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AST BlackRock Value Portfolio - Prudential Annuities

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The performance of an Asset Allocation <strong>Portfolio</strong> may be affected by large purchases and redemptions of Underlying <strong>Portfolio</strong><br />

shares. For example, large purchases and redemptions may cause an Underlying <strong>Portfolio</strong> to hold a greater percentage of its<br />

assets in cash than other funds pursuing similar strategies, and large redemptions may cause an Underlying <strong>Portfolio</strong> to sell<br />

assets at inopportune times. Underlying <strong>Portfolio</strong>s that have experienced significant redemptions may, as a result, have higher<br />

expense ratios than other funds pursuing similar strategies. PI and the <strong>Portfolio</strong>’s Subadviser (s) seek to minimize the impact<br />

of large purchases and redemptions of Underlying <strong>Portfolio</strong> shares, but their abilities to do so may be limited.<br />

There is a potential conflict of interest between an Asset Allocation <strong>Portfolio</strong> and its advisers, PI and the <strong>Portfolio</strong>’s<br />

Subadviser(s). Because the amount of the investment management fees to be retained by PI and its affiliates may differ<br />

depending upon which Underlying <strong>Portfolio</strong>s are used in connection with the Asset Allocation <strong>Portfolio</strong>s, there is a potential<br />

conflict of interest for PI and the <strong>Portfolio</strong>’s Subadviser(s) in selecting the Underlying <strong>Portfolio</strong>s. In addition, PI and the<br />

<strong>Portfolio</strong>’s Subadviser(s) may have an incentive to take into account the effect on an Underlying <strong>Portfolio</strong> in which an Asset<br />

Allocation <strong>Portfolio</strong> may invest in determining whether, and under what circumstances, to purchase or sell shares in that<br />

Underlying <strong>Portfolio</strong>. Although PI and the <strong>Portfolio</strong>’s Subadviser(s) take steps to address the potential conflicts of interest, it is<br />

possible that the conflicts could impact the Asset Allocation <strong>Portfolio</strong>s.<br />

Growth Style Risk. There is a risk that the growth investment style may be out of favor for a period of time. Due to their relatively<br />

high valuations, growth stocks are typically more volatile than value stocks. Investors often expect growth companies to increase<br />

their earnings at a certain rate. If these expectations are not met, share prices may decline significantly, even if earnings do<br />

increase.Further, growth stocks may not pay dividends or may pay lower dividends than value stocks. This means they depend<br />

more on price changes for returns and may be more adversely affected in a down market compared to value stocks that pay<br />

higher dividends.<br />

High-Yield Risk. Investments in high-yield securities and unrated securities of similar credit quality (commonly known as “junk<br />

bonds”) may be subject to greater levels of interest rate, credit and liquidity risk than investments in investment grade securities.<br />

High-yield securities are considered predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer’s continuing ability to make principal<br />

and interest payments. An economic downturn or period of rising interest rates could adversely affect the market for high-yield<br />

securities and reduce a <strong>Portfolio</strong>’s ability to sell its high-yield securities (liquidity risk). In addition, the market for lower-rated<br />

bonds may be thinner and less active than the market for higher-rated bonds, and the prices of lower-rated bonds may fluctuate<br />

more than the prices of higher-rated bonds, particularly in times of market stress.<br />

Industry/Sector Risk. A <strong>Portfolio</strong> that invests in a single market sector or industry can accumulate larger positions in a single issuer<br />

or an industry sector. As a result, the <strong>Portfolio</strong>’s performance may be tied more directly to the success or failure of a smaller group<br />

of portfolio holdings.<br />

Leverage Risk. Leverage is the investment of borrowed cash. When using leverage, a <strong>Portfolio</strong> receives any profit or loss on the<br />

amount borrowed and invested, but remains obligated to repay the amount borrowed plus interest. The effect of using leverage is<br />

to amplify the <strong>Portfolio</strong>’s gains and losses in comparison to the amount of the <strong>Portfolio</strong>’s assets (that is, assets other than borrowed<br />

assets) at risk, thus causing the <strong>Portfolio</strong> to be more volatile. Certain transactions may give rise to a form of leverage. Examples of<br />

such transactions include borrowing, reverse repurchase agreements, loans of portfolio securities, and the use of when-issued,<br />

delayed delivery or forward commitment contracts. To mitigate leverage risk, a <strong>Portfolio</strong> may segregate liquid assets or otherwise<br />

cover the transactions that may give rise to such risk. The use of leverage may cause a <strong>Portfolio</strong> to liquidate <strong>Portfolio</strong> positions<br />

when it may not be advantageous to do so to satisfy its obligations or to meet segregation or coverage requirements.<br />

License Risk. A <strong>Portfolio</strong> or a subadviser may rely on licenses from third parties that permit it to use the intellectual property in<br />

connection with the investment strategies for the <strong>Portfolio</strong>. Such licenses may be terminated by the licensors under certain<br />

circumstances, and, as a result, a <strong>Portfolio</strong> may have to change its investment strategy. Accordingly, the termination of a license<br />

may have a significant effect on the operation of the affected <strong>Portfolio</strong>.<br />

Liquidity and Valuation Risk. From time to time, a <strong>Portfolio</strong> may hold one or more securities for which there are no or few buyers<br />

and sellers or the securities are subject to limitations on transfer. In those cases, the <strong>Portfolio</strong> may have difficulty determining the<br />

values of those securities for the purpose of determining the <strong>Portfolio</strong>’s net asset value. A <strong>Portfolio</strong> also may have difficulty<br />

disposing of those securities at the values determined by the <strong>Portfolio</strong> for the purpose of determining the <strong>Portfolio</strong>’s net asset value,<br />

especially during periods of significant net redemptions of <strong>Portfolio</strong> shares. <strong>Portfolio</strong>s with principal investment strategies that<br />

involve foreign securities, private placement investments, derivatives or securities with substantial market and/or credit risk tend to<br />

have the greatest exposure to liquidity and valuation risk.<br />

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