Definitive Proxy Statement
Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

SCHEDULE 14A

 

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of

the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.        )

 

Filed by the Registrant    x

 

Filed by a Party other than the Registrant    ¨

 

Check the appropriate box:

¨    Preliminary Proxy Statement
¨    Confidential, For Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
x    Definitive Proxy Statement
¨    Definitive Additional Materials

¨    Soliciting Material Pursuant to §240.14a-12

 

Prudential Financial, Inc.


(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

 


(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

 

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

 

x    No fee required.

 

¨    Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.

 

  (1)   Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 

 

  (2)   Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:

 

 

 

  (3)   Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

 

 

 

  (4)   Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:

 

 

 

  (5)   Total fee paid:

 

 

 

¨    Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

 

¨    Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

 

  (1)   Amount Previously Paid:

 

 

 

  (2)   Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:

 

 

 

  (3)   Filing Party:

 

 

 

  (4)   Date Filed:

 

 

 



Table of Contents

LOGO

 

Prudential Financial, Inc.

751 Broad Street, Newark NJ 07102

 

March 29, 2006

 

Dear Fellow Shareholder:

 

On behalf of your Board of Directors, you are cordially invited to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Prudential Financial, Inc. Your Company’s Annual Meeting will be held on May 9, 2006 at Prudential’s Corporate Headquarters, 751 Broad Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102 at 2:00 p.m. The location is accessible to handicapped persons, and, upon request, we will provide wireless headsets for hearing amplification.

 

The Notice of Meeting and proxy statement describe the matters to be voted on at the meeting.

 

Your vote is important. We urge you to participate in Prudential Financial’s Annual Meeting, whether or not you plan to attend, by signing, dating and promptly mailing the enclosed proxy card. You may also vote by telephone or the Internet should you prefer. Regardless of the size of your investment, your vote is important, so please act at your earliest convenience. Finally, if you do plan to attend the meeting, you will need an admission ticket. Please refer to the instructions set forth in the Notice of Meeting, which follows this letter, or those attached to the proxy card.

 

We appreciate your participation, support and interest in the Company.

 

Sincerely,

 

LOGO

Arthur F. Ryan

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

Prudential Financial, Inc.

751 Broad Street, Newark NJ 07102

 

Notice of Annual Meeting of Shareholders

of Prudential Financial, Inc.

 

Date:

   May 9, 2006

Time:

   2:00 p.m.

Place:

  

Prudential’s Corporate Headquarters

751 Broad Street

Newark, NJ 07102

 

At the 2006 Annual Meeting, shareholders will act upon the following matters:

 

1. Election of seven directors for a term of one year;

 

2. Ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent auditor for the year ending December 31, 2006;

 

3. A shareholder proposal regarding severance payments; and

 

4. Transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

 

Information about the matters to be acted upon at the Annual Meeting is contained in the accompanying proxy statement.

 

Shareholders of record at the close of business on March 10, 2006 will be entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting and at any adjournments or postponements thereof.

 

Shareholders will need an admission ticket and valid photo identification to attend the Annual Meeting. If your shares are registered in book entry or certificate form through our Transfer Agent, Computershare, an admission ticket is attached to the enclosed proxy card. If your shares are not registered through Computershare, you need to bring proof of your share ownership to the meeting to receive an admission ticket. Please bring either a copy of your account statement or a letter from your broker, bank or other institution reflecting your share ownership as of March 10, 2006. Please note that the use of photographic and recording devices is prohibited in the building. For your safety, we reserve the right to inspect all personal items prior to admission to the Annual Meeting.

 

By Order of the Board of Directors,

 

LOGO

Kathleen M. Gibson

Vice President, Secretary and Corporate Governance Officer

 

March 10, 2006

 

Your vote is important! Please take a moment to complete, sign, date and mail the proxy card in the accompanying envelope. If you prefer, you may also vote by telephone or the Internet. Please see the instructions attached to the proxy card. Your prompt cooperation will save your Company additional solicitation costs.


Table of Contents

PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL, INC.

 


 

General Information

  1

Voting Instructions and Information

  1

Item 1: Election of Directors

  3

Item 2: Ratification of the Appointment of Independent Auditors

  5

Item 3: Shareholder Proposal Regarding Severance Payments

  7

Corporate Governance

  9

Committees of the Board of Directors

  11

Compensation of Directors

  13

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

  13

Report of the Audit Committee

  13

Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation

  15

Compensation of Executive Officers

  19

Summary Compensation Table

  19

Long-Term Compensation Table

  20

Option Grant Table

  21

Performance Graph

  22

Retirement Plans

  23

Prudential Severance and Senior Executive Severance Plan; Change of Control Program

  25

Voting Securities and Principal Holders Thereof

  28

Compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act

  29

Shareholder Proposals

  29

“Householding” of Proxy Materials and Elimination of Duplicates

  30

Electronic Delivery of Proxy Materials

  30

Annual Report on Form 10-K

  30

Incorporation by Reference

  30

Other Matters

  30

 



Table of Contents

2006 PROXY STATEMENT

 


 

GENERAL INFORMATION

 

The Board of Directors of Prudential Financial, Inc. (“Prudential Financial” or the “Company”) is providing this proxy statement and soliciting the accompanying form of proxy in connection with the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May 9, 2006 (the “Annual Meeting”) at 2:00 p.m. at Prudential Financial’s Corporate Headquarters, 751 Broad Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102, and at any adjournment or postponement thereof. The Notice of Meeting, this proxy statement, the enclosed proxy card and the enclosed Annual Report for 2005 were first sent to shareholders on or about March 29, 2006.

 

VOTING INSTRUCTIONS AND INFORMATION

 

Who Can Vote?

You are entitled to vote or direct the voting of your Prudential Financial Common Stock if you were a shareholder on March 10, 2006, the record date for the Annual Meeting. Shareholders of our Class B Stock, as of March 10, 2006, are also entitled to vote their shares. On that date, approximately 494,900,000 shares of Common Stock and 2,000,000 shares of Class B Stock were outstanding and entitled to notice of and to vote at the Annual Meeting. Each share of Prudential Financial Common Stock and Class B Stock is entitled to one vote, and the Common Stock and Class B Stock vote together as a single class on the matters submitted for a vote at this Annual Meeting.

 

Who Is the Holder of Record?

You may own Common Stock either (1) directly registered in your name at our transfer agent, Computershare; or (2) indirectly through a broker, bank or other nominee.

 

If your shares are registered directly in your name at Computershare, you are the Holder of Record of these shares, and we are sending these proxy materials directly to you. If you hold shares indirectly through a broker, bank or other nominee, these materials are being sent to you by that entity.

 

How Do I Vote?

Your vote is important. We encourage you to vote promptly. You may vote in one of the following ways:

 

Holders of Record

 

  By Telephone. You can vote your shares by telephone, by calling 1-800-652-VOTE (8683). This toll-free number is also on the enclosed proxy card. Telephone voting is available 24 hours a day. If you vote by telephone, you do not need to return the proxy card. Your vote by telephone must be received by 11:59 p.m. EDT, May 8, 2006.  

 

  By Internet. You can also vote on the Internet. The website address for Internet voting is www.computershare.com/us/proxy and can also be found on the enclosed proxy card. Internet voting is available 24 hours a day. If you vote by Internet, you do not need to return the proxy card. Your vote by Internet must be received by 11:59 p.m. EDT, May 8, 2006.  

 

  By Mail. If you choose to vote by mail, mark the enclosed proxy card, date and sign it, and return it in the postage-paid envelope provided. Your vote by mail must be received by 10:00 a.m. EDT, May 9, 2006, the date of the Annual Meeting.  

 

  By Attending the Annual Meeting. If you attend the Annual Meeting, you can vote your shares in person. You will need to have an admission ticket or other proof of ownership and valid photo identification with you at the Annual Meeting. Please refer to the instructions attached to the enclosed proxy card.  

 

 

Stock Held by Brokers, Banks and Nominees

 

  If your Common Stock is held by a broker, bank or other nominee, you will receive instructions from them that you must follow in order to have your shares voted.  

 

  If you plan to attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person, you will need to contact the broker, bank or other nominee to obtain a “legal proxy” to permit you to vote by written ballot at the Annual Meeting.  

 

 


Page 1


Table of Contents

PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL, INC.

 


 

How Many Votes Are Required?

A quorum is required to transact business at the Annual Meeting. We will have a quorum and be able to conduct the business of the Annual Meeting if the holders of 50% of the shares entitled to vote are present at the meeting, either in person or by proxy.

 

If a quorum is present, a plurality of votes cast is required to elect Directors. Thus, a Director may be elected even if the Director receives less than a majority vote of the shares represented at the meeting. In September 2005, the Board, upon the recommendation of the Corporate Governance and Business Ethics Committee, amended its Corporate Governance Principles and Practices to provide that any Director who receives more votes “withheld” than votes “for” will tender his or her resignation for the consideration of the Committee. The Committee will then make a recommendation to the Board with respect to the offer of resignation.

 

To ratify the selection of the independent auditor and adopt the shareholder proposal, an affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast is required.

 

How Are Votes Counted?

All shares that have been properly voted, and not revoked, will be voted at the Annual Meeting in accordance with your instructions. If you sign and return the proxy card but do not specify how you wish your shares to be voted, your shares represented by that proxy will be voted as recommended by the Board of Directors: “for” all the nominees for Director; “for” ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent auditor for 2006; and againstthe shareholder proposal regarding severance payments.

 

A New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) member broker who holds shares in street name for a customer has the authority to vote on certain items if the broker does not receive instructions from the customer. NYSE rules permit member brokers who do not receive instructions to vote on the election of Directors and the proposal to ratify the appointment of our independent auditor, but not on the shareholder proposal regarding severance payments. Proxies that are counted as abstentions and any proxies returned by brokers as “non-votes” on behalf of shares held in street names (because beneficial owners’ discretion has been withheld or, in the case of the shareholder proposal, brokers are not permitted to vote on the beneficial owners’ behalf) will be treated as present for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present at the Annual Meeting. However, any shares not voted as a result of an abstention or a broker non-vote will not be counted as voting for or against a particular matter. Accordingly, abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on the outcome of a vote.

 

How Can I Revoke My Proxy or Change My Vote?

You can revoke your proxy at any time before it is voted at the 2006 Annual Meeting by:

 

Holders of Record

 

Sending written notice of revocation to the Secretary of Prudential Financial;

 

Submitting another timely and later dated proxy by telephone, Internet or mail; or

 

Attending the 2006 Annual Meeting and voting in person by written ballot.

 

Stock Held by Brokers, Banks and Nominees

 

Please contact the broker, bank or other nominee to obtain instructions to revoke your proxy or to obtain a “legal proxy” that will permit you to attend the Annual Meeting and vote in person by written ballot.

 

Who Will Count the Vote?

The Board of Directors has appointed IVS Associates, Inc. to act as the Inspector of Election at the 2006 Annual Meeting.

 

Who Is the Proxy Solicitor?

D.F. King & Co., Inc. has been retained by Prudential Financial to assist with the Annual Meeting, including the distribution of proxy materials and solicitation of votes, for a fee of $25,000 plus reimbursement of expenses to be paid by the Company. In addition, our Directors, officers or employees, who will receive no additional compensation for soliciting, may solicit proxies for us in person or by telephone, facsimile, Internet or other electronic means.

 


Page 2


Table of Contents

2006 PROXY STATEMENT

 


 

ITEM 1 — ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

 

At the Annual Meeting, seven Directors are to be elected to hold office for a one-year term until the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held in 2007 and until their successors are duly elected or appointed.

 

Prudential Financial’s Board of Directors was previously divided into three classes of directors whose three-year terms expired at successive Annual Meetings. At the 2005 Annual Meeting, shareholders approved an amendment to the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation to provide for the phased elimination over three years, starting in 2005, of the Company’s classified Board of Directors. The seven members of the Board of Directors who are standing for election for one-year terms at this Annual Meeting are the three Directors elected for one-year terms last year (Messrs. Bethune, Cullen and Unruh) and the four Directors whose three-year terms expire at this Annual Meeting (Messrs. Becker, Gray and Hanson and Ms. Horner). Four members of the Board of Directors (Messrs. Ryan, Caperton, Casellas and Krapek) will continue to serve the terms for which they were elected, which will expire at the 2007 Annual Meeting. Commencing in 2007, all Directors will be elected on an annual basis.

 

Unless authority is withheld by the shareholder, it is the intention of persons named by Prudential Financial as proxies on its proxy card to vote “for” the nominees listed and, in the event that any nominees are unable or decline to serve (an event not now anticipated), to vote “for” the balance of the nominees and “for” any substitutes selected by the Board of Directors. The name, age, principal occupation and other information concerning each Director is set forth below.

 

Each of the nominees currently is a Director, and each has been recommended for re-election to the Board of Directors by the Corporate Governance and Business Ethics Committee and approved and nominated for re-election by the Board of Directors.

 

The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote “FOR” all of the nominees.

 

Nominees for Director

 

LOGO

  Gordon M. Bethune was elected as a Director of Prudential Financial effective February 1, 2005. Mr. Bethune joined Continental Airlines, Inc. (international commercial airline company) in February 1994 as President and Chief Operating
Officer. He was elected President and Chief Executive Officer in November 1994 and Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer in 1996. He retired from Continental on December 31, 2004. Prior to joining Continental, Mr. Bethune held senior management positions with The Boeing Company, Piedmont Airlines, Western Air Lines, Inc. and Braniff Airlines. Mr. Bethune’s areas of expertise include domestic and international business operations and sales and marketing. Other Directorships include: Honeywell International, Inc., Sprint Nextel and Willis Group Holdings. Age 64.

 

LOGO

  James G. Cullen was elected as a Director of Prudential Financial in January 2001 and was appointed by the Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court as a Director of Prudential Insurance in April 1994. He served as the President and
Chief Operating Officer of Bell Atlantic Corporation (global telecommunications) from December 1998 until his retirement in June 2000. Mr. Cullen was the President and Chief Executive Officer, Telecom Group, Bell Atlantic Corporation from 1997 to 1998 and served as Vice Chairman of Bell Atlantic Corporation from 1995 to 1997. Mr. Cullen’s areas of expertise include business operations and sales and marketing. Other Directorships include: Agilent Technologies, Inc. Johnson & Johnson and Neu Star, Inc. Age 63.

 


Page 3


Table of Contents

PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL, INC.

 


 

LOGO

  James A. Unruh was elected as a Director of Prudential Financial in January 2001 and has been a Director of Prudential Insurance since April 1996. He became a founding member of Alerion Capital Group, LLC (private equity investment
group) in 1998. Mr. Unruh was with Unisys Corporation (information technology services, hardware and software) from 1987 to 1997, serving as its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from 1990 to 1997. He also held executive positions with financial management responsibility, including serving as Senior Vice President, Finance, Burroughs Corporation, from 1982 to 1987. Mr. Unruh’s areas of expertise include finance, business operations, sales and marketing, technology and investments. Other Directorships include: CSG Systems International, Inc., Qwest Communications International, Inc. and Tenet Healthcare Corporation. Age 64.

 

LOGO

  Frederic K. Becker was elected as a Director of Prudential Financial in January 2001 and was appointed by the Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court as a Director of Prudential Insurance in June 1994. He has served as President of
the law firm of Wilentz Goldman & Spitzer, P.A. since 1989 and has practiced law with the firm since 1960. Mr. Becker’s primary expertise is in the area of law. Age 70.

 

LOGO

  William H. Gray III was elected as a Director of Prudential Financial in January 2001 and has been a Director of Prudential Insurance since September 1991. He has served as Chairman of the Amani Group (a government affairs firm) since August
2004 and as Senior Advisor of Public Policy and Diversity at Buchanan Ingersoll, PC. since April 2005. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of The College Fund/UNCF (philanthropic foundation) from 1991 until his retirement in 2004. Mr. Gray was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 1979 to 1991. Mr. Gray’s areas of expertise include public policy and education. Other Directorships include: Dell Inc., JP Morgan Chase & Co., Pfizer Inc. and Visteon Corporation. Age 64.

 

LOGO

  Jon F. Hanson was elected as a Director of Prudential Financial in January 2001 and was appointed by the Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court as a Director of Prudential Insurance in April 1991. He has served as Chairman of The Hampshire
Companies (a real estate investment fund management company) since 1976. Mr. Hanson served as the Chairman and Commissioner of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority from 1982 to 1994. Mr. Hanson’s areas of expertise include real estate, investments, government and business operations. Other Directorships include: CD&L, Inc., HealthSouth Corporation and Pascack Community Bank. Age 69.

 

LOGO

  Constance J. Horner was elected as a Director of Prudential Financial in January 2001 and has been a Director of Prudential Insurance since April 1994. She served as a Guest Scholar at The Brookings Institution (non-partisan research institute)
from 1993 to 2005, after serving as Assistant to the President of the United States and Director, Presidential Personnel from 1991 to 1993; Deputy Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from 1989 to 1991; and Director, U.S. Office of Personnel Management from 1985 to 1989. Mrs. Horner was a Commissioner, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights from 1993 to 1998. Mrs. Horner’s areas of expertise include public policy and government. Other Directorships include: Ingersoll-Rand Company Ltd. and Pfizer Inc. Age 64.

 

Continuing Directors Whose Terms Will Expire in 2007

 

LOGO

  Arthur F. Ryan is Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President of Prudential Financial. He joined Prudential Insurance as the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and President and as a Director in December 1994. In
December 1999, at the time of the Company’s incorporation, he was named Director of Prudential Financial; in January 2000 he was named to its first slate of officers as President and Chief Executive Officer; in December 2000 he took his current title. Prudential Financial became a public company in December 2001. From 1972 until he joined Prudential Insurance, Mr. Ryan was with Chase Manhattan Bank, serving in various executive positions including President and Chief Operating Officer from 1990 to 1994. Other Directorships include Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Age 63.

 


Page 4


Table of Contents

2006 PROXY STATEMENT

 


 

LOGO

   Gaston Caperton was elected as a Director of Prudential Financial in June 2004. He has served as the President of The College Board (nonprofit membership association of schools, colleges, universities and other educational organizations) since 1999.
He was the founder and executive director of Columbia University’s Institute on Education & Government at Teachers College from 1997 to 1999 and a fellow at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy Institute of Politics from 1996 to 1997. Mr. Caperton served as the Governor of West Virginia from 1988 to 1996. Prior to his governorship, Mr. Caperton was an entrepreneur in the insurance business and was one of the principal owners of a privately held insurance brokerage firm. Mr. Caperton’s areas of expertise include insurance, public policy and education. Other Directorships include: Owens Corning. Age 66.

 

LOGO

  Gilbert F. Casellas was elected as a Director of Prudential Financial in January 2001 and has been a Director of Prudential Insurance since April 1998. He has served as Of Counsel for the law firm of Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky & Popeo, PC
since June 2005. He served as President of Casellas & Associates, LLC, a consulting firm, from 2001 to 2005. During 2001, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Q-linx, Inc. (software development). He served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of The Swarthmore Group, Inc. (investment company) from January 1999 to December 2000. Mr. Casellas served as Chairman, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission from 1994 to 1998; and General Counsel, U.S. Department of the Air Force from 1993 to 1994. Mr. Casellas’ areas of expertise include law, public policy, investments and education. Age 53.

 

LOGO

  Karl J. Krapek was elected as a Director of Prudential Financial in January 2004. He served as the President and Chief Operating Officer of United Technologies Corporation (global technology) from 1999 until his retirement in January 2002.
Prior to that time, Mr. Krapek held other management positions at United Technologies Corporation, which he joined in 1982. Mr. Krapek’s areas of expertise include domestic and international business operations. Other Directorships include: Delta Airlines, Inc., Lucent Technologies Inc. and Visteon Corporation. Age 57.

 

ITEM 2 — RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITOR

 

The Audit Committee of the Board of Directors has appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (“PricewaterhouseCoopers”) as the Company’s independent auditor for 2006. We are not required to have the shareholders ratify the selection of PricewaterhouseCoopers as our independent auditor. We nonetheless are doing so because we believe it is a matter of good corporate practice. If the shareholders do not ratify the selection, the Audit Committee will reconsider whether or not to retain PricewaterhouseCoopers, but may retain such independent auditor. Even if the selection is ratified, the Audit Committee, in its discretion, may change the appointment at any time during the year if it determines that such a change would be in the best interests of Prudential Financial and its shareholders. Representatives of PricewaterhouseCoopers are expected to be present at the Annual Meeting with an opportunity to make a statement if they desire to do so and to be available to respond to appropriate questions.

 


Page 5


Table of Contents

PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL, INC.

 


 

The following is a summary and description of fees for services provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers in 2005 and 2004.

 

Worldwide Fees              

Service


   2005

   2004

Audit (A)

   $ 28,134,000    $ 37,194,000

Audit-Related (B)

   $ 3,663,000    $ 4,539,000

Tax (C)

   $ 1,761,000    $ 2,622,000

All Other (D)

   $ 49,000    $ 77,000

  

  

Total

   $ 33,607,000    $ 44,432,000

  

  

 

(A) The aggregate fees for professional services rendered for the audits of the consolidated financial statements of Prudential Financial and, as required, of various domestic and international subsidiaries, the issuance of comfort letters, agreed-upon procedures required by regulation, consents and assistance with review of documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Audit fees also include fees for the audits of (i) management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting and (ii) the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting.

(B) The aggregate fees for assurance and related services including internal control reports, agreed-upon procedures not required by regulation, benefit plan audits and accounting consultation on acquisitions.

(C) The aggregate fees for services rendered by PricewaterhouseCoopers’ tax department for tax return preparation, tax advice related to mergers and acquisitions and other international, federal and state projects, employee benefit plans, compliance services for expatriate employees and requests for rulings. In 2005, tax compliance and preparation fees total $1,384,000 and tax advisory fees total $377,000; and in 2004, tax compliance and preparation fees totaled $1,676,000 and tax advisory fees totaled $946,000.

(D) The aggregate fees for all other services rendered by PricewaterhouseCoopers, which relate to software license fees. 2004 fees also include attendance in PricewaterhouseCoopers-sponsored educational training programs.

 

The Audit Committee has advised the Board of Directors that in its opinion the non-audit services rendered by PricewaterhouseCoopers during the most recent fiscal year are compatible with maintaining its independence.

 

The Audit Committee has established a policy requiring its pre-approval of all audit and permissible non-audit services provided by the independent auditor. The policy identifies the guiding principles that must be considered by the Audit Committee in approving services to ensure that the independent auditor’s independence is not impaired; describes the Audit, Audit-Related, Tax and All Other services that may be provided and the non-audit services that may not be performed; and sets forth the pre-approval requirements for all permitted services. The policy provides for the general pre-approval of specific types of Audit, Audit- Related and Tax services and a limited fee estimate range for such services on an annual basis. The policy requires specific pre-approval of all other permitted services. The independent auditor is required to report periodically to the full Audit Committee regarding the extent of services provided in accordance with this pre-approval and the fees for the services performed to date. The Audit Committee’s policy delegates to its Chairman the authority to address requests for pre-approval of services with fees up to a maximum of $100,000 between Audit Committee meetings if the Chief Auditor deems it reasonably necessary to begin the services before the next scheduled meeting of the Audit Committee, and the Chairman must report any pre-approval decisions to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting. The Audit Committee may not delegate to management the Audit Committee’s responsibility to pre-approve permitted services of the independent auditor.

 

All Audit, Audit-Related, Tax and All Other fees described above were approved by the Audit Committee before services were rendered.

 

The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote “FOR” ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers as the Company’s independent auditor for 2006.

 

 


Page 6


Table of Contents

2006 PROXY STATEMENT

 


 

ITEM 3 — SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL REGARDING SEVERANCE PAYMENTS

 

Mr. Joseph Ciocca, 2018 Bergen Street, Philadelphia, PA 19152, holder of 145 shares of Common Stock, has advised us that he intends to introduce the following resolution:

 

Resolved: The shareholders of Prudential Financial urge our Board of Directors to seek shareholder approval for severance agreements with senior executives, including any future, renewed or modified “golden parachute” and “golden good-bye” severance plans, which provide benefits exceeding 2.99 times the sum of the executive’s base salary plus bonus.

 

We define “golden parachutes” as severance provisions triggered when executives resign or are terminated after a change of corporate control; “golden good-byes” are defined as severance agreements which, absent a change of control, are triggered when executives are terminated, retire or resign.

 

“Benefits” include the present value of all payments (in cash or in kind) not already earned or vested prior to termination, including lump payments, perquisites, consulting fees, reimbursement for taxes on excess parachute payments, and the value of accelerated vesting of stock options and restricted equity grants.

 

If the Board determines it is not practicable to obtain shareholder approval in advance, it retains the option to seek approval after material terms have been agreed upon.

 

Supporting Statement

In our opinion, Prudential’s severance agreements are unjustifiably costly and contrary to long-term shareholder interests. According to Business Week, CEO Arthur Ryan’s parachute is valued at over $27 million—the 15th most costly among America’s 100 largest corporations (“Platinum Promises,” Business Week Online, December 12, 2005). Under Prudential’s Executive Change of Control Severance Plan, senior officers who resign for “Good Reason,” or who are terminated without cause, during the two years after a change of control, can receive the following payouts: 300% of base salary; 300% of the previous year’s bonus, or of the prior three year’s average bonus, whichever is higher; immediate vesting of all outstanding stock options, stock appreciation rights and grants of restricted stock or restricted units; extra pension payments equal to the present value of retirement benefits for three additional years of service, as if they were earned, continuing health and life insurance benefits for 18 months; and “Gross-up” payments to reimburse federal excise taxes on excess “parachute payments.” CEO Ryan’s estimated $27 million payout would actually be higher, since the estimate (by compensation consultant Equilar, Inc.) does not include “performance shares, vested options, perks, retirement benefits, or the tax bills that shareholders often pay on CEO’s merger-related payouts.” We believe Prudential’s severance agreements also deserve shareholder scrutiny because payouts can be triggered even if there is no actual “change of control.” For example, a “change of control” is defined to include any person acquiring 25% or more of the Company’s voting power, even if no change of control actually takes place. We believe lucrative parachutes reward the very under-performance that can precipitate a change of control, unnecessarily reduce returns to shareholders, and are unnecessary given Prudential’s high levels of executive compensation.

 

Shareholders should be given a chance to ratify such agreements, in our view, providing valuable feedback to the Board. We expect shareholder scrutiny will encourage restraint and strengthen the hand of the Board’s compensation committee.

 

Please VOTE FOR this resolution.

 

Board of Directors’ Statement in Opposition to the Proposal

The Board of Directors recommends that shareholders vote “AGAINST” this proposal for the following reasons.

 

The Board of Directors supports reasonable limits on severance payments. However, the Board believes that the limit recommended by the proponent fails to recognize the different components of, and reasons for, the Company’s severance and change of control programs as described below.

 


Page 7


Table of Contents

PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL, INC.

 


 

Severance. As a matter of practice, Prudential Financial does not enter into employment agreements with its executive officers. The Prudential Severance Plan for Senior Executives (the “Plan”) provides the conditions under which severance payments may be made to executives. The Plan covers approximately 130 executives, and does not include the Chief Executive Officer. The Plan provides that in the event of an involuntary termination that satisfies the conditions set forth in the Plan, an executive would be entitled to severance payments ranging from 12 to 18 months of salary and bonus (as calculated under the Plan). The Plan does not provide for accelerated vesting of equity grants. In the event of voluntary resignation or retirement, the Plan does not provide for severance payments. During 2005, the Compensation Committee and its independent consultant reviewed the terms and operation of the Plan and concluded that it was appropriate. Given that the maximum benefit under the Plan is approximately 1.5 times annual salary and bonus, the Board believes that the limit recommended by the proponent of 2.99 times annual salary and bonus is unnecessary.

 

Change of Control. In connection with becoming a public company in 2001, the Board adopted the Prudential Financial Executive Change of Control Severance Program (the “Program”), which was amended and restated in 2003. In developing and refining the Program, the Compensation Committee sought the advice of its independent consultant. The purpose of the Program is to provide a mechanism to encourage executives to negotiate a transaction that could provide significant value to shareholders despite the uncertainty of whether the culmination of the transaction will result in the executive’s employment being terminated, or in his or her position being substantially reduced. In light of the rationale for the Program, participation is limited. Approximately 12 executives are included in the first tier of participants that would be eligible for the benefits summarized below.

 

  Salary and Bonus. If there is a change of control AND the individual is terminated or resigns for reasons permitted under the Program, the individual would be entitled to a payment of two times annual salary and bonus (as computed under the Program). If the individual agrees to execute a non-solicitation and non-competition agreement, the individual would then be entitled to an additional payment of one times annual salary and bonus (for a total of three times annual salary and bonus).

 

  Other Benefits. Participants are also entitled to pension and health benefits for up to three years.

 

  Excise Tax. In recognition of the fact that the Internal Revenue Code imposes an excise tax on certain benefits paid in connection with a change of control if total benefits exceed 2.99 times annual compensation (which is computed in accordance with a complex formula), the Program may provide for reimbursement of taxes owed by the executive due to the excise tax. However, the Program provides that the executive’s benefits can be reduced by up to 10% to avoid excise tax liability.

 

  Accelerated Vesting of Equity Grants. Both the Program and the Omnibus Incentive Plan, which was approved by shareholders in 2003, provide for accelerated vesting of equity grants in the event of a change of control only if the Committee determines prior to the change of control that outstanding awards will not be honored or assumed or equitable replacement awards made by a successor employer. This provision of the Omnibus Plan applies to all employees who hold unvested equity grants in the event of a change of control, and is not an additional benefit provided to participants in the Program. If the Committee determines in good faith that such awards will be honored or assumed or equitable replacement awards made by a successor employer, then the vesting of such awards will accelerate and payments will be made early only if a participant is subsequently involuntarily terminated without cause.

 

 


Page 8


Table of Contents

2006 PROXY STATEMENT

 


 

Concluding Comments. The Board believes that the severance Plan, which provides for payments of up to 1.5 times annual salary and bonus and no acceleration of equity grants or additional benefits, is appropriate and conservative compared to industry practice and does not provide severance benefits above the limits contained in the proposal. The Board acknowledges that, even though the change of control Program was conservative compared to industry practice at the time it was adopted and amended, perceptions of these programs and industry practices are evolving. Thus, we have made a commitment to undertake a review of the Program during 2006 to determine whether any changes are appropriate to ensure that the Program adheres to high standards of good corporate governance and remains conservative compared to industry practice.

 

Thus, for the reasons set forth above, the Board of Directors recommends a vote “AGAINST” the proposal.

 

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

The Board of Directors reviews Prudential Financial’s policies and business strategies and advises and counsels the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and the other executive officers who manage Prudential Financial’s businesses. The Board currently consists of 11 Directors, including the Chairman, 10 of whom the Board has determined are “independent” as that term is defined in the listing standards of the NYSE and in Prudential Financial’s Corporate Governance Principles and Practices (“Corporate Governance Principles”). Mr. Ryan is the only Director who is not independent. The full text of the Corporate Governance Principles, as well as the charters of the Corporate Governance and Business Ethics, Compensation and Audit Committees and the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics can be found at www.investor.prudential.com. Copies of these documents also may be obtained from the Secretary of Prudential Financial.

 

Director Independence

The definition of independence adopted by the Board is set forth below:

 

The Prudential Financial Board believes that a significant majority of the Board should be independent Directors. For this purpose, a Director shall be considered to be “independent” only if the Board affirmatively determines that the Director does not have any direct or indirect material relationship with Prudential Financial that may impair, or appear to impair, the Director’s ability to make independent judgments. With respect to each Director, the Board’s assessment and determination of such Director’s independence shall be made by the remaining members of the Board. In each case, the Board shall broadly consider all relevant facts and circumstances and shall apply the following standards:

 

An independent Director is one who within the preceding three years:

 

  has not been a member of management;

 

  has had no close family or similar relationship with a member of key management;

 

  has not been a lawyer, advisor or consultant to the corporation or its subsidiaries and has not had any personal service contracts with the corporation or its subsidiaries;

 

  has not (nor has a member of his or her immediate family) been employed by or affiliated with the corporation’s independent auditor in a professional capacity;

 

  has not had any other relationship with the corporation or its subsidiaries, either personally or through his employer, which, in the opinion of the Board, would adversely affect the Director’s ability to exercise his or her independent judgment as a Director.

 


Page 9


Table of Contents

PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL, INC.

 


 

The following relationships will not be considered to be relationships that would impair, or appear to impair, a Director’s ability to make independent judgments:

 

  The Director or an immediate family member of a Director is an executive officer of a company that does business with Prudential Financial, and the other company’s annual sales to, or purchases from, Prudential Financial are less than 2% of the annual revenues of Prudential Financial and less than 2% of the annual revenues of such other company;

 

  The Director is an executive officer of a company that is indebted to Prudential Financial or is an executive officer of a company to which Prudential Financial is indebted, and, in either case, the aggregate amount of such debt is less than 2% of the total consolidated assets of Prudential Financial and less than 2% of the total consolidated assets of such other company;

 

  The Director or an immediate family member of a Director serves as an officer of a non-profit entity to which Prudential Financial or the Prudential Foundation makes discretionary contributions (i.e., excluding matching gifts) or other payments, and all such discretionary contributions or other payments to such entity are less than 2% of that entity’s total annual charitable receipts and other revenues; or

 

  The Director serves as a director or trustee of a non-profit entity to which Prudential Financial or the Prudential Foundation makes discretionary contributions (i.e., excluding matching gifts) or other payments, and all such discretionary contributions or other payments to such entity are less than $50,000 or 2% of that entity’s total annual charitable receipts and other revenues, whichever is greater.

 

Because Prudential Financial is a major financial institution, Directors or the companies with which they are affiliated will sometimes be borrowers from Prudential Financial or one of its subsidiaries or otherwise have a business relationship (e.g., investment management services, group insurance) with Prudential Financial or its subsidiaries. Directors and the companies with which they are affiliated will not be given special treatment in these relationships, and borrowings by institutions affiliated with a Director must be specifically approved by the Investment Committee of the Board. To help maintain the independence of the Board, all Directors are required to deal at arm’s length with Prudential Financial and its subsidiaries and to disclose circumstances material to the Director that might be perceived as a conflict of interest.

 

The Board conducts an annual review of all commercial and non-profit relationships between each Director and Prudential Financial during the preceding three years and makes a determination of each Director’s independence. Based on its review of any commercial or non-profit relationship between a Director and Prudential Financial, the Board has determined that all of the non-employee Directors satisfy the criteria to be deemed independent under applicable rules and the Board’s Corporate Governance Principles.

 

Presiding Director

The Board has designated the Chairman of the Executive Committee, currently Jon Hanson, to chair meetings of the independent Directors, unless the subject matter of the discussion makes it more appropriate for the chairperson of a specific Board committee to chair the session. The independent Directors hold executive sessions at least four times per year, but typically meet in executive session at each Board meeting.

 

Communication with Directors

Interested parties, including shareholders, may communicate with any of the independent Directors, including Committee Chairs, by using the following address:

 

Prudential Financial, Inc.

P.O. Box 949

Newark, NJ 07101-0949

 

The Secretary of Prudential Financial serves as the agent for the independent Directors with respect to communication from shareholders. Communication from shareholders that pertains to non-financial matters will be forwarded to the Directors as soon as practicable. Communication received from interested parties regarding accounting or auditing matters will be forwarded to the appropriate Board members in accordance with the time frames established by the Audit Committee for the receipt of complaints dealing with these matters. In addition, communication that involves customer service matters will be forwarded to the Directors in accordance with internal procedures for responding to such matters.

 


Page 10


Table of Contents

2006 PROXY STATEMENT

 


 

Criteria for Director Selection

The Prudential Financial Board and the Corporate Governance and Business Ethics Committee believe that Prudential Financial Directors should be individuals with substantial accomplishments, who have been associated with institutions noted for excellence and who have broad experience and the ability to exercise sound business judgment. Each Director is expected to serve the best interests of all shareholders. In selecting Directors, the Board generally seeks a combination of active or former CEOs or Presidents of major complex businesses (from different industry sectors and having varied experience in areas such as manufacturing, finance, marketing and technology), leading academics and individuals with substantial records of government service or other leadership roles in the not-for-profit sector, with a sensitivity to diversity. In light of the increasing complexity of the duties of Audit Committee members, recruiting Directors with financial acumen is also a focus. Information regarding the areas of expertise of our non-employee Directors is included on pages 3-5.

 

The Board believes that a significant majority of its members should be independent Directors. The Board’s definition of independence is set forth on pages 9-10.

 

Process for Selecting Directors

The Board believes that Directors should be recommended for Board approval by the Corporate Governance and Business Ethics Committee, which consists entirely of independent Directors as defined by the NYSE. While the Board expects the Corporate Governance and Business Ethics Committee to consider the views of the Chairman and CEO in making appointments, it is the Corporate Governance and Business Ethics Committee’s responsibility to make Director recommendations to the Board for submission to the shareholders each year in connection with Prudential Financial’s annual meeting.

 

The Corporate Governance and Business Ethics Committee will consider nominations submitted by shareholders in accordance with the procedures set forth in our By-laws, as discussed in “Shareholder Proposals” on page 29. Such nominations will be evaluated in accordance with the criteria for director selection described above. Nominations should be sent to the attention of the Secretary of Prudential Financial, Inc. at 751 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102.

 

The Corporate Governance and Business Ethics Committee regularly reviews the composition and size of the Board and the skill sets and experience of its members. The Company’s By-laws provide that the size of the Board may range from 10 to 24 members. The Board’s current view is that the optimal size is between 10 and 15 members. In anticipation of retirements over the next three years, the Committee is seeking one or more candidates who meet the criteria described above. The Committee is being assisted with its recruitment efforts by independent search firms under retainer to recommend candidates that satisfy the Board’s criteria. The search firms also provide research and other pertinent information regarding candidates, as requested.

 

Director Attendance

During 2005, the Board of Directors held 9 meetings. Each of the incumbent Directors of the Board attended at least 96% of the combined total meetings of the Board and the committees on which they served in 2005. The average attendance of all Directors in 2005 was 99%. Directors are expected to attend the Annual Meeting of Shareholders. In 2005, all of the non-retiring Directors attended the Annual Meeting.

 

COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

The Board of Directors has established various committees to assist in discharging its duties, including standing Audit, Compensation, Corporate Governance and Business Ethics, Finance and Investment Committees. The primary responsibilities of each of the standing committees of Prudential Financial’s Board of Directors are set forth below, together with their current membership.

 

Audit Committee

Members: Directors Becker (Chair), Casellas, Cullen and Unruh.

 

Number of Meetings in 2005: 10

 

The primary purpose of the Audit Committee, which consists solely of independent Directors as defined by the rules of the NYSE and the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), is to assist the Board of Directors in its oversight of: the Company’s accounting and financial reporting processes; the adequacy of the systems of internal control established by management; and the audit of the Company’s financial statements.

 


Page 11


Table of Contents

PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL, INC.

 


 

Among other things the Audit Committee:

 

  Appoints the independent auditor and evaluates their independence and performance;

 

  Reviews the audit plans for and results of the independent audit and internal audits; and

 

  Reviews reports related to processes established by management to provide compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.

 

Compensation Committee

Members: Directors Cullen (Chair), Bethune and Horner.

 

Number of Meetings in 2005: 6

 

The primary responsibilities of the Compensation Committee, which consists solely of independent Directors as defined by the rules of the NYSE, are:

 

  Overseeing and taking actions with respect to the promotion and compensation of senior management and the human resources policies of Prudential Financial, including its compensation and benefits policies.

 

Corporate Governance and Business Ethics Committee

Members: Directors Gray (Chair), Bethune and Horner.

 

Number of Meetings in 2005: 6

 

The primary responsibilities of the Corporate Governance and Business Ethics Committee, which consists solely of independent Directors as defined by the rules of the NYSE, are:

 

  Making recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding corporate governance issues and practices, nominations for elections of Directors and the composition of standing committees, and overseeing the Board evaluation process;

 

  Making recommendations to the Board regarding Director compensation; and

 

  Overseeing the Company’s ethics policies and conflict of interest procedures.

 

Executive Committee

Members: Directors Hanson (Chair), Becker, Cullen, Gray and Ryan.

 

Number of Meetings in 2005: 0

 

The primary responsibility of the Executive Committee is:

 

  Between meetings of the Board of Directors, to exercise the corporate powers of the corporation except for those powers reserved to the Board of Directors by the By-laws or otherwise.

 

Finance Committee

Members: Directors Hanson (Chair), Caperton and Krapek.

 

Number of Meetings in 2005: 7

 

The primary responsibilities of the Finance Committee are:

 

  Overseeing and taking actions with respect to the capital structure of Prudential Financial, including borrowing levels, subsidiary structure and major capital expenditures.

 

Investment Committee

Members: Directors Hanson (Chair), Caperton and Krapek.

 

Number of Meetings in 2005: 7

 

The primary responsibilities of the Investment Committee are:

 

  Periodically receiving reports from management relating to and overseeing and taking actions with respect to the acquisition, management and disposition of invested assets;

 

  Reviewing the investment performance of the pension plan and funded employee benefit plans; and

 

  Periodically receiving reports from management on and reviewing investment risks and exposures, as well as the investment performance of products and accounts managed on behalf of third parties.

 


Page 12


Table of Contents

2006 PROXY STATEMENT

 


 

COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS

 

The primary components of compensation for the non-employee Directors are as follows:

 

  Each Director receives an annual retainer of $80,000 in cash, which may be deferred, at the Director’s option, in the Deferred Compensation Plan summarized below.

 

  Each Director receives $80,000 per year in the form of stock units of Prudential Financial that are deferred until the earlier of termination of service on the Board of Directors or age 70 1/2.

 

  Each member of the Audit Committee receives an annual retainer of $15,000 for service on that Committee.

 

  Members of all other Board Committees (including any non-standing Committee of Directors that may be established from time to time, but excluding the Executive Committee) receive an annual retainer of $5,000 for Committee service.

 

  The chairperson of each Committee receives an additional annual retainer fee of $10,000.

 

  Members of Prudential Financial’s Community Resources Committee, a committee composed of members of management and the Board of Directors, receive a fee of $1,250 per meeting attended. This Committee typically meets on a day separate from Board and Board Committee meetings. The members of this Committee currently include Messrs. Casellas and Hanson, as well as Ms. Horner. The Community Resources Committee met three times in 2005.

 

  Each new Director receives a one-time grant of $100,000 in the form of Prudential Financial stock units that is deferred until the earlier of termination of service on the Board or age 70 1/2.

 

Directors’ Deferred Compensation Plan

The Prudential Financial Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors was ratified by shareholders in 2003 and is designed to align Director and shareholder interests. As noted above, $80,000 per year is automatically deferred in a notional account that replicates an investment in the Prudential Financial Common Stock Fund under the Prudential Employee Savings Plan (“PESP”). In addition, a Director may elect to invest his or her annual Board and Committee retainer and chairperson fees in notional accounts that replicate investments in either the Prudential Financial Common Stock Fund or the Fixed Rate Fund, which accrues interest, from time to time, in the same manner as funds invested in the Fixed Rate Fund offered under the PESP.

 

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

 

In the ordinary course of business, we may from time to time engage in transactions with other corporations or financial institutions whose officers or directors are also Directors of Prudential Financial. In all cases, these transactions are conducted on an arm’s length basis. In addition, from time to time executive officers and Directors of Prudential Financial may engage in transactions in the ordinary course of business involving services we offer, such as insurance and investment services, on terms similar to those extended to employees of Prudential Financial and its subsidiaries and affiliates generally.

 

REPORT OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

 

In accordance with its written charter, which was approved in its current form by the Board of Directors on February 14, 2006, the Audit Committee assists the Board of Directors in its oversight of the accounting, auditing and financial reporting practices of Prudential Financial. The Charter is located on our website at www.investor.prudential.com.

 

The Audit Committee consists of four members who, in the business judgment of the Board of Directors, are independent within the meaning of the rules of both the NYSE and the SEC and financially literate as defined by the rules of the NYSE. In addition, the Board of Directors has determined that at least one member of the Audit Committee, Mr. Unruh, satisfies the financial expertise requirements of the NYSE and has the requisite experience to be designated an audit committee

 


Page 13


Table of Contents

PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL, INC.

 


 

financial expert as that term is defined by rules of the SEC. Specifically, Mr. Unruh has accounting and financial management expertise, which he gained through his experience as Senior Vice President, Finance, of a NYSE listed company, as well as experience in financial management positions in other organizations and other similar positions.

 

Management is responsible for the preparation, presentation and integrity of the financial statements of Prudential Financial and for maintaining appropriate accounting and financial reporting policies and practices and internal controls and procedures designed to assure compliance with accounting standards and applicable laws and regulations. PricewaterhouseCoopers is responsible for auditing the financial statements of Prudential Financial and expressing an opinion as to their fair presentation in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, as well as expressing an opinion on (i) management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting and (ii) the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting.

 

In performing its oversight function, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed the audited Consolidated Financial Statements of Prudential Financial as of and for the year ended December 31, 2005 and Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting with management and Prudential Financial’s independent auditor. The Audit Committee also discussed with Prudential Financial’s independent auditor the matters required to be discussed in Statement on Auditing Standards No. 61, “Communications with Audit Committees,” as currently in effect.

 

The Audit Committee received from the independent auditor formal written statements as required by Independence Standards Board Standard No. 1, “Independence Discussions with Audit Committees,” and the NYSE Corporate Governance rules, as currently in effect. The Audit Committee also considered whether the provision to Prudential Financial of non-audit services by PricewaterhouseCoopers is compatible with maintaining the independence of PricewaterhouseCoopers, and has discussed with the independent auditor the auditor’s independence.

 

The Audit Committee has discussed with, and received regular status reports from, Prudential Financial’s Chief Auditor and the independent auditor regarding the overall scope and plans for their audits of Prudential Financial, including their scope and plans over management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. The Audit Committee meets with the Chief Auditor and the independent auditor, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their respective examinations. In determining whether to reappoint PricewaterhouseCoopers as Prudential Financial’s independent auditor, the Audit Committee took into consideration a number of factors, including the quality of the Audit Committee’s ongoing discussions with PricewaterhouseCoopers and an assessment of the professional qualifications and past performance of the Lead Audit Partner and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

 

In addition, the Audit Committee reviewed and amended its Charter and received reports as required by its policy for the receipt, retention and treatment of financial reporting concerns received from external and internal sources.

 

Based on the reports and discussions described in this report and subject to the limitations on the roles and responsibilities of the Audit Committee referred to above and in its Charter, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board of Directors that the audited Consolidated Financial Statements of Prudential Financial and Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting be included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 for filing with the SEC.

 

THE AUDIT COMMITTEE

Frederic K. Becker (Chairman)

Gilbert F. Casellas

James G. Cullen

James A. Unruh

 


Page 14


Table of Contents

2006 PROXY STATEMENT

 


 

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

Process

The Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors is composed solely of Directors who are considered to be independent under applicable legal and regulatory standards. We are directly responsible to the Board of Directors, and through it to our shareholders, for developing and administering the compensation program for officers and key employees of senior management and Prudential Financial’s human resources policies, including its salary and benefits policies. We are supported in our work by the head of the Human Resources Department and her staff. The Compensation Committee also uses an independent executive compensation consulting firm for advice on matters of senior executive compensation, including Chief Executive Officer compensation. In line with best practices, the Committee reviews and discusses with its independent consultant detailed analyses of the compensation of the Named Executives identified in the Summary Compensation Table on page 19, including estimated payments upon termination or retirement.

 

Compensation Philosophy and Strategy

The philosophy behind Prudential Financial’s compensation program is to provide an attractive, flexible and market-based total compensation program tied to performance and aligned with shareholder interests. Our goal is for Prudential Financial to be competitive in recruiting and retaining employees through its high-quality compensation practices. Equally important, we view compensation practices as a means for communicating our goals and standards of performance and for motivating and rewarding employees in relation to their achievements.

 

Prudential Financial competes in several different businesses, most of which are involved in helping individuals and institutions grow and protect their assets. These businesses draw their key people from different segments of the marketplace. Thus, our compensation programs are designed with the flexibility to be competitive and motivational within the different marketplaces in which we compete for talent, while being subject to centralized design, approval and control.

 

During 2005, upon the recommendation of our independent consultant, we modified the peer group used to analyze total compensation for the Named Executives. Since becoming a public company in 2001, we used the companies that comprise the Financial Services Composite Index shown on our performance graph on page 22 as a peer group for compensation purposes. The new peer group for compensation purposes reflects the fact that the Company has substantially exited the investment banking and securities brokerage businesses. The new compensation peer group is comprised of companies in insurance, asset management and other diversified financial services industries and more closely reflects the industries in which we currently compete for executive talent. We continue to use the same peer group for the performance graph as in previous years because we believe that it continues to appropriately reflect the financial services companies with whom we compete for investment dollars.

 

Overall, the same principles that govern the compensation of all our salaried associates apply to the compensation of Prudential Financial’s executives. Within this framework, the Committee believes:

 

  1. All associates should have base salaries and employee benefits that are market competitive and that permit us to hire and retain high-caliber associates at all levels. In determining market competitiveness, we regularly review the compensation of our executives against that of designated competitors and generally set compensation to be between the median and top quartile of the competition, depending on the experience and performance of the individual.

 

  2. A significant portion of the annual compensation of executives and key associates should vary with annual business performance and each individual’s contribution to that performance.

 

  3. In addition to rewards for annual results, executives should be rewarded for achieving long-term results and such rewards should be aligned with shareholder interests.

 


Page 15


Table of Contents

PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL, INC.

 


 

  4. A significant portion of executives’ compensation should be tied to measures of performance of Prudential Financial as a whole.

 

  5. Special benefits and perquisites for management should be minimized and based on business necessity.

 

  6. The interests of executives should be linked with those of shareholders through the risks and rewards of the ownership of Prudential Financial Common Stock.

 

Program Elements and 2005 Results

Prudential Financial’s current compensation program for its executives, including our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), consists of three main elements: base salaries, annual incentives and long-term incentives. Mr. Ryan makes compensation recommendations annually to the Compensation Committee for executives at the Senior Vice President level and above, which we review and discuss with him. We review and recommend compensation actions for executives at the Senior Vice President level and above to the Board of Directors for approval.

 

Base Salaries

Base salaries for our executives are determined by taking into consideration the relative importance of the position, the competitive marketplace and the individual’s performance and contribution. Salaries are reviewed annually, and increases are granted when warranted. Reflecting practices in the financial community, most of our focus is on annual and long-term incentives. Thus, it is common for an executive to have his or her salary increased only infrequently and then mostly related to job changes.

 

Annual Incentives

Annual incentives for executive officers, including our CEO, are paid through an incentive pool, which is funded based on average performance relative to the prior year and to the Board-approved financial plan for the current year using four financial measures: growth in pre-tax adjusted operating income (“AOI”)—30% weighting; operating return on average equity on an AOI basis (“ROE”)—30% weighting; operating revenues—15% weighting; and earnings per share on an after-tax AOI basis (“EPS”)—25% weighting. After the calculation of the incentive pool, the Committee has the ability to modify the pool to take into consideration additional performance factors, such as total shareholder return, employee measures and strategic positioning relative to competitors. For the Financial Services Businesses, pre-tax AOI in 2005 increased by 41% over 2004, ROE improved by 22% in 2005, operating revenues increased by 16%, EPS increased by 34%, and our total shareholder return was 34.51%. The incentive awards for all participants in the corporate pool increased by 16% over 2004. Annual incentive payments for the Named Executives are indicated in the Summary Compensation Table on page 19.

 

Long-Term Incentives

Omnibus Incentive Plan. In 2003, the Company’s shareholders approved the Prudential Financial, Inc. Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Omnibus Plan”) and authorized the merger of the Prudential Financial Stock Option Plan, previously approved by the Board of Directors in 2001, into the Omnibus Plan. Under the Omnibus Plan, participants may receive long-term incentive awards of options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted units, cash-based long-term performance unit awards and/or “performance shares.” (Performance shares are awards of units under the Omnibus Plan denominated in Prudential Financial Common Stock, and the number of units ultimately awarded is determined over a three-year performance period based on the satisfaction of performance goals.)

 

Mr. Ryan and executives at the level of Senior Vice President and above and equivalents received grants of stock options and performance shares in 2005 for the 2005-2007 performance period under the Omnibus Incentive Plan. The actual number of shares earned at the end of the 2005-2007 performance period will vary from 50% to 150% of the target shares awarded based on ROE and EPS achievement over the performance period. Both ROE and EPS are subject to adjustment for significant one-time charges or benefits that do not accurately reflect the operating performance of the Company’s businesses as and to the extent determined by the Compensation Committee. Half of the award will be earned based on average ROE performance and the other half will be earned based on EPS growth for the 2005-2007 performance period. The target number of performance shares awarded represents the number of shares to be received upon attainment of an average ROE of 12% and a compounded annual growth rate in EPS of 10% over the 2005 through 2007 performance

 


Page 16


Table of Contents

2006 PROXY STATEMENT

 


 

period. Attainment of 13% or more average ROE and EPS growth of 12% or more would result in an award of 150% of the target while average ROE of 10% or less and EPS growth of 8% or less would result in an award of 50% of target. The actual number of shares to be received will be determined by the Compensation Committee in February 2008.

 

In February 2006, the performance shares that were granted to the Named Executives in 2003 for the 2003-2005 performance period were paid based on the achievement of 12.4% ROE, resulting in a payment of 150% of the target award. The dollar value of the payment for each of the Named Executives is listed in the Summary Compensation Table under the “LTIP Payouts” column. Payments of performance shares and annual incentive payments are subject to an individual limit of 0.6% of pre-tax adjusted operating income in accordance with the provisions of the Omnibus Plan.

 

On February 14, 2006, Mr. Ryan and the Named Executives also received grants of stock options and performance shares. Under the 2006 performance shares program, the target number of performance shares will be earned if average ROE for the 2006-2008 performance period is 12.5% and the compounded annual growth rate for EPS is 12%. Achievement of 13.5% or more average ROE and EPS growth of 14% or more would result in an award of 150% of the target while average ROE of 11% or less and EPS growth of 10% or less would result in an award of 50% of target. In the event of a significant acquisition involving Prudential Financial Common Stock or a divestiture or other transaction involving Prudential or its subsidiaries and affiliates during the performance cycle, the Committee may, in its discretion, assess the impact of any such event on the average ROE and EPS growth goals set forth above and adjust such goals and related payout scales as the Committee deems appropriate. Other key features of the 2006 performance shares program are essentially unchanged from the 2005 program.

 

Perquisites

As noted above, a key component of our compensation strategy is that special benefits and perquisites for management should be minimized and based on business necessity. Any personal use of Company- provided aircraft by the Named Executives is required to be reimbursed using an incremental cost methodology. The incremental cost of any personal use of Company- provided vehicles by the Named Executives, including personal commutation expenses, is reported as imputed income, and in each case was less than $50,000 in 2005.

 

CEO Compensation

Mr. Ryan’s base salary is $1,000,000, which has remained unchanged since he was hired as our CEO in 1994. Mr. Ryan’s salary has intentionally been kept flat because the Committee believes that increases in his total compensation should be performance-based.

 

With respect to annual incentives, we evaluated Mr. Ryan’s performance for 2005 taking into account financial results and non-financial and strategic factors, such as capital management efforts, integration of acquisitions and employee measures (including results of the Company’s Employee Opinion Survey). We recommended a performance bonus of $5,650,000, which was approved by the independent Directors.

 

Mr. Ryan was granted 223,589 stock options on February 8, 2005, which will vest in three equal installments on the first, second and third anniversary of the date of grant. Further, Mr. Ryan was granted 74,544 target performance shares for the 2005-2007 performance cycle (the performance criteria for this award are discussed in the Long-Term Incentives section on pages 16-17).

 

On February 14, 2006, Mr. Ryan was granted 179,069 stock options at $76.15 per share, which will vest in three equal installments on the first, second and third anniversary of the date of grant. Further, Mr. Ryan was granted 59,682 target performance shares for the 2006-2008 performance cycle (as described in the Long-Term Incentives section on pages 16-17).

 

The following long-term incentive awards were granted in February 2006 to the other Named Executives:

 


   Stock
Options


   Target
Performance
Shares1


John R. Strangfeld, Jr.

   71,628    23,873

Vivian L. Banta

   71,628    23,873

Rodger A. Lawson

   71,628    23,873

Mark B. Grier

   63,669    21,221

 

(1) The actual number of shares the Compensation Committee will award at the end of each performance period will range between 50% and 150% of this target based upon measures of the reported performance for the Company’s Financial Services Businesses relative to stated goals.

 


Page 17


Table of Contents

PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL, INC.

 


 

Mr. Ryan earned a payment of 114,645 shares of common stock in February 2006 under the 2003 performance shares program. Under this program, a minimum payout of 50% of the target number of shares would be earned at ROE achievement of 8% in 2005; 100% of the target number of shares would be earned at ROE achievement of 10% in 2005; and the maximum payment of 150% of the target shares would be earned at ROE achievement of 12% or more in 2005. The amount received was 150% of his target award, based on achievement of 12.4% ROE in 2005.

 

Stock Ownership Guidelines and Stock Retention Requirements

We have adopted stock ownership guidelines for our senior executives to encourage them to build their ownership position in our stock over time by direct market purchases, making investments available through the PESP and retaining shares they earn through our equity incentive and option plans. These guidelines are stated as stock value as a percent of base salary and are 200% for Senior Vice Presidents, 300% for Vice Chairmen and Executive Vice Presidents and 500% for our CEO. The guidelines are expected to be achieved within five years of the date they become applicable to the executive.

 

As of February 15, 2006, all of the Named Executives have met their share ownership guidelines.

 

We have also adopted stock retention requirements for executive officers. Each executive officer is required to retain 50% of the net shares (after payment of the applicable exercise price, if any, applicable fees and applicable taxes) acquired upon the exercise of stock options or the vesting of any restricted stock. The executive is required to hold such shares until the later of (i) one year following the date of acquisition of such shares or (ii) the date that the executive satisfies the ownership guidelines.

 

In addition, all employees are subject to the Company’s Personal Securities Trading Policy. Under this policy, employees are prohibited from selling short including “short sales against the box” and from participating in any options or futures transactions on any securities issued by Prudential Financial.

 

Policy on Tax Deductibility of Executive Compensation

It is our policy to structure and administer our annual and long-term incentive plans and stock option grants for our CEO and other Named Executives to maximize the tax deductibility of the payments as “performance-based” compensation under the Internal Revenue Code. In 2005, all such compensation was deductible; however, we reserve the right to provide benefits that may not be tax deductible if we believe it is in the best interests of Prudential Financial and our shareholders to do so.

 

Closing Remarks

The Committee believes that the caliber and motivation of Prudential Financial’s key employees and the quality of their leadership make a significant difference in the long-term performance of the Company. Over the past five years, we have transitioned our compensation program from one appropriate to a mutual company to that of a public company. We have introduced stock options, restricted stock, performance shares and other opportunities for direct stock ownership to align the interests of our executives and employees with those of our shareholders.

 

THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

James G. Cullen (Chairman)

Gordon M. Bethune

Constance J. Horner

 


Page 18


Table of Contents

2006 PROXY STATEMENT

 


 

COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

 

Currently and in 2005, Mr. Ryan and the four other most highly paid executive officers of Prudential Financial participate in certain pension and profit-sharing retirement plans sponsored by Prudential Insurance that are either intended to qualify for tax-favored treatment under Section 401(a) of the Code or are nonqualified arrangements which, by their design, do not result in current taxation to such executives of any accrued but unpaid benefits. These plans include: (a) The Prudential Merged Retirement Plan, a defined benefit pension plan intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code (the “Merged Retirement Plan”); (b) the Prudential Supplemental Retirement Plan, a nonqualified retirement plan designed to provide benefits to eligible employees in excess of the amounts permitted to be paid by the Merged Retirement Plan under Section 401(a) of the Code (the “Supplemental Retirement Plan”); (c) the PESP, a defined contribution profit-sharing plan intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code and to be subject to the requirements of Section 401(k) of the Code; and (d) the Prudential Supplemental Employee Savings Plan, a nonqualified profit-sharing plan designed to provide benefits to eligible employees in excess of certain amounts permitted to be contributed under the PESP (the “SESP”).

 

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

 

The following Summary Compensation table includes individual compensation information on Mr. Ryan and the
four other most highly paid executive officers in 2005 (collectively, the “Named Executives”).

 

    Annual Compensation

 

Long-Term

Compensation


   

Name and Principal Position


  Year

  Salary($)

  Bonus($)

  Other Annual
Compensation($)1


  Awards
Stock
Options (#)


 

Payouts

LTIP
Payouts($)2


  All Other
Compensation($)3


Arthur F. Ryan

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

  2005
2004
2003
  $
$
$
1,000,000
1,000,000
1,000,000
  $
$
$
5,650,000
4,700,000
4,000,000
  $
$
$
181,338
98,713
38,215
  223,589
244,585
275,230
  $
$
$
8,730,217
3,888,096
4,489,100
  $
$
$
37,523
37,954
38,154

John R. Strangfeld, Jr.

Vice Chairman,

Investments Division

  2005
2004
2003
  $
$
$
600,000
600,000
600,000
  $
$
$
3,500,000
3,000,000
2,700,000
  $
$
$
89,545
51,950
22,929
  95,026
111,810
137,615
  $
$
$
5,238,131
2,730,636
2,522,800
  $
$
$
22,053
21,769
23,077

Vivian L. Banta

Vice Chairman,

Insurance Division

  2005
2004
2003
  $
$
$
525,000
525,000
520,193
  $
$
$
3,200,000
2,700,000
2,300,000
  $
$
$
89,545
51,950
22,929
  95,026
111,810
137,615
  $
$
$
5,238,131
2,184,024
1,892,100
  $
$
$
21,000
21,000
21,615

Rodger A. Lawson

Vice Chairman,

International Division

  2005
2004
2003
  $
$
$
525,000
520,193
490,385
  $
$
$
3,000,000
2,400,000
2,000,000
  $
$
$
81,767
45,718
19,108
  95,026
104,822
114,679
  $
$
$
4,365,147
1,638,624
1,640,100
  $
$
$
21,000
20,808
15,692

Mark B. Grier

Vice Chairman,

Financial Management

  2005
2004
2003
  $
$
$
520,193
500,000
500,000
  $
$
$
2,750,000
2,300,000
2,000,000
  $
$
$
68,357
37,302
15,286
  83,846
87,352
91,744
  $
$
$
3,492,087
1,638,624
1,766,100
  $
$
$
20,808
20,000
20,769

 

(1) Represents dividend equivalents paid on target performance shares.

 

(2) For 2005, represents the value of released shares of Prudential Financial Common Stock under the 2003 Performance Share Program on February 14, 2006 at a closing price of $76.15. For 2004, represents payments made under the former Performance Unit Plan (“PUP”) for the 2002-2004 performance period. For 2003, represents payments made under the PUP for the 2001-2003 performance period.

 

(3) For 2005, includes employer contributions for Mr. Ryan, Mr. Strangfeld, Ms. Banta, Mr. Lawson and Mr. Grier (i) under the PESP in the amounts of $5,923, $6,462, $8,400, $8,400 and $8,400, respectively, and (ii) credited under the SESP in the amounts of $31,600, $15,591, $12,600, $12,600 and $12,408, respectively. For 2004, includes employer contributions for Mr. Ryan, Mr. Strangfeld, Ms. Banta, Mr. Lawson and Mr. Grier (i) under the PESP in the amounts of $6,154, $6,077, $8,200, $8,200 and $8,200, respectively, and (ii) credited under the SESP in the amounts of $31,800, $15,692, $12,800, $12,608 and $11,800, respectively. For 2003, includes employer contributions for Mr. Ryan, Mr. Strangfeld, Ms. Banta, Mr. Lawson and Mr. Grier (i) under the PESP in the amounts of $6,154, $5,538, $8,000, $8,000 and $8,000, respectively, and (ii) credited under the SESP in the amounts of $32,000, $17,539, $13,615, $7,692 and $12,769, respectively.

 


Page 19


Table of Contents

PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL, INC.

 


 

LONG-TERM COMPENSATION TABLE — GRANTS IN 2005

 

The following table shows the performance shares granted in 2005 to the Named Executives under the Omnibus Plan.

 

     Number of Shares,
Units or Other Rights1


  

Performance or

Other Period

Until Maturation
or Payout


  

Estimated Future Payouts Under

Non-Stock Price Based Plans1


Name


         Threshold

   Target

   Maximum
Payout


Arthur F. Ryan

   74,544    2005-2007    37,262    74,544    111,816

John R. Strangfeld, Jr.

   31,681    2005-2007    15,841    31,681    47,522

Vivian L. Banta

   31,681    2005-2007    15,841    31,681    47,522

Rodger A. Lawson

   31,681    2005-2007    15,841    31,681    47,522

Mark B. Grier

   27,954    2005-2007    13,977    27,954    41,931

 

(1) These performance shares awards were granted on February 8, 2005. The actual number of shares earned at the end of the 2005-2007 performance period will vary from 50% to 150% of the target shares shown in this column based on average ROE and EPS growth for 2005-2007 for the Company’s Financial Services Businesses. An average ROE of 10% or less and EPS growth of 8% or less for 2005-2007 will result in a payment of 50% of the target number of shares. The target number of shares will be earned at an average 2005-2007 ROE of 12% and EPS growth of 10%. The maximum payout of 150% of the target shares will be earned at an average 2005-2007 ROE of 13% or more and EPS growth of 12% or more.

 


Page 20


Table of Contents

2006 PROXY STATEMENT

 


 

OPTION GRANT TABLE — GRANTS IN 2005

 

The following table contains information about stock option grants we made to the Named Executives in 2005.

 

Name


   Number of
Securities
Underlying Options
Granted (#)1


   % of Total
Options Granted
to Employees in
2005


    Grant
Price
($/Sh)


   Expiration
Date


   Grant Date
Present
Value ($)2


Arthur F. Ryan

   223,589    5.57 %   $ 55.75    2/08/15    $ 2,879,827

John R. Strangfeld, Jr.

   95,026    2.37 %   $ 55.75    2/08/15    $ 1,223,935

Vivian L. Banta

   95,026    2.37 %   $ 55.75    2/08/15    $ 1,223,935

Rodger A. Lawson

   95,026    2.37 %   $ 55.75    2/08/15    $ 1,223,935

Mark B. Grier

   83,846    2.09 %   $ 55.75    2/08/15    $ 1,079,937

 

(1) These non-qualified stock options were granted on February 8, 2005. All options have an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. The options vest in three equal installments beginning on the first anniversary of the grant date.

 

(2) These values are hypothetical values developed under a binomial option pricing model, which is a complex mathematical formula to determine fair value of stock options at the date of grant. The binomial option pricing model is a flexible, lattice-based valuation model that takes into consideration transferability, illiquidity during the vesting period, fixed estimate of volatility, and expected life of the options. As such, we emphasize that the table values are hypothetical and may not reflect the true value an option holder would realize upon exercise. We make the following assumptions when calculating the grant date present value of the stock option grants: exercise price is equal to our share price on the grant date, 5.19 year life expected for each option, expected dividend yield of 1.2%, risk-free rate of return of 3.74%, and expected stock price volatility of 23.77%.

 

Year-End Option Holdings

The following table provides information about unexercised stock options held by each Named Executive as of December 31, 2005. Stock options were granted on December 18, 2002, February 11, 2003, February 10, 2004 and February 8, 2005. None of the Named Executives has exercised stock options as of December 31, 2005.

 

Year-End Option Holdings

 

                   
     Number of Securities
Underlying Unexercised
Options at Year-End


  

Value of Unexercised

In-The-Money Options

at Year-End 1


Executive


   Exercisable

   Unexercisable

   Exercisable

   Unexercisable

Arthur F. Ryan

   688,133    478,390    $ 27,669,655    $ 12,467,567

John R. Strangfeld, Jr.

   265,328    215,438    $ 10,637,011    $ 5,744,335

Vivian L. Banta

   238,065    215,438    $ 9,514,048    $ 5,744,335

Rodger A. Lawson

   193,181    203,135    $ 7,663,455    $ 5,282,074

Mark B. Grier

   172,068    172,663    $ 6,837,401    $ 4,427,814

 

(1) “Value of Unexercised In-The-Money Options” is the aggregate, calculated on a grant by grant basis, of the product of the number of unexercised stock options at the end of 2005 multiplied by the difference between the exercise price for the grant and the closing price of a share of Common Stock on December 30, 2005 ($73.19). All stock options granted through December 31, 2005 are “in-the-money.” The actual value, if any, that will be realized upon the exercise of a stock option will depend upon the difference between the exercise price of the option and the market price of the Common Stock on the date that the option is exercised.

 


Page 21


Table of Contents

PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL, INC.

 


 

PERFORMANCE GRAPH

 

The following graph, which covers the period from the closing price on the date of our initial public offering (December 13, 2001) through December 31, 2005, compares the cumulative total shareholder return on Prudential Financial’s Common Stock with the cumulative total shareholder return on (i) the Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500 Index, and (ii) a Financial Services Composite Index, which is the average of the S&P 500 Life/Health Insurance and S&P 500 Diversified Financials indices. The figures presented below assume the reinvestment of all dividends into shares of common stock and an initial investment of $100 at the closing prices on December 13, 2001.

 

    

ANNUAL RETURN PERCENTAGE

Years Ending


Company / Index


   12/31/01

     12/31/02

     12/31/03

     12/31/04

     12/31/05

Prudential Financial, Inc.

   13.28      -3.10      33.28      33.26      34.51

S&P 500 Index

   2.69      -22.10      28.68      10.88      4.91

Financial Services Composite Index

   4.68      -19.01      34.89      15.21      16.16

 

LOGO

 


Page 22


Table of Contents

2006 PROXY STATEMENT

 


 

RETIREMENT PLANS

 

Prudential Insurance, an indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of Prudential Financial, sponsors two primary defined benefit retirement plans: the Merged Retirement Plan, which is subject to both ERISA and the qualification rules of the Code; and the Supplemental Retirement Plan, which is a “nonqualified” retirement plan exempt from most of ERISA’s substantive provisions and designed to provide benefits larger than those permitted under the qualification rules.

 

The Merged Retirement Plan has two formulas under which employees may have their retirement benefits determined: the “traditional” pension formula or the “cash balance” pension formula.

 

Benefits payable under the Traditional Pension Plan (defined below) are not subject to offset for Social Security benefits. Final Average Earnings is generally defined as the average of annual earnings during the Earnings Base Period, not including the two years of lowest annual earnings. The Earnings Base Period for 2005 began on January 1, 1997.

 

Compensation considered in determining annual earnings for the Named Executives includes base salary and Annual Incentive Plan payments.

 

As of December 31, 2005, the estimated Final Average Earnings and years of credited service of the Named Executives under the Traditional Pension Plan were: Mr. Ryan, $5,050,000 and 33 years (which includes 22 years of credited service as a Mid-Career Hire Benefit under the Prudential Insurance Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, described below) and Mr. Strangfeld, $3,023,805 and 28 years.

 

Traditional Pension Formula

The following table shows the estimated annual retirement benefits payable, assuming retirement at age 65, to participants under the Prudential Traditional Retirement Plan Document component of the Merged Retirement Plan and the Supplemental Retirement Plan, described below (collectively, the “Traditional Pension Plan”), at the levels of Final Average Earnings and years of credited service contained in the respective plans.

 

Pension Plan Table

Estimated Annual Retirement Plans Benefits — Traditional Pension Plan

 

Final Average
Earnings


   Years of Credited Service

   10

   15

   20

   25

   30

   35

   40

   45

$   800,000

   $ 156,835    $ 235,252    $ 313,670    $ 392,087    $ 431,478    $ 470,870    $ 510,504    $ 550,504

$1,200,000

   $ 236,835    $ 355,252    $ 473,670    $ 592,087    $ 651,478    $ 710,870    $ 770,504    $ 830,504

$1,600,000

   $ 316,835    $ 475,252    $ 633,670    $ 792,087    $ 871,478    $ 950,870    $ 1,030,504    $ 1,110,504

$2,000,000

   $ 396,835    $ 595,252    $ 793,670    $ 992,087    $ 1,091,478    $ 1,190,870    $ 1,290,504    $ 1,390,504

$2,400,000

   $ 476,835    $ 715,252    $ 953,670    $ 1,192,087    $ 1,311,478    $ 1,430,870    $ 1,550,504    $ 1,670,504

$2,800,000

   $ 556,835    $ 835,252    $ 1,113,670    $ 1,392,087    $ 1,531,478    $ 1,670,870    $ 1,810,504    $ 1,950,504

$3,200,000

   $ 636,835    $ 955,252    $ 1,273,670    $ 1,592,087    $ 1,751,478    $ 1,910,870    $ 2,070,504    $ 2,230,504

$3,600,000

   $ 716,835    $ 1,075,252    $ 1,433,670    $ 1,792,087    $ 1,971,478    $ 2,150,870    $ 2,330,504    $ 2,510,504

$4,000,000

   $ 796,835    $ 1,195,252    $ 1,593,670    $ 1,992,087    $ 2,191,478    $ 2,390,870    $ 2,590,504    $ 2,790,504

$4,400,000

   $ 876,835    $ 1,315,252    $ 1,753,670    $ 2,192,087    $ 2,411,478    $ 2,630,870    $ 2,850,504    $ 3,070,504

$4,800,000

   $ 956,835    $ 1,435,252    $ 1,913,670    $ 2,392,087    $ 2,631,478    $ 2,870,870    $ 3,110,504    $ 3,350,504

$5,200,000

   $ 1,036,835    $ 1,555,252    $ 2,073,670    $ 2,592,087    $ 2,851,478    $ 3,110,870    $ 3,370,504    $ 3,630,504

$5,600,000

   $ 1,116,835    $ 1,675,252    $ 2,233,670    $ 2,792,087    $ 3,071,478    $ 3,350,870    $ 3,630,504    $ 3,910,504

$6,000,000

   $ 1,196,835    $ 1,795,252    $ 2,393,670    $ 2,992,087    $ 3,291,478    $ 3,590,870    $ 3,890,504    $ 4,190,504

 

The benefits shown above are stated in the form of a straight life annuity for the participant. Other optional forms of payment are available.

 


Page 23


Table of Contents

PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL, INC.

 


 

Cash Balance Formula

Effective January 1, 2001, a cash balance pension plan formula was added to the Merged Retirement Plan for employees hired on or after January 1, 2001. In conjunction with this decision, the Company offered in 2001 a one-time conversion election, known as “Pension Choice,” for then-current participants in the Traditional Pension Plan to choose whether to have retirement benefits determined under the traditional pension formula or the cash balance pension formula.

 

Pension benefits under the Prudential Cash Balance Pension Plan Document component of the Merged Retirement Plan and the Supplemental Retirement Plan (collectively, the “Cash Balance Pension Plan”) are generally stated as a lump sum amount, although participants may also elect to have benefits distributed as an annuity. Benefits are computed using a cash balance methodology that provides for basic credits equal to 2%-14% (depending on age and service) of eligible earnings. Interest credits are made to the participant’s hypothetical account each month. The Cash Balance Pension Plan sets the interest rate each year based on the average yield on 30-year U.S. Treasury securities (constant maturities) for October of the prior year (or similar benchmark determined by the Internal Revenue Service), with a minimum rate of 4.25%.

 

Employees, who chose to have their benefits determined under the Cash Balance Pension Plan through the Pension Choice process had their accrued benefits under the Traditional Pension Plan as of January 1, 2002, converted to cash balance accounts based on the present value of the accrued benefits as of that date. The accrued benefit under the Traditional Pension Plan was frozen as of January 1, 2002, and, combined with a special protective “anti-wear-away” accrual, represents a minimum plan benefit. These participants also receive transition credits of 2.5% of eligible earnings from January 1, 2002 through December 31, 2006.

 

Benefits payable under the Cash Balance Pension Plan are not subject to offset for Social Security benefits. Eligible earnings include base salary and Annual Incentive Plan payments.

 

As of December 31, 2005, the account balances of the Named Executives under the Cash Balance Pension Plan were: Ms. Banta, $1,539,598; Mr. Lawson, $2,468,974; and Mr. Grier, $2,168,155.

 

Supplemental Retirement Plans

The Supplemental Retirement Plan is designed to provide benefits that would have been provided under the Traditional Pension Plan or the Cash Balance Pension Plan of the Merged Retirement Plan except for legislation that limits the amount of pension benefits that may be paid from a qualified retirement plan and earnings that may be considered in determining pension benefits under a qualified retirement plan. Credited amounts under this plan are included in the Final Average Earnings and years of credited service or account balances noted above.

 

Prudential Insurance Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan/PFI Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan

In 2002, Prudential Insurance amended, restated and renamed its Executive Supplemental Retirement Plan as the Prudential Insurance Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the “Prudential Insurance SERP”) for eligible employees of Prudential Insurance. Mr. Ryan was designated a participant in the Mid-Career Hire Benefit at that time. Prudential Financial also adopted a comparable plan, called the PFI Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (the “PFI SERP”) for eligible employees of Prudential Financial and affiliated entities other than Prudential Insurance.

 


Page 24


Table of Contents

2006 PROXY STATEMENT

 


 

The Prudential Insurance SERP and PFI SERP provide supplemental retirement benefits, including “Mid-Career Hire Benefits” that compensate eligible individuals for retirement benefits lost when they left their previous employers. Under this provision of these plans, the benefit calculation includes service with the prior employer in the benefits calculation under the Merged Retirement Plan and the Supplemental Retirement Plan.

 

Under the Mid-Career Hire Benefits provision, we will calculate a hypothetical benefit under the Merged Retirement Plan and the Supplemental Retirement Plan by including service with the former employer in the calculation. The benefit payable under these plans will be an amount equal to the difference, if any, between the hypothetical benefit and the benefit the employee is eligible to receive under the former employer’s pension plan, the Merged Retirement Plan and the Supplemental Retirement Plan.

 

PRUDENTIAL SEVERANCE AND

SENIOR EXECUTIVE SEVERANCE PLAN;

CHANGE OF CONTROL PROGRAM

 

Severance Plans

Currently, each of the Named Executives, other than the CEO, is eligible for benefits under the Prudential Severance Plan and the Prudential Severance Plan for Senior Executives if such executive incurs an “Eligible Termination.” An “Eligible Termination” is defined as an involuntary termination of employment with Prudential Financial or a “participating company” that is a result of: (i) the closing of an office or business location; (ii) a reduction in force or downsizing; (iii) the restructuring, reorganization or reengineering of a business group, unit or department; (iv) a job elimination; or (v) such other factors and circumstances as the Compensation Committee determines in its sole discretion. The severance paid to each Named Executive is based on the individual’s years of service and “Weeks of Eligible Compensation,” which is based on the individual’s annual base salary and a three-year average of the individual’s bonus payments under the Annual Incentive Plan. There is a minimum guarantee of 52 weeks of eligible compensation, and an additional 26 weeks may be added subject to the approval of the Compensation Committee. Payments under the Prudential Severance Plan for Senior Executives are reduced, however, by the amount of any severance or similar benefits from Prudential Insurance or any affiliate, including the change of control program described below and by any amounts owed to Prudential Financial or one of its affiliates by the affected employee.

 

Change of Control Program

We have also adopted an Executive Change of Control Severance Program (the “Program”), amended and restated as of September 9, 2003, to help (i) assure executives of fair treatment in case of involuntary termination following a change of control, (ii) assure executives’ objectivity in respect of shareholders’ interests, and (iii) attract and retain key talent during uncertain times. Each of the Named Executives, including the CEO, is eligible for benefits under the Program. A change of control generally includes these events: (1) any person’s becoming the beneficial owner of 25% or more of our voting securities, (2) a change in a majority of persons serving on the Board of Directors (excluding newly elected Directors who are elected or nominated by a majority of the Directors who were in office prior to the change), or (3) consummation of a merger, consolidation, sale or other disposition of our assets or similar corporate transactions (unless our shareholders control the voting power of the surviving, resulting or acquiring corporation). The Board of Directors also has the right to designate any other event as a change of control. The Program covers executives designated by a committee of the Board of Directors or the CEO, as appropriate. Mr. Ryan and the other Named Executives have been so designated.

 


Page 25


Table of Contents

PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL, INC.

 


 

Severance:

 

There is a double trigger for severance benefits to be paid upon a change of control. The first trigger is that a change of control must have occurred. The second trigger is that the designated executive’s employment must either be terminated involuntarily without cause or must be terminated by the designated executive for “good reason” within two years of the change of control. A designated executive would have good reason to terminate employment if the terms and conditions of the officer’s employment were to adversely change (e.g., job responsibilities, title, reporting relationship, compensation or forced relocation).

 

Upon a qualifying termination following a change of control, we will pay the severance benefit in a lump sum, generally in the amount of three times annual salary plus three times the higher of the prior year’s actual annual bonus or the average of the last three calendar years’ annual bonuses for our Named Executives, subject to the execution of a non-competition and non-solicitation agreement.

 

Other Benefits and Payments:

 

Other benefits and payments related to an executive’s prior service are also provided under the program in case of a qualifying termination.

 

Pro Rata Annual Bonus. A pro-rated annual incentive award will be paid either at the amount of any target annual compensation award for the year in which termination occurs or, if there is no target opportunity stated for such year, at the amount of the average of the last three calendar years’ annual incentive payments.

 

Awards under the Omnibus Plan. All outstanding stock options and stock appreciation rights become immediately exercisable, and options and stock appreciation rights may be exercised for up to one year following such termination. Any outstanding grant of restricted stock or restricted units under the Omnibus Plan shall have all such restrictions lapse and become non-forfeitable to the participant as of the date of termination. Any performance share awards, held by the participant that relate to performance cycles ending prior to the date of termination and have been earned but not paid, become immediately payable, and all performance shares relating to performance cycles then in progress shall be paid out at target value. Finally, to the extent that any awards under the Omnibus Plan have been replaced by “Alternative Awards” (as defined in the Omnibus Plan) pursuant to an acquirer’s plan or program, they shall be settled with the affected participant under terms and conditions substantially similar to those set forth above.

 

Health and Life Benefits Continuance During Severance Period. Health and life insurance benefits will continue to be furnished by the Company at normal contribution levels (generally for 18 months) following termination of employment. If no such benefit can be provided under the Company’s plans, the Company will provide such benefit under the terms of an individual policy or general corporate assets, and may be required to make a tax “gross-up” payment to the executive if the provision of any such benefits are determined to be taxable to the recipient.

 

Enhanced Retirement Benefits. The terminated executive will also receive a payment equal to the present value of the retirement benefits (either under the traditional formula or the cash balance formula of the Merged Retirement Plan and Supplemental Retirement Plan) that he or she would have accrued during the period of time in respect of which severance benefits are payable (generally up to three years), taking into account such severance benefits and other factors (age and service) as may be relevant under the Company’s retirement plans.

 

Deferred Compensation Plans. Amounts deferred under our deferred compensation plans are payable in a lump sum at termination unless payable earlier under the officer’s previous distribution election.

 


Page 26


Table of Contents

2006 PROXY STATEMENT

 


 

Excise Tax Limits and Gross-Up Payments:

 

Immediately following any notice of termination, the Company must provide the affected executive with an estimate of all payments under the Program (and any other payments that the executive may be entitled to), and thereafter determine the aggregate present value of all such payments that are “parachute payments” within the meaning of Code Section 280G (defined under the Program as “Aggregate Parachute Payments”). The Company must also provide the executive with the projected maximum payments that could be made to the executive without causing the executive to become subject to federal excise taxes related to such parachute payments (defined under the Program as the “Section 280G Safe Harbor Amount”). If the Aggregate Parachute Payments exceed the Section 280G Safe Harbor Amount by less than 10%, then such payments will be reduced to the Section 280G Safe Harbor Amount. If, however, the Aggregate Parachute Payments exceed the Section 280G Safe Harbor Amount by 10% or more, then the Company will pay the entire amount of such payments, plus an additional payment (the “Excise Tax Gross-Up”) to compensate the executive for any (i) federal excise taxes due and owing on such parachute payments, and (ii) other taxes (federal, state or local) attributable to the excise tax payment.

 


Page 27


Table of Contents

PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL, INC.

 


 

VOTING SECURITIES AND PRINCIPAL HOLDERS THEREOF

 

The following table sets forth information regarding the beneficial ownership of our Common Stock as of February 15, 2006 by:

 

  each Director and Named Executive; and

 

  all Directors and executive officers of Prudential Financial as a group.

 

We have also included in the table amounts invested in units of Prudential Financial Common Stock in the Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors and the Executive Deferred Compensation Plan. Although these amounts are not considered to be beneficially owned under SEC rules since they cannot be voted or transferred, we believe these vested holdings would be of interest to shareholders. In addition, we have included the target number of performance shares awarded to the Named Executives under the performance share program described on pages 16-17. Again, although these shares vest only upon the attainment of specified performance criteria, they represent an economic interest of the Named Executives and have been reported to the SEC in Form 4 filings.

 

Name of Beneficial Owner


  Number of Shares/Deferred
Units1,2


  

Number of

Shares

Subject to
Exercisable

Options


  

Target Number

of

Performance

Shares3


Frederic K. Becker

  31,927          

Gordon M. Bethune

  3,004          

Gaston Caperton

  6,469          

Gilbert F. Casellas

  12,959          

James G. Cullen

  20,051          

William H. Gray III

  13,426          

Jon F. Hanson

  71,854          

Constance J. Horner

  13,465          

Karl J. Krapek

  8,280          

Arthur F. Ryan

  169,481    935,934    215,736

James A. Unruh

  15,239          

John R. Strangfeld, Jr.

  85,899    380,145    92,816

Vivian L. Banta

  70,178    352,882    92,816

Rodger A. Lawson

  47,432    298,024    90,487

Mark B. Grier

  45,643    259,715    78,286

All directors and executive officers as a group
(19 persons)

  671,703    2,630,248    668,631

 

(1) The total beneficial ownership is less than 1% of the shares of Common Stock outstanding, as of February 15, 2006.

 

(2) Includes the following number of shares or share equivalents in deferred units, as to which no voting power exists: Ms. Banta, 21,552; Mr. Becker, 26,915; Mr. Bethune, 3,004; Mr. Caperton, 6,469; Mr. Casellas, 12,459; Mr. Cullen, 18,018; Mr. Gray, 12,413; Mr. Hanson, 61,841; Ms. Horner, 12,441; Mr. Krapek, 8,280; Mr. Lawson, 3,837; Mr. Ryan, 46,818; Mr. Strangfeld, 20,865; and Mr. Unruh, 12,478.

 

(3) The number of performance shares included in the table for each Named Executive represents the target number of shares to be received upon the attainment of ROE and EPS goals, as more fully discussed in the Report of the Compensation Committee.

 


Page 28


Table of Contents

2006 PROXY STATEMENT

 


 

The following table shows all entities that were the beneficial owners of more than 5% of any class of Prudential Financial’s voting securities.

 

Title of Class


  

Name and Address of

Beneficial Owner


  

Amount and Nature

of Beneficial Ownership


   Percent of Class

 

Class B Stock

  

National Union Fire Insurance

Company of Pittsburgh, PA1

c/o AIG Global Investment Group

2929 Allen Parkway, Suite A-36

Houston, TX 77019

   885,714    44.3 %

Class B Stock

  

Lexington Insurance Company1

c/o AIG Global Investment Group

2929 Allen Parkway, Suite A-36

Houston, TX 77019

   914,286    45.7 %

Class B Stock

  

Pacific LifeCorp

700 Newport Center Drive

Newport Beach, CA 92660

   200,000    10.0 %

 

(1) National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh, PA, and Lexington Insurance Company are subsidiaries of American International Group, Inc. (“AIG”), resulting in AIG’s beneficially owning 90% of the Class B Stock.

 

To our knowledge, no person or entity is the beneficial owner of more than 5% of our Common Stock or more than 5% of the voting power of the combined Common Stock and Class B Stock.

 

COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16(A) OF THE EXCHANGE ACT

 

Each Director, certain officers of Prudential Financial and greater than 10% beneficial owners of Common Stock are required to report to the SEC, by a specified date, his or her transactions related to the Common Stock. Based solely on review of the copies of reports furnished to Prudential Financial and on written representations that no other reports were required to be filed, Prudential Financial believes that there were no filing deficiencies during 2005 by those required to file.

 

SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

 

In order to submit shareholder proposals for the 2007 Annual Meeting of Shareholders for inclusion in Prudential Financial’s proxy statement pursuant to SEC Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”), materials must be received by the Secretary at Prudential Financial’s principal office in Newark, New Jersey, no later than November 29, 2006.

 

Such proposals must comply with all of the requirements of SEC Rule 14a-8. Proposals should be addressed to: Secretary, Prudential Financial, Inc., 751 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102. As the rules of the SEC make clear, simply submitting a proposal does not guarantee its inclusion.

 

In accordance with the Company’s By-laws, in order to be properly brought before the 2007 Annual Meeting, a notice of the matter the shareholder wishes to present at the meeting must be delivered to the Secretary at the Company’s principal office in Newark (see preceding paragraph), not less than 120 or more than 150 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of this year’s Annual Meeting. As a result, any notice given by or on behalf of a shareholder pursuant to these provisions of the Company’s By-laws (and not pursuant to SEC Rule 14a-8) must be received no earlier than December 10, 2006 and no later than January 9, 2007. All director nominations and shareholder proposals must comply with the requirements set forth in Prudential Financial’s By-laws, a copy of which may be obtained from the Secretary of Prudential Financial.

 


Page 29


Table of Contents

PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL, INC.

 


 

“HOUSEHOLDING” OF PROXY MATERIALS AND ELIMINATION OF DUPLICATES

 

A single proxy statement and annual report will be delivered to multiple shareholders having the same last name and address and to individuals with more than one account registered at Computershare with the same address unless contrary instructions have been received from an affected shareholder. If you are a shareholder who shares the same last name and address as other shareholders of Prudential Financial or if you own more than one account registered at Computershare with the same address and would like to receive a separate copy of current or future proxy statements and annual reports, please contact Computershare at 1-800-305-9404. If you prefer, you can send a written request to Prudential Financial, Inc., Attn: Prudential Shareholder Services, P.O. Box 1708, Newark, NJ 07101-1708. If you share the same last name and address as multiple shareholders or if you own more than one account registered at Computershare with the same address and you would like Prudential Financial to send only one copy of future proxy statements, information statements and annual reports, please contact Computershare at the above phone number.

 

ELECTRONIC DELIVERY OF PROXY MATERIALS

 

In an effort to reduce paper mailed to your home and help lower printing and postage costs, we are pleased to offer shareholders the convenience of viewing online proxy statements, annual reports and related materials. With your consent, we can stop sending future paper copies of these documents. To participate, follow the instructions at www.computershare.com/prudential.

 

ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K

 

The Company will provide by mail, without charge, a copy of its Annual Report on Form 10-K, at your request. Please direct all inquiries to Prudential Financial’s Corporate Information Service at 1-877-998-ROCK (7625).

 

 

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

To the extent that this proxy statement has been or will be specifically incorporated by reference into any other filing of Prudential Financial under the Securities Act of 1933 or the Exchange Act, the sections of this proxy statement entitled “Report of the Audit Committee” (to the extent permitted by the rules of the SEC), “Compensation Committee Report on Executive Compensation” and “Performance Graph” shall not be deemed to be so incorporated, unless specifically provided otherwise in such filing.

 

OTHER MATTERS

 

The Board of Directors is not aware of any matters other than those set forth in this proxy statement that will be presented for action at the Annual Meeting. However, if any other matter should properly come before the meeting, the persons authorized by the accompanying proxy will vote and act with respect thereto in what, according to their judgment, is in the interests of Prudential Financial and its shareholders.

 

A list of shareholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting will be available for examination by shareholders at the Annual Meeting.

 


Page 30


Table of Contents

 

 

 

 

LOGO


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

Annual Meeting Admission Ticket

May 9, 2006, 2:00 p.m. EDT at Prudential’s Corporate Headquarters, 751 Broad Street, Newark, New Jersey

PLEASE REFER TO THE REVERSE SIDE FOR VOTING INSTRUCTIONS.

Annual Meeting Proxy Card

Please detach and return the bottom portion only

A Proposals

The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the Election of Directors.

1. Election of Directors

01 - Frederic K. Becker 02 - Gordon M. Bethune 03 - James G. Cullen 04 - William H. Gray III 05 - Jon F. Hanson 06 - Constance J. Horner 07 - James A. Unruh

`To Vote FOR All Nominees `To WITHHOLD Vote From All Nominees

`For All Except - to withhold a vote for a specific Director, mark this box with an X and the appropriate numbered box to the right of this paragraph with the corresponding number from the list above

01 - 02 - 03 - 04 - 05 - 06 - 07 -

The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR Proposal 2.

For Against Abstain

2. Ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent auditor for the year ending December 31, 2006.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote AGAINST Proposal 3.

For Against Abstain

3. A shareholder proposal regarding severance payments.

B Authorized Signatures - Sign Here - This section must be completed for your instructions to be executed.

NOTE: Please sign exactly as owner name or names appear above. For joint accounts, each owner should sign. When signing as officer, executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, or in any other legal capacity, please give full title(s) with signature.

Signature 1 - Please keep signature within the box Signature 2 - Please keep signature within the box Date (mm/dd/yyyy)

8 U P X

002CS40004 00I76P


Table of Contents

LOGO

 

From NJ Turnpike (North & South); George Washington Bridge; Lincoln Tunnel: Take the NJ Turnpike to Exit 15W. Take Rte. 280 West to Exit 15A-B (first exit across bridge, staying left and following ramp until reaching Rte. 21/McCarter Highway, Turn right onto Rte. 21/McCarter Highway. Follow Rte. 21 South/McCarter Highway to Edison Place. Turn right onto Edison Place. The Edison Parking Lot will be on your left.

From the Holland Tunnel (Lower Manhattan): Exit the Holland Tunnel, follow signs to Pulaski Skyway. Take the first exit marked “Downtown Newark” to Raymond Blvd to Mulberry St (three traffic lights after Amtrak overpass/Penn Station Newark). Make a left onto Mulberry St. Turn left onto Edison Place (one block after Market St). Edison Parking Lot will be on your right.

From Staten Island: Cross Goethals Bridge and follow signs to Rte 1&9 North. Proceed onto the New Jersey Turnpike North. Exit the Turnpike at 13A. After paying the toll stay to the left following signs for “Rte 1&9 North - Newark”, exiting Rte. 1 & 9 North (left side of roadway) at “Rte 21 Newark”. Follow signs to McCarter Hwy/Rte 21 Newark. Take McCarter Hwy/Rte 21 to Edison Place (approximately 2.5 miles). Make left onto Edison Place. Edison Parking Lot will be on your left.

From Route 24; Route 78 East: Take Exit 57. Follow signs to Rte 21 North. Take McCarter Hwy/Rte 21 North to Edison Place. Make left onto Edison Place. Edison Parking Lot will be on your left.

From Route 280 East: Take Exit 15 for Rte 21 South. Turn right at McCarter Hwy/Rte 21 South. Follow Rte. 21/McCarter Highway to Edison Place. Make right onto Edison Place. Edison Parking Lot will be on your left.

From Garden State Parkway (North & South): Take Exit 145 for Rte 280 East. Follow Rte 280 East to Exit 15 for Rte 21 South. Turn right at McCarter Hwy/Rte 21 South. Follow Rte. 21/McCarter Highway to Edison Place. Make right onto Edison Place. Edison Parking Lot will be on your left.

SHAREHOLDERS MUST BRING THIS ADMISSION TICKET TO THE ANNUAL MEETING. This ticket admits a shareholder and one guest. All meeting attendees must present valid photo identification. For your safety, all personal items including bags, purses and briefcases are subject to inspection. The use of photographic and recording devices is prohibited in the building. Cell phone use is permitted only in the first floor lobby. No personal items, with the exception of purses, may be carried into the meeting area. The location is accessible to handicapped persons and, upon request, we will provide wireless headsets for hearing amplification.

PLEASE DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION ONLY

This proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of Prudential Financial, Inc. for the Annual Meeting of shareholders to be held at 2:00 p.m. on May 9, 2006.

The undersigned, having received the Notice of Meeting and Proxy Statement dated March 10, 2006, appoints Arthur F. Ryan, Susan L. Blount and C. Edward Chaplin, and each of them, as proxies, with full power of substitution, to represent and vote all of the undersigned’s shares of Common Stock of Prudential Financial, Inc. at the Annual Meeting of shareholders to be held at 2:00 p.m. EDT, May 9, 2006, at Prudential’s Corporate Headquarters, 751 Broad Street, Newark, New Jersey, or at any adjournment or postponement thereof, upon all subjects that may properly come before the meeting, including the matters described in the proxy statement furnished herewith, subject to any directions indicated on the reverse side of this card.

If no directions are given, the proxies will vote in accordance with management’s recommendations as listed on the reverse side of this card and at their discretion on any other matter that may properly come before the meeting.

Voting Instructions

To vote using the Telephone

(within U.S. and Canada)

 

 

Call toll free 1-800-652-VOTE (8683) in the United States or Canada any time on a touch tone telephone. There is NO CHARGE to you for the call.

 

 

Follow the simple instructions provided by the recorded message.

To vote using the Internet

 

 

Go to the following web site:

WWW.COMPUTERSHARE.COM/US/PROXY

 

 

Enter the information requested on your computer screen and follow the simple instructions.

To vote by Mail

 

 

Complete and sign your annual meeting proxy card on the reverse side of this form.

 

 

If you prefer to attend the meeting, please detach and retain the Admission Ticket.

 

 

Return the card in the enclosed self addressed envelope or send it to Prudential Financial, Inc., c/o Computershare Investor Services, PO Box 43110, Providence, RI 02940-3110. Proxies submitted by mail must be received by 10:00 AM EDT, May 9, 2006.

You can vote by telephone OR Internet! Available 24 hours a day 7 days a week!

If you vote by telephone or the Internet, please DO NOT mail back this proxy card.

Proxies submitted by telephone or the Internet must be received by 11:59 PM EDT, May 8, 2006.

THANK YOU FOR VOTING


Table of Contents

LOGO

Annual Meeting Admission Ticket

May 9, 2006, 2:00 p.m. EDT at Prudential’s Corporate Headquarters, 751 Broad Street, Newark, New Jersey

PLEASE REFER TO THE REVERSE SIDE FOR VOTING INSTRUCTIONS.

Annual Meeting Proxy Card

Please detach and return the bottom portion only

A Proposals

The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the Election of Directors.

1. Election of Directors

01 - Frederic K. Becker 02 - Gordon M. Bethune 03 - James G. Cullen 04 - William H. Gray III 05 - Jon F. Hanson 06 - Constance J. Homer 07 - James A. Unruh

To Vote FOR All Nominees

To WITHHOLD Vote From All Nominees

For All Except - to withhold a vote for a specific Director, mark this box with an X and the appropriate numbered box to the right of this paragraph with the corresponding number from the list above

The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR Proposal 2.

2. Ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as independent auditor for the year ending December 31, 2006.

The Board of Directors recommends a vote AGAINST Proposal 3.

3. A shareholder proposal regarding severance payments.

For Against Abstain

For Against Abstain

01 - 02 - 06 - 03 - 07 -04 - 05 -

B Authorized Signatures - Sign Here - This section must be completed for your instructions to be executed.

NOTE: Please sign exactly as owner name or names appear above. For joint accounts, each owner should sign. When signing as officer, executor, administrator, attorney, trustee or guardian, or in any other legal capacity, please give full title(s) with signature.

Signature 1 - Please keep signature within the box Signature 2 - Please keep signature within the box Date (mm/dd/yyyy)

8 U P X


Table of Contents

LOGO

From NJ Turnpike (North & South); George Washington Bridge; Lincoln Tunnel: Take the NJ Turnpike to Exit 15W. Take Rte. 280 West to Exit 15A-B (first exit across bridge, staying left and following ramp until reaching Rte. 21/McCarter Highway, Turn right onto Rte. 21/McCarter Highway. Follow Rte. 21 South/McCarter Highway to Edison Place. Turn right onto Edison Place. The Edison Parking Lot will be on your left.

From the Holland Tunnel (Lower Manhattan): Exit the Holland Tunnel, follow signs to Pulaski Skyway. Take the first exit marked “Downtown Newark” to Raymond Blvd to Mulberry St (three traffic lights after Amtrak overpass/Penn Station Newark). Make a left onto Mulberry St. Turn left onto Edison Place (one block after Market St). Edison Parking Lot will be on your right.

From Staten Island: Cross Goethals Bridge and follow signs to Rte 1&9 North. Proceed onto the New Jersey Turnpike North. Exit the Turnpike at 13A. After paying the toll stay to the left following signs for “Rte 1&9 North -Newark”, exiting Rte. 1 & 9 North (left side of roadway) at “Rte 21 Newark”. Follow signs to McCarter Hwy/Rte 21 Newark. Take McCarter Hwy/Rte 21 to Edison Place (approximately 2.5 miles). Make left onto Edison Place. Edison Parking Lot will be on your left.

From Route 24; Route 78 East: Take Exit 57. Follow signs to Rte 21 North. Take McCarter Hwy/Rte 21 North to Edison Place. Make left onto Edison Place. Edison Parking Lot will be on your left.

From Route 280 East: Take Exit 15 for Rte 21 South. Turn right at McCarter Hwy/Rte 21 South. Follow Rte. 21/McCarter Highway to Edison Place. Make right onto Edison Place. Edison Parking Lot will be on your left.

From Garden State Parkway (North & South): Take Exit 145 for Rte 280 East. Follow Rte 280 East to Exit 15 for Rte 21 South. Turn right at McCarter Hwy/Rte 21 South. Follow Rte. 21/McCarter Highway to Edison Place. Make right onto Edison Place. Edison Parking Lot will be on your left.

SHAREHOLDERS MUST BRING THIS ADMISSION TICKET TO THE ANNUAL MEETING. This ticket admits a shareholder and one guest. All meeting attendees must present valid photo identification. For your safety, all personal items including bags, purses and briefcases are subject to inspection. The use of photographic and recording devices is prohibited in the building. Cell phone use is permitted only in the first floor lobby. No personal items, with the exception of purses, may be carried into the meeting area. The location is accessible to handicapped persons and, upon request, we will provide wireless headsets for hearing amplification.

PLEASE DETACH AND RETURN THE BOTTOM PORTION ONLY

CLASS B STOCK

This proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Directors of Prudential Financial, Inc. for the Annual Meeting of shareholders to be held at 2:00 p.m. on May 9, 2006.

The undersigned, having received the Notice of Meeting and Proxy Statement dated March 10, 2006, appoints Arthur F. Ryan, Susan L. Blount, and C. Edward Chaplin, and each of them, as proxies, with full power of substitution, to represent and vote all of the undersigned’s shares of Class B Stock of Prudential Financial, Inc. at the Annual Meeting of shareholders to be held at 2:00 p.m. EDT, May 9, 2006, at Prudential’s Corporate Headquarters, 751 Broad Street, Newark, New Jersey, or at any adjournment or postponement thereof, upon all subjects that may properly come before the meeting, including the matters described in the proxy statement furnished herewith, subject to any directions indicated on the reverse side of this card.

If no directions are given, the proxies will vote in accordance with management’s recommendations as listed on the reverse side of this card and at their discretion on any other matter that may properly come before the meeting.

Voting Instructions

Call toll free 1-800-652-VOTE (8683) in the United States or Canada any time on a touch tone telephone. There is NO CHARGE to you for the call.

Follow the simple instructions provided by the recorded message.

Go to the following web site:

WWW.COMPUTERSHARE.COM/US/PROXY

Enter the information requested on your computer screen and follow the simple instructions.

Complete and sign your annual meeting proxy card on the reverse side of this form.

If you prefer to attend the meeting, please detach and retain the Admission Ticket.

Return the card in the enclosed self addressed envelope or send it to Prudential Financial, Inc., c/o Computershare Investor Services, PO Box 43110, Providence, RI

02940-3110. Proxies submitted by mail must be received by 10:00 AM EDT, May 9, 2006.

You can vote by telephone OR Internet! Available 24 hours a day 7 days a week!

If you vote by telephone or the Internet, please DO NOT mail back this proxy card.

Proxies submitted by telephone or the Internet must be received by 11:59 PM EDT, May 8, 2006. THANK YOU FOR VOTING