the terms of the plan, a loan will default when the Participant who has terminated employment, either first takes a distribution of any portion of the Account Value, or the grace period has expired.

A Participant may not request a direct rollover of the loan note.

Modified Procedures

Under certain Contracts, the Contractholder or a third party acting on their behalf provides record keeping services that would otherwise be performed by Prudential. Such Contracts may require procedures somewhat different than those set forth in this prospectus. For example, such Contracts may require that contribution allocation requests, withdrawal requests, and/or transfer requests be directed to the Contract’s record keeper rather than Prudential. The record keeper is the Contractholder’s agent, not Prudential’s agent. Accordingly, transactions will be processed and priced as of the end of the Business Day in which Prudential receives appropriate instructions and/or funds from the record keeper. The Contract will set forth any such different procedures.

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CHARGES, FEES AND DEDUCTIONS

Administrative Fee

Prudential imposes an administrative fee to compensate for the expenses incurred in administering the Contracts. This includes such things as issuing the Contract, establishing and maintaining records, and providing reports to Contractholders and Participants. Prudential deducts this fee daily from the assets in each of the Subaccounts at a maximum effective annual rate of 0.75%. Prudential may reduce this administrative fee under certain Contracts due to economies of scale or other factors.

Charge for Assuming Mortality and Expense Risks

Prudential makes a deduction daily from the assets of each of the Subaccounts as compensation for assuming the risk that our estimates of longevity and of the expenses we expect to incur over the lengthy periods that the Contract may be in effect will turn out to be incorrect. Prudential may reduce the charge for mortality and expense risks under certain Contracts due to economies of scale or other factors. Prudential assesses the charge daily at a maximum annual rate of 0.15% of the assets held in the Subaccounts.

Expenses Incurred by the Funds

Participants indirectly bear the charges and expenses of the funds. Details about investment management fees and other fund expenses are available in the accompanying prospectuses for the funds and the related statements of additional information.

Withdrawal Charge

Effective October 1, 2009, Prudential has waived the withdrawal charge for all contracts.

Taxes Attributable to Premium

There are federal, state and local premium based taxes applicable to your Purchase Payment. We are responsible for the payment of these taxes and may make a deduction from the value of the contract to pay some or all of these taxes. Some of these taxes are due when the contract is issued, others are due when the annuity payments begin. It is our current practice not to deduct a charge for state premium taxes until annuity payments begin. In the states that impose a premium tax, the current rates range up to 3.5%. It is also our current practice not to deduct a charge for the federal deferred acquisition costs paid by us that are based on premium received. However, we reserve the right to charge the contract owner in the future for any such deferred acquisition costs and any federal, state or local income, excise, business or any other type of tax measured by the amount of premium received by us.

Loan Fee

A loan application fee of up to $75.00 will be charged for each new loan, which amount is not refundable. In addition, there is an annual loan maintenance fee of up to $60.00 which amount will be deducted from a Participant’s account.

This annualized loan maintenance fee will be pro rated based on the number of full months that the loan is outstanding, and we generally deduct it quarterly. Under certain Contracts, we will deduct the loan maintenance fee annually. For additional information about loans, turn to the “Loan Program” section of this prospectus.

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Aggregate Nature of Charges

The charges under the Contracts are designed to cover, in the aggregate, our direct and indirect costs of selling, administering and providing benefits under the Contracts. They are also designed, in the aggregate, to compensate us for the risks of loss we assume pursuant to the Contracts. If, as we expect, the charges that we collect from the Contracts exceed our total costs in connection with the Contracts, we will earn a profit. Otherwise, we will incur a loss. The rates of certain of our charges have been set with reference to estimates of the amount of specific types of expenses or risks that we will incur. In most cases, this prospectus identifies such expenses or risks in the name of the charge; however, the fact that any charge bears the name of, or is designed primarily to defray a particular expense or risk does not mean that the amount we collect from that charge will never be more than the amount of such expense or risk. Nor does it mean that we may not also be compensated for such expense or risk out of any other charges we are permitted to deduct by the terms of the Contract.

REQUESTS, CONSENTS AND NOTICES

The way you provide all or some requests, consents, or notices under a Contract (or related agreement or procedure) may include telephone access to an automated system, telephone access to a staffed call center, or internet access through www.prudential.com/online/retirement, as well as traditional paper. Prudential reserves the right to vary the means available from Contract to Contract, including limiting them to electronic means, by Contract terms, related service agreements with the Contractholder, or notice to the Contractholder and Participants. If electronic means are authorized, you will automatically be able to use them.

Prudential also will be able to use electronic means to provide notices to you, provided your Contract or other agreement with the Contractholder does not specifically limit these means. Electronic means will only be used, however, when Prudential reasonably believes that you have effective access to the electronic means and that they are allowed by applicable law. Also, you will be able to receive a paper copy of any notice upon request.

For your protection and to prevent unauthorized exchanges, telephone calls and other electronic communications will be recorded and stored, and you will be asked to provide your personal identification number or other identifying information before any request will be processed. Neither Prudential nor our agents will be liable for any loss, liability, or cost which results from acting upon instructions reasonably believed to be authorized by you.

During times of extraordinary economic or market changes, electronic and other instructions may be difficult to implement.

Prudential does not guarantee access to telephonic, facsimile, internet or any other electronic information or that we will be able to accept transaction instructions via such means at all times. Nor, due to circumstances beyond our control, can we provide any assurances as to the delivery of transaction instructions submitted to us by regular and/or express mail. Regular and/or express mail (if operational) will be the only means by which we will accept transaction instructions when telephonic facsimile, internet or any other electronic means are unavailable or delayed. Prudential reserves the right to limit, restrict or terminate telephonic, facsimile, internet or any other electronic transaction privileges at any time.

Some states, retirement programs, or Contractholders may not allow these privileges, or allow them only in modified form.

FEDERAL TAX STATUS

The following discussion is general in nature and describes only federal income tax law (not state or other tax laws). It is based on current law and interpretations, which may change. It is not intended as tax advice. Participants and Contractholders should consult a qualified tax adviser for complete information and advice.

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Civil Union and Domestic Partner Considerations

The summary that follows includes a description of certain spousal rights under the Contract and our administration of such spousal rights and related tax reporting. Prior to a 2013 Supreme Court decision, and consistent with Section 3 of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (“DOMA”), same sex marriages under state law were not recognized as same sex marriages for purposes of federal law. However, in United States v. Windsor, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Section 3 of DOMA as unconstitutional, thereby recognizing a valid same sex marriage for federal law purposes. On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that same sex couples have a constitutional right to marry, thus requiring all states to allow same sex marriage. The Windsor and Obergefell decisions mean that the federal and state tax law provisions applicable to an opposite sex spouse will also apply to a same sex spouse. Please note that a civil union or registered domestic partnership is generally not recognized as a marriage.

Please consult with your tax or legal adviser with regard to spousal rights under the Contract for a domestic partner or civil union partner.

Annuity Qualification

This discussion assumes the Contracts will be treated as annuity contracts for federal income tax purposes. In order to qualify for the tax rules applicable to annuity contracts, the assets underlying the Contracts must be diversified according to certain rules. For further detail on diversification requirements, see Dividends, Distributions and Taxes in the attached prospectus for The Prudential Series Fund. Tax rules also require that Prudential must have sufficient control over the underlying assets to be treated as the owner of the underlying assets for tax purposes. Treasury Department regulations do not provide guidance concerning the extent to which Participants may direct investments in the particular investment options without causing Participants, instead of Prudential, to be considered the owner of the underlying assets. The ownership rights under the Contract are similar to, but different in certain aspects from, those addressed by the Internal Revenue Service in rulings holding that the insurance company was the owner of the assets. For example, Participants have the choice of more funds and the ability to reallocate amounts among available Subaccounts more frequently than in the Ruling. While we believe that Prudential will be treated as the owner of the assets of the Discovery Account, it is possible that the Participants may be considered to own the assets. Because of these uncertainties, Prudential reserves the right to make any changes it deems necessary to assure that the Contracts qualify as annuity contracts for tax purposes including changing the number of funds that an Employer may make available to Participants. Any such changes will apply uniformly to affected Participants and will be made with such notice to affected Participants as is feasible under the circumstances. For Contracts funding retirement plans subject to the fiduciary responsibility provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, such changes will be made only upon consent of the plan fiduciary.

Tax Qualified Retirement Arrangements Using the Contracts

The Contracts may be used with qualified pension and profit sharing plans, plans established by self-employed persons (“Keogh plans”), simplified employee pension plans (“SEPs”), IRAs, Roth IRAs, and Section 403(b) tax deferred annuities (“TDAs”). The Contracts may be used with defined contribution annuity plans qualifying for federal tax benefits under Section 403(c) of the Code (“Section 403(c) annuities”). The Contracts may also be used with certain deferred compensation plans of a state or local government or a tax exempt organization (called “Section 457 Plans” after the Internal Revenue Code section that governs their structure). Where Employer plans permit, the Contract may also be used for Roth Accounts. The provisions of the tax law that apply to these retirement arrangements that may be funded by the Contracts are complex, and Participants are advised to consult a qualified tax adviser.

You should be aware that tax favored plans such as IRAs generally provide income tax deferral regardless of whether they invest in annuity contracts. This means that when a tax favored plan invests in an annuity contract, it generally does not result in any additional tax benefits (such as income tax deferral and income tax free transfers).

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The tax rules for such plans involve, among other things, limitations on contributions and required minimum distribution provisions. Tax exempt organizations or governmental employers considering the use of the Contracts to fund or otherwise provide deferred compensation to their employees should consult with a qualified tax adviser concerning these specific requirements.

Contributions

In general, assuming that the requirements and limitations of tax law applicable to the particular type of plan are adhered to by Participants and Employers, contributions made under a qualified retirement arrangement funded by a Contract are deductible (or not includible in income) up to certain amounts each year. Deductions for IRA contributions may be limited based on income if the individual or their spouse is a Participant in an Employer plan.

Contributions to a Roth IRA are subject to certain limits, and are not deductible for federal income tax purposes. Contributions to a Roth account under an employer plan or to a Section 403(c) annuity are not deductible.

Earnings

Under the retirement programs with which the Contracts may be used, federal income tax currently is not imposed upon the investment income and realized gains earned by the Subaccounts in which the contributions have been invested until a distribution or withdrawal is received.

Distributions or Withdrawals

When a distribution or withdrawal is received, either as a lump sum, an annuity, or as regular payments in accordance with a systematic withdrawal arrangement, all or a portion of the distribution or withdrawal is normally taxable as ordinary income. In some cases, the tax on lump sum distributions may be limited by a special income-averaging rule. The effect of federal income taxation depends largely upon the type of retirement plan and a generalized description, beyond that given here, is not particularly useful. Careful review of tax law applicable to the particular type of plan is necessary.

Furthermore, premature distributions or withdrawals may be restricted or subject to a penalty tax. Participants contemplating a withdrawal should consult a qualified tax adviser.

Under a Roth IRA, distributions are generally not taxable for federal income tax purposes if they are made after attainment of age 59 ¹/₂ or for certain other reasons and if the individual had a Roth IRA in effect for at least five tax years. Distributions from a Roth account under an employer plan are taxed similarly.

Tax Deferred Annuities

In general, you may own a Tax Deferred Annuity (also known as a TDA, Tax Sheltered Annuity (TSA), 403(b) plan or 403(b) annuity) if you are an employee of a tax exempt organization (as defined under Code Section 501(c)(3)) or a public educational organization, and you may make contributions to a TDA so long as your employer maintains such a plan and your rights to the annuity are non-forfeitable. Contributions to a TDA, and any earnings, are not taxable until distribution. You may also make contributions to a TDA under a salary reduction agreement, generally up to a maximum of $18,000 in 2016. Individuals participating in a TDA who are age 50 or above by the end of the year will be permitted to contribute an additional $6,000 in 2016. This amount is indexed for inflation. Further, you may roll over TDA amounts to another TDA or an IRA. You may also roll over TDA amounts to a qualified retirement plan, a SEP, a 457 government plan and a SIMPLE plan after you have participated in such plan for two years. A contract

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may generally only qualify as a TDA if distributions of salary deferrals (other than “grandfathered” amounts held as of December 31, 1988) may be made only on account of:

In any event, you must begin receiving distributions from your TDA by April 1^st of the calendar year after the calendar year you turn age 70 ¹/₂ or retire, whichever is later. These distribution limits do not apply either to transfers or exchanges of investments under the contract, or to any “direct transfer” of your interest in the contract to another employer’s TDA plan or mutual fund “custodial account” described under Code Section 403(b)(7). Employer contributions to TDAs are subject to the same general contribution, nondiscrimination, and minimum participation rules applicable to “qualified” retirement plans.

Required Minimum Distribution Rules

In general, distributions from qualified retirement arrangements and Section 457 Plans must begin by the “required beginning date” which is April 1 of the calendar year following the later of (1) the year in which the Participant attains age 70 ¹/₂ or (2) the Participant retires (retirement date not applicable to IRAs). The following exceptions apply:

Please note that if you elected to receive required minimum distributions under a systematic minimum distribution option, this program is discontinued upon receipt of notification of death. The final required minimum distribution must be distributed prior to establishing a beneficiary payment option for the balance of the contract.

Distributions that are made after the required beginning date must generally be made in the form of an annuity for the life of the Participant or the lives of the Participant and his/her designated Beneficiary, or over a period that is not longer than the life expectancy of the Participant or the life expectancies of the Participant and his/her designated Beneficiary.

Distributions to Beneficiaries are also subject to required minimum distribution rules. If a Participant dies after the required beginning date, but before his/her entire interest in his/her Participant Account has been distributed, and did not designate a Beneficiary, his/her remaining interest must be distributed at least as rapidly as under the method of distribution being used as of the Participant’s date of death. If the Participant dies before distributions have begun (or are treated as having begun) and did not designate a Beneficiary, the entire interest in his/her Participant Account generally must be distributed by December 31 of the calendar year containing the fifth anniversary of the Participant’s death. Alternatively, if there is a designated Beneficiary, payment of the entire interest generally must begin no later than December 31 of the calendar year immediately following the year in which the Participant dies and continue for the Beneficiary’s life or a period not exceeding the Beneficiary’s life expectancy. Special rules apply where the deceased Participant’s spouse is his/her designated Beneficiary. A designated Beneficiary may elect to apply the rules for no designated Beneficiary, if they would provide a smaller payment requirement.

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As of 2007, non-spouse Beneficiaries are permitted to roll death benefits to an IRA from a qualified retirement plan, a §457 governmental plan, a §403(b) TDA or an IRA. Such plans are not required to offer non-spouse rollovers but if they do, the rollover must be a direct trustee to IRA rollover. For plan years beginning after December 31, 2009, Employer plans are required to be amended to permit such rollovers. The IRA receiving the death benefit must be titled and treated as an “inherited IRA.” A non-spouse Beneficiary may also roll death benefits to an “inherited Roth IRA.” The “required minimum distribution” rules regarding non-spouse Beneficiaries continue to apply.

An excise tax applies to Participants or Beneficiaries who fail to take the required minimum distribution in any calendar year.

Special Considerations Regarding Exchanges Involving 403(b) Arrangements

IRS regulations may affect the taxation of 403(b) tax deferred annuity contract exchanges. Annuity contract exchanges are a common non-taxable method to exchange one tax deferred annuity contract for another. The IRS has issued regulations that may impose restrictions on your ability to make such an exchange. The regulations are generally effective in 2009. We accept exchanges only if we have entered into an information-sharing agreement or its functional equivalent, with the applicable employer or its agent. We make such exchanges only if your employer confirms that it has entered into an information-sharing agreement or its functional equivalent with the issuer of the other annuity contract. This means that if you request an exchange we will not consider your request to be in Good Order, and will not therefore process the transaction, until we receive confirmation from your employer.

Section 403(c) Annuity Arrangements Using the Contracts

Contributions to Section 403(c) annuities are neither deductible nor subject to tax law limitations on their amount. Federal income tax currently is not imposed upon the investment income and realized gains earned by the Subaccounts in which contributions have been invested until a distribution or withdrawal is received. When a distribution or withdrawal is received, either as a lump sum, an annuity, or as regular payments in accordance with a systematic withdrawal arrangement, a portion of the distribution or withdrawal is taxable as ordinary income. Section 403(c) annuities are subject to neither the required minimum distribution rules described above nor to the rules described below as penalty taxes on withdrawals and annuity payments and required distributions upon death of participant.

ERISA Considerations

Employer involvement and other factors will determine whether a Contract is subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”). If applicable, ERISA and the Code prevent a fiduciary and other “parties in interest” with respect to a plan (and, for these purposes, an IRA would also constitute a “plan”) from receiving any benefit from any party dealing with the plan, as a result of the sale of the Contract. Administrative exemptions under ERISA generally permit the sale of insurance/annuity products to plans, provided that certain information is disclosed to the person purchasing the Contract. This information has to do primarily with the fees, charges, discounts and other costs related to the Contract, as well as any commissions paid to any agent selling the Contract.

Information about any applicable fees, charges, discounts, penalties or adjustments may be found under the “Charges, Fees and Deductions” section.

Information about sales representatives and commissions may be found under the “Other Information” and “Sale of the Contract and Sales Commissions” sections.

In addition, other relevant information required by the exemptions is contained in the Contract and accompanying documentation. Please consult your tax advisor if you have any additional questions.

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The U.S. Department of Labor considers certain types of employer actions under a section 403(b) program to be inconsistent with the program not being subject to ERISA. Among these are employer approval of participant requests for loans and hardship withdrawals both of which reasonably may be necessary to comply with restrictions imposed by Section 403(b) of the Code. If an Employer that is a tax exempt entity does not inform us that it will approve Participant requests for loans and hardships, such transactions may not be available to Participants using funds held under the Contracts. An individual employed by a tax exempt entity should check with his/her employer to determine whether loans and hardship withdrawals are available using funds held under the Contracts.

Taxes Payable by Participant

We believe the Contracts are annuity contracts for tax purposes. Accordingly, as a general rule, Participants should not pay any tax on investment earnings until money is received under the Contracts. Generally, annuity contracts issued by the same company (and affiliates) to a Participant during the same calendar year must be treated as one annuity contract for purposes of determining the amount subject to tax under the rules described below.

Taxes on Withdrawals and Surrender

If a Participant makes a withdrawal from the Contract or surrenders it before annuity payments begin, the amount received will be taxed as ordinary income, rather than as return of Purchase Payments, until all gain has been withdrawn.

If a Participant assigns or pledges all or part of the Contract as collateral for a loan, the part assigned or pledged will be treated as a withdrawal. Also, if a Participant elects the interest payment option, this will be treated, for tax purposes, as a surrender of the Contract.

If a Participant transfers the Contract for less than full consideration, such as by gift, tax will be triggered on the gain in the Contract. This rule does not apply to transfers to a spouse or incident to divorce.

Taxes on Annuity Payments

A portion of each annuity payment a Participant receives will be treated as a partial return of Purchase Payments and will not be taxed. The remaining portion will be taxed as ordinary income. Generally, the nontaxable portion is determined by multiplying the annuity payment received by a fraction, the numerator of which is the Purchase Payments (less any amounts previously received tax-free) and the denominator of which is the total expected payments under the Contract.

After the full amount of the Purchase Payments have been recovered tax-free, the full amount of the annuity payments will be taxable. If annuity payments stop due to the death of the Annuitant before the full amount of the Purchase Payments have been recovered, a tax deduction is allowed for the unrecovered amount.

Tax Penalty on Withdrawals and Annuity Payments

Any taxable amount received under the Contract may be subject to a 10% tax penalty. The 10% tax penalty does not apply to Section 457 plans. Also, amounts are not subject to this tax penalty if:

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Generally, if the lifetime annuity payment stream is modified (other than as a result of death or disability) before age 59 ¹/₂ (or before the end of the five year period beginning with the first payment and ending after age 59 ¹/₂), the tax for the year of modification will be increased by the tax penalty that would have been imposed without the exception, plus interest for the deferral. There are three approved methods for calculating the amount of the payments in the payment stream. In Revenue Ruling 2002-62, the IRS has indicated that a taxpayer may make a one-time switch to the “required minimum distribution method” from either of the other two methods without being deemed to have modified the series of payments.

Taxes Payable by Beneficiaries

Generally, the same tax rules apply to amounts received by a Beneficiary as those set forth above with respect to a Participant. The election of an annuity payment option instead of a lump sum death benefit may defer taxes. Certain required minimum distribution rules apply upon the death of a Participant, as discussed further below.

Required Distributions Upon Death of Participant

For non-qualified annuity arrangements certain distributions must be made under the Contract upon the death of a Participant. The required distributions depend on whether the Participant dies on or before the start of annuity payments under the Contract or after annuity payments are started under the Contract. For Qualified Plans, see “Required Minimum Distribution Rules” previously discussed in this section.

If the Participant dies on or after the Annuity Date, and did not designate a Beneficiary, the remaining portion of the interest in the Contract must be distributed at least as rapidly under the method of distribution being used as of the date of death. If a Participant dies before the Annuity Date, the entire interest in the Contract must be distributed within 5 years after the date of death. However, if the Participant designated a Beneficiary, the designated Beneficiary may select an annuity payment option with payments to begin within 1 year of the death of the Participant. The value of the Contract may be distributed under an annuity option over the Beneficiary’s life or a period not exceeding the Beneficiary’s life expectancy. The designated Beneficiary is the person to whom the ownership of the Contract passes by reason of death, and must be a natural person.

If any portion of the Contract is payable to (or for the benefit of) a Participant’s surviving spouse, such portion of the Contract may be continued with the spouse as the owner.

As of 2007, non-spouse Beneficiaries are permitted to roll death benefits to an IRA from a qualified retirement plan, a §457 governmental plan, a §403(b) TDA or an IRA. Such plans are not required to offer non-spouse rollovers, but if they do, the rollover must be a direct trustee to IRA rollover. For plan years beginning after December 31, 2009, Employer plans are required to be amended to permit such rollovers. The IRA receiving the death benefit must be titled and treated as an “inherited IRA.” A non-spouse Beneficiary may also roll death benefits to an “inherited Roth IRA.” The required minimum distribution rules regarding non-spouse Beneficiaries continue to apply.

Withholding

Taxable amounts distributed from annuity contracts in nonqualified annuity arrangements and annuity payments from qualified plans are subject to tax withholding. Participants may generally elect not to have tax withheld from

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payments. The rate of withholding on annuity payments will be determined on the basis of the withholding certificate filed with us. Absent these elections, we will withhold the tax amounts required by the applicable tax regulations. Participants may be subject to penalties under the estimated tax payment rules if withholding and estimated tax payments are not sufficient. Participants who fail to provide a social security number or other taxpayer identification number will not be permitted to elect out of withholding.

In addition, certain distributions from qualified plans, which are not directly rolled over or transferred to another eligible qualified plan, are subject to a mandatory 20% withholding for federal income tax. The 20% withholding requirement does not apply to: (1) distributions for the life or life expectancy of the Participant, or joint and last survivor expectancy of the Participant and a designated Beneficiary; or (2) distributions for a specified period of 10 years or more; (3) distributions required as minimum distributions; or (4) hardship distribution of salary deferral amounts. Amounts that are received under a Contract used in connection with a Section 457 Plan are treated as wages for federal income tax purposes and are, thus, subject to general withholding requirements.

Taxes on Prudential

Although the Account is registered as an investment company, it is not a separate taxpayer for purposes of the Code. The earnings of the Subaccounts invested in the funds are taxed as part of the operations of Prudential. No charge is being made currently against those Subaccounts for company federal income taxes. Prudential will review the question of a charge to the Subaccounts invested in the funds for company federal income taxes periodically. Such a charge may be made in future years for any federal income taxes that would be attributable to the Contracts.

In calculating our corporate income tax liability, we derive certain corporate income tax benefits associated with the investment of company assets, including Subaccount assets, which are treated as company assets under applicable income tax law. These benefits reduce our overall corporate income tax liability. Under current law, such benefits may include foreign tax credits and corporate dividend received deductions. We do not pass these tax benefits through to holders of the Subaccount contracts because (i) the contract owners are not the owners of the assets generating these benefits under applicable income tax law and (ii) we do not currently include company income taxes in the tax charges paid under the contract. We reserve the right to change these tax practices.

EFFECTING AN ANNUITY

Subject to the restrictions on withdrawals from tax deferred annuities subject to Section 403(b) of the Code, and subject to the provisions of the retirement arrangement that covers him or her, a Participant may elect at any time to have all or a part of his/her interest in the Participant Account used to purchase a fixed dollar annuity under the Contracts. The Contracts do not provide for annuities that vary with the investment results of any Subaccount. Withdrawals from the Participant Account that are used to purchase a fixed dollar annuity under the Contracts become part of Prudential’s General Account, which supports insurance and annuity obligations.

In electing to have an annuity purchased, the Participant may select from the forms of annuity described below, unless the retirement arrangement covering the Participant provides otherwise. The annuity is purchased on the first day of the month following receipt by us of proper written notice on a form we have approved that the Participant has elected to have an annuity purchased, or on the first day of any subsequent month that the Participant designates. We generally will make the first monthly annuity payment within one month of the date on which the annuity is purchased.

For contracts held in connection with certain types of retirement arrangements, please note that if a Participant is married at the time payments commence, the Participant may be required by federal law to choose an income option that provides at least a 50% joint and survivor annuity to the Participant’s spouse, unless the Participant’s spouse waives that right. Similarly, if the Participant is married at the time of the Participant’s death, federal law may require all or a portion of the death benefit to be paid to the Participant’s spouse, even if the Participant designated someone

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else as the Participant’s Beneficiary. For more information, consult the terms of your retirement arrangement. A “qualified joint and survivor annuity” is an annuity for the Participant’s lifetime with at least 50% of the amount payable to the Participant continued after the Participant’s death to his/her spouse, if then living.

Once annuity payments begin, the Annuitant cannot surrender his/her annuity benefit and receive a one sum payment.

We make the following forms of annuity available to Participants.

Life Annuity with Payments Certain

This is an immediate annuity payable monthly during the lifetime of the Annuitant. We guarantee that if, at the death of the Annuitant, payments have been made for less than the period certain (which may be 60, 120, 180, or 240 months, as selected by the Annuitant), they will be continued during the remainder of the selected period to his/her Beneficiary.

Annuity Certain

This is an immediate annuity payable monthly for a period certain which may be 60, 120, 180, or 240 months, as selected by the Annuitant. If the Annuitant dies during the period certain, we will continue payments in the same amount the Annuitant was receiving to his/her Beneficiary. We make no further payments after the end of the period certain.

Joint and Survivor Annuity with Payments Certain

This is an immediate annuity payable monthly during the lifetime of the Annuitant with payments continued after his/her death to the contingent annuitant, if surviving, for the latter’s lifetime. Until the selected number of payments certain have been paid, payments made to the contingent annuitant after the Annuitant’s death are the same as those the Annuitant was receiving. After the selected number of period certain payments have been made, the payments continued to the contingent annuitant will be a percentage of the monthly amount paid to the Annuitant such as 33 ¹/₃%, 50%, 66 ²/₃%, or 100% as selected by the Annuitant. The amounts of each payment made to the Annuitant will be lower as the percentage he/she selects to be paid to the contingent annuitant is higher. If both the Annuitant and the contingent annuitant die during the period certain (which may be 60, 120, 180, or 240 months, as selected by the Annuitant), we will continue payments during the remainder of the period certain to the properly designated Beneficiary.

We may make other forms of annuity available under the Contracts. The retirement arrangement under which the Participant is covered may restrict the forms of annuity that a Participant may elect.

If the dollar amount of the first monthly annuity payment is less than the minimum amount specified in the Contract, or if the Beneficiary is other than a natural person receiving payments in his/her own right, we may elect to pay the commuted value of the unpaid payments certain in one sum.

Purchasing the Annuity

We apply the value of your Participant Account, less any applicable taxes, to the appropriate annuity purchase rate determined in accordance with the schedule in the Contract at the time the annuity is purchased. However, we may determine monthly payments from schedules of annuity purchase rates providing for larger payments than the rates shown in the Contract.

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We guarantee the schedule of annuity purchase rates in a Contract for ten years from the date the Contract is issued. If at any time after a Contract has been in effect for ten years, we modify the schedule of annuity purchase rates, the modification is also guaranteed for ten years. A change in the schedule of annuity purchase rates used for an annuity certain with 180 payments or less, as described above, will apply only to amounts added to a Participant Account after the date of change. A change in any other schedule will apply to all amounts in a Participant Account.

Spousal Consent Rules for Certain Retirement Plans

Spousal consent rules may apply to retirement plans intended to satisfy Section 401(a) of the Code and plans subject to ERISA.

If you are married at the time your payments commence, you may be required by federal law to choose an income option that provides survivor annuity income to your spouse, unless your spouse waives that right. Similarly, if you are married at the time of your death, federal law may require all or a portion of the death benefit to be paid to your spouse, even if you designated someone else as your Beneficiary. A brief explanation of the applicable rules follows. For more information, consult the terms of your retirement arrangement.

Defined Benefit Plan and Money Purchase Pension Plans—If you are married at the time your payments commence, federal law requires that benefits be paid to you in the form of a “qualified joint and survivor annuity” (“QJSA”), unless you and your spouse waive that right, in writing. Generally, this means that you will receive a reduced payment during your life and, upon your death, your spouse will receive at least one-half of what you were receiving for life. You may elect to receive another income option if your spouse consents to the election and waives his/her right to receive the QJSA. If your spouse consents to the alternative form of payment, your spouse may not receive any benefits from the plan upon your death.

Federal law also requires that the plan pay a death benefit to your spouse if you are married and die before you begin receiving your benefit. This benefit must be available in the form of an annuity for your spouse’s lifetime and is called a “qualified pre-retirement survivor annuity” (“QPSA”). If the plan pays death benefits to other Beneficiaries, you may elect to have a Beneficiary other than your spouse receive the death benefit, but only if your spouse consents to the election and waives his/her right to receive the QPSA. If your spouse consents to the alternate Beneficiary, your spouse will receive no benefits from the plan upon your death. Any QPSA waiver prior to your attaining age 35 will become null and void on the first day of the calendar year in which you attain age 35, if still employed.

Defined Contribution Plans (including 401(k) Plans and ERISA 403(b) Annuities)—Spousal consent to a distribution is generally not required. Upon your death, your spouse will receive the entire death benefit, even if you designated someone else as your Beneficiary, unless your spouse consents in writing to waive this right. Also, if you are married and elect an annuity as a periodic income option, federal law requires that you receive a QJSA (as described above), unless you and your spouse consent to waive this right.

IRAs, non-ERISA 403(b) Annuities and 457 Plans—Spousal consent to a distribution is not required. Upon your death, any death benefit will be paid to your designated Beneficiary.

OTHER INFORMATION

Misstatement of Age or Sex

If an Annuitant’s stated age or sex (except where unisex rates apply) or both are incorrect, we will change each benefit and the amount of each annuity payment to that which the total contributions would have bought for the correct age and sex. Also, we will adjust for the amount of any overpayments we have already made.

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Sale of the Contract and Sales Commissions

Prudential Investment Management Services LLC (“PIMS”), an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Prudential Financial, is the distributor and principal underwriter of the securities offered through this prospectus. PIMS acts in this same capacity for a number of annuity and life insurance products we and our affiliates offer. PIMS was organized in 1996 under Delaware law, is registered as a broker and dealer under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). PIMS’ principal business address is 655 Broad Street, 19^th Floor, Newark, NJ 07102-4410.

PIMS may enter into distribution agreements with broker-dealers who are registered under the Exchange Act and with entities that may offer the Contact but are exempt from registration (firms). Applications for the Contract may be solicited by registered representatives of those firms. Such representatives will also be our appointed insurance agents under state insurance law. In addition, PIMS may offer the Contract directly to potential purchasers.

During 2015, 2014 and 2013, $158,681, $157,692 and $156,543, respectively, were paid to PIMS for its services as principal underwriter. PIMS retained none of the commissions.

We pay the broker-dealer whose registered representatives sell the Contract either:

The individual registered representatives would receive a portion of the compensation, depending on the practice of his/her broker-dealer firm.

We may also provide compensation to the firm for providing ongoing service in relation to the Contract. Commissions and other compensation paid in relation to the Contract do not result in any additional charge to you or to the Discovery Account not described in this prospectus. In addition, in an effort to promote the sale of our products (which may include the placement of Prudential, affiliates of Prudential and/or the Contract on a preferred or recommended company or product list and/or access to the firm’s registered representatives), we or our affiliates, including PIMS, may enter into compensation arrangements with certain broker-dealer firms with respect to certain or all registered representatives of such firms under which such firms may receive separate compensation or reimbursement for, among other things, training of sales personnel and/or marketing and/or administrative services and/or other services they provide to us or our affiliates. These services may include, but are not limited to: educating customers of the firm on the Contract’s features; conducting due diligence or analysis; providing office access, operations and systems support; holding seminars intended to educate registered representatives and make them more knowledgeable about the Contract; providing a dedicated marketing coordinator; providing priority sales desk support; and providing expedited marketing compliance approval to PIMS. A list of firms that PIMS paid pursuant to such arrangements, if any, related to the sale of variable annuities, is provided in the Statement of Additional Information, which is available upon request.

To the extent permitted by FINRA rules and other applicable laws and regulations, PIMS may pay or allow other promotional incentives or payments in the form of cash or non-cash compensation. These arrangements may not be offered to all firms, and the terms of such arrangements may differ between firms. You should note that firms and individual registered representatives and branch managers within some firms participating in one of these compensation arrangements might receive greater compensation for selling the Contract than for selling a different group annuity contract that is not eligible for these compensation arrangements. While compensation is generally taken into account as an expense in considering the charges applicable to an annuity product, any such compensation will be paid by us or PIMS, and will not result in any additional charge to you not described in this prospectus. Overall compensation paid to firms does not exceed, based on actuarial assumptions, 8% of the total Purchase Payments made. Your registered representative can provide you with more information about the compensation arrangements that apply upon the sale of the Contract.

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In addition, we or our affiliates may provide such compensation, payments and/or incentives to firms arising out of the marketing, sale and/or servicing of variable annuities or life insurance offered by other Prudential business units.

Voting Rights

As stated above, all of the assets held in the Subaccounts of the Discovery Account are invested in shares of the corresponding funds. Prudential is the legal owner of those shares. As such, Prudential has the right to vote on any matter voted on at any shareholders meetings of the funds. However, as required by law, Prudential votes the shares of the funds at any regular and special shareholders meetings the funds are required to hold in accordance with voting instructions received from investors. For purposes of voting rights, the investor is the Plan with respect to plans qualified under Internal Revenue Code Sections 401 or 457. The investor is the Participant with respect to those participating in a plan within the meaning of Internal Revenue Code Section 403(b) and with respect to any IRA or other individual contract.

The Funds may not hold annual shareholders meetings when not required to do so under the laws of the state of their incorporation or the Investment Company Act of 1940. Fund shares for which no timely instructions from investors are received, and any shares owned directly or indirectly by Prudential, are voted in the same proportion as shares in the respective portfolios for which instructions are received. This voting procedure is sometimes referred to as “mirror voting” because, as indicated in the immediately preceding sentence, we mirror the votes that are actually cast, rather than decide on our own how to vote. In addition, because all the shares of a given mutual fund held within the Discovery Account are legally owned by us, we intend to vote all of such shares when that underlying fund seeks a vote of its shareholders. As such, all such shares will be counted towards whether there is a quorum at the underlying fund’s shareholder meeting and towards the ultimate outcome of the vote. Thus, under “mirror voting,” it is possible that the votes of a small percentage of investors who actually vote will determine the ultimate outcome. Should the applicable federal securities laws or regulations, or their current interpretation, change so as to permit Prudential to vote shares of the funds in its own right, it may elect to do so.

Generally, investors may give voting instructions on matters that would be changes in fundamental policies and any matter requiring a vote of the shareholders of the funds. With respect to approval of the investment advisory agreement or any change in a portfolio’s fundamental investment policy, investors participating in such portfolios will vote separately on the matter, as required by applicable securities laws.

The number of fund shares for which an investor may give instructions is determined by dividing the portion of the value of the Account derived from participation in a Subaccount, by the value of one share in the corresponding portfolio of the applicable Fund. The number of votes for which the investor may give us instructions is determined as of the record date chosen by the Board of the applicable Fund. We furnish the investor with proper forms and proxies to enable the investor to give these instructions. We reserve the right to modify the manner in which the weight to be given to voting instructions is calculated where such a change is necessary to comply with current federal regulations or interpretations of those regulations.

Prudential may, if required by state insurance regulations, disregard voting instructions if such instructions would require shares to be voted so as to cause a change in the sub-classification or investment objectives of one or more of the Funds’ portfolios, or to approve or disapprove an investment advisory contract for a fund. If we do disregard voting instructions, we will advise of that action and our reasons for such action in the next annual or semi-annual report.

Substitution of Fund Shares

We may substitute one or more of the underlying portfolios held by the Subaccounts. We would not do this without the approval of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and any necessary state insurance departments. Moreover, any such substituted fund will have substantially similar investment objectives to the underlying portfolio

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held by the Subaccount being replaced. Contractholders and Participants will be given specific notice in advance of any substitution we intend to make. For Contracts funding plans subject to the fiduciary responsibility provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, no substitution will be made without the consent of the plan fiduciary.

Reports to Participants

Prudential will send Participants, at least annually, reports showing as of a specified date the amounts credited to them in the Subaccounts of the Discovery Account. We will also send Participants in certain plans annual and semi-annual reports for the applicable funds.

State Regulation

Prudential is subject to regulation by the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance (the “Department”) as well as by the insurance departments of all the other states and jurisdictions in which it does business. Prudential must file an annual statement in a form promulgated by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. This annual statement is reviewed and analyzed by the Department, which makes an independent computation of Prudential’s legal reserve liabilities and statutory apportionments under its outstanding contracts. New Jersey law requires a quinquennial examination of Prudential to be made. Examination involves an extensive audit including, but not limited to, an inventory check of assets and sampling techniques to check the performance by Prudential of its contracts. This regulation does not involve any supervision or control over the investment policies of the Subaccounts or over the selection of investments for them, except for verification of the compliance of Prudential’s investment portfolio with New Jersey law.

The laws of New Jersey also contain special provisions which relate to the issuance and regulation of contracts on a variable basis. These laws set forth a number of mandatory provisions which must be included in contracts on a variable basis and prohibit such contracts from containing other specified provisions. The Department may initially disapprove or subsequently withdraw approval of any contract if it contains provisions which are “unjust, unfair, inequitable, ambiguous, misleading, likely to result in misrepresentation or contrary to law.” New Jersey also can withhold or withdraw approval if sales are solicited by communications which involve misleading or inadequate descriptions of the provisions of the contract.

In addition to the annual statement referred to above, Prudential is required to file with New Jersey and other states a separate statement with respect to the operations of all its variable contracts accounts, in a form promulgated by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

Legal Proceedings

Prudential is subject to legal and regulatory actions in the ordinary course of our business. Pending legal and regulatory actions include proceedings specific to Prudential and proceedings generally applicable to business practices in the industry in which we operate. Prudential is subject to class action lawsuits and other litigation involving a variety of issues and allegations involving sales practices, claims payments and procedures, premium charges, policy servicing and breach of fiduciary duty to customers. Prudential is also subject to litigation arising out of its general business activities, such as its investments, contracts, leases and labor and employment relationships, including claims of discrimination and harassment, and could be exposed to claims or litigation concerning certain business or process patents. In some of the pending legal and regulatory actions, plaintiffs are seeking large and/or indeterminate amounts, including punitive or exemplary damages. In addition, Prudential, along with other participants in the businesses in which it engages, may be subject from time to time to investigations, examinations and inquiries, in some cases industry-wide, concerning issues or matters upon which such regulators have determined to focus. In some of Prudential’s pending legal and regulatory actions, parties are seeking large and/or

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indeterminate amounts, including punitive or exemplary damages. The outcome of litigation or a regulatory matter, and the amount or range of potential loss at any particular time, is often inherently uncertain.

Prudential establishes accruals for litigation and regulatory matters when it is probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount of that loss can be reasonably estimated. For litigation and regulatory matters where a loss may be reasonably possible, but not probable, or is probable but not reasonably estimable, no accrual is established, but the matter, if material, is disclosed. As of December 31, 2015, the aggregate range of reasonably possible losses in excess of accruals established is not material. Prudential reviews relevant information with respect to its litigation and regulatory matters on a quarterly and annual basis and updates its accruals, disclosures and estimates of reasonably possible loss based on such reviews.

Prudential’s litigation and regulatory matters are subject to many uncertainties, and given their complexity and scope, their outcome cannot be predicted. It is possible that Prudential’s results of operations or cash flow in a particular quarterly or annual period could be materially affected by an ultimate unfavorable resolution of pending litigation and regulatory matters depending, in part, upon the results of operations or cash flow for such period. In light of the unpredictability of Prudential’s litigation and regulatory matters, it is also possible that in certain cases an ultimate unfavorable resolution of one or more pending litigation or regulatory matters could have a material adverse effect on Prudential’s financial position. Management believes, however, that, based on information currently known to it, the ultimate outcome of all pending litigation and regulatory matters, after consideration of applicable reserves and rights to indemnification, is not likely to have a material adverse effect on: the Discovery Account; the ability of PIMS to perform its contract with the Discovery Account; or Prudential’s ability to meet its obligations under the Contract.

Assignment

Unless contrary to applicable law, the right to any payment under the Contract is neither assignable nor subject to the claim of any creditor.

Service Providers

We generally conduct our operations through staff employed by us or our affiliates within the Prudential Financial family. Certain discrete functions have been delegated to non-affiliates that could be deemed “service providers” under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The entities engaged by us may change over time. Non-affiliated entities that could be deemed service providers to the separate account funding the Contracts consist of the following: Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions, Inc. (proxy services, regulatory mailing fulfillment vendor, prospectuses, etc.) located at 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717; EDM Americas Inc. (mail handling and records management) located at 10 E.D. Preate Drive, Moosic, PA 18507; ExlService Philippines, Inc. (call center operations) located at 10th Floor 2 Quad Building Cardinal Rosales Avenue corner Sumilon Road Cebu Business Park Cebu City 6000 Philippines; RR Donnelley (printing semi annual and annual reports, supplements and prospectuses) located at 1902 Horseshoe Road, Lancaster, PA 17602, 391 Steel Way, Lancaster, PA 17601 and 255 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10007; State Street Bank – Kansas City (custodian and fund accountant) located at 801 Pennsylvania Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64105; Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. (administrative processing) located at Block B-3, Nirlon Knowledge Park, Off Western Express Highway Goregaon (E) Mumbai Maharashtra 40006301.

Fidelity Investments Institutional Operations Company, Inc. and Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC (collectively, “Fidelity”), located at 245 Summer Street, Boston, MA 02210, serves as pricing agent with respect to certain retirement plans investing in the Discovery Premier Group Retirement Annuity.

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Additional Information

Prudential has filed a registration statement with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933, relating to the offering described in this prospectus. This prospectus does not include all of the information set forth in the registration statement. Certain portions have been omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. You may obtain the omitted information, however, from the SEC’s principal office in Washington, D.C., upon payment of a prescribed fee.

The Statement of Additional Information is available from Prudential without charge. The addresses and telephone numbers are set forth on the cover page of this prospectus.

Statement of Additional Information

How to Contact Us

You can contact the Prudential Retirement Service Center by:

You can obtain account information by calling our automated response system and at www.prudential.com/online/retirement. Our customer service representatives are also available during business hours to provide you with information about your account. You can request certain transactions through our telephone voice response system, our internet website or through a customer service representative. You can authorize a third party, including your attorney-in-fact acting pursuant to a power of attorney, to access your account information and perform certain transactions on your account, after the necessary legal documentation has been provided. We require that you or your representative provide proper identification before performing transactions over the telephone or through our internet website. This may include a Personal Identification Number (PIN). You may establish or change your PIN by calling our automated response system.

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Transactions requested via telephone are recorded. To the extent permitted by law, we will not be responsible for any claims, loss, liability or expense in connection with a transaction requested by telephone or other electronic means if we acted on such transaction instructions after following reasonable procedures to identify those persons authorized to perform transactions on your Annuity using verification methods which may include a request for your Social Security number, PIN or other form of electronic identification. We may be liable for losses due to unauthorized or fraudulent instructions if we did not follow such procedures. Prudential does not guarantee access to telephonic, facsimile, internet or any other electronic information or that we will be able to accept transaction instructions via such means at all times. Nor, due to circumstances beyond our control, can we provide any assurances as to the delivery of transaction instructions submitted to us by regular and/or express mail. Regular and/or express mail (if operational) will be the only means by which we will accept transaction instructions when telephonic, facsimile, internet or any other electronic means are unavailable or delayed. Prudential reserves the right to limit, restrict or terminate telephonic, facsimile, internet or any other electronic transaction privileges at any time.

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DISCOVERY PREMIER GROUP RETIREMENT ANNUITY

(CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION)

ACCUMULATION UNIT VALUES: Assumes An Administrative Fee of .35% and

Mortality & Expense Charge Fee of .15%

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DISCOVERY PREMIER GROUP RETIREMENT ANNUITY

(CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION)—(Continued)

ACCUMULATION UNIT VALUES: Assumes An Administrative Fee of .35% and

Mortality & Expense Charge Fee of .15%

48

DISCOVERY PREMIER GROUP RETIREMENT ANNUITY

(CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION)—(Continued)

ACCUMULATION UNIT VALUES: Assumes An Administrative Fee of .35% and

Mortality & Expense Charge Fee of .15%

49

DISCOVERY PREMIER GROUP RETIREMENT ANNUITY

(CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION)—(Continued)

ACCUMULATION UNIT VALUES: Assumes An Administrative Fee of .35% and

Mortality & Expense Charge Fee of .15%