SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K405

[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000

OR

[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ................ to ...................

Commission File Number 0-5486

PRESIDENTIAL LIFE CORPORATION (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware 13-2652144 State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

incorporation or organization)

69 Lydecker Street, Nyack, New York 10960 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant´s telephone number, including area code (845) 358-2300

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Not Applicable

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Title of Class

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES X NO

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (Section 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant´s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in

Part III of this Form 10-K405 or any amendment to this Form 10-K405. [ X ]

The aggregate market value of voting stock held by nonaffiliates of the Registrant as of March 27, 2001 was approximately $459,518,093 based upon the average bid and asked prices of such stock on that date.

The number of shares outstanding of the Registrant´s common stock as of

March 27, 2001 was 29,291,990.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Selected designated portions of the definitive proxy statement to be used in connection with the registrant´s 2000 Annual Meeting of Shareholders are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K405. Other documents incorporated by reference into this Form 10-K405 are listed in the Exhibit

Index.

PART I

Presidential Life Corporation (the "Company") is an insurance holding company that, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Presidential Life Insurance Company (the "Insurance Company"), operates principally in a single business segment with two primary lines of business-individual annuities and individual life insurance. Unless the context otherwise requires, the "Company" shall be deemed to include Presidential Life Corporation and its subsidiaries. The Company was founded in 1969 and, through the Insurance Company, is licensed to market its products in 48 states and the District of Columbia. Approximately 52.0% of the Company´s fiscal 2000 annuity and life insurance products were sold to individuals residing in the State of New York.

The Company currently emphasizes the sale of a variety of single premium and flexible premium annuity products (including those written in connection with funding agreements for certain state lotteries, group annuities and other structured settlements) as well as annual and single premium life insurance products. Each of these products is designed to meet the needs of increasingly sophisticated consumers for supplemental retirement income, estate planning and protection from unexpected death.

Industry-wide sales of annuity products have experienced strong growth in recent years. Annuities currently enjoy an advantage over certain other savings mechanisms because the annuitant receives a tax deferred accrual of interest on his or her investment.

Single Premium Annuity products require a one-time lump sum premium payment. During the accumulation period, the accrual of interest is on a tax deferred basis to the annuitant.

Single Premium Deferred Annuities ("SPDAs") provide for a single premium payment at the time of issue, an accumulation period and an annuity payout period at some future date. During the accumulation period, the Company credits the account value of the annuitant with interest earnings at a current interest rate that is guaranteed for periods ranging from one to five years, at the annuitant´s option, and that, thereafter, is subject to change based on market and other conditions. Each contract also has a minimum guaranteed rate. This accrual of interest during the accumulation period is on a tax deferred basis to the annuitant. After the number of years specified in the annuity contract, the annuitant may elect to take the proceeds of the annuity as a single payment, a specified income for life or a specified income for a fixed number of years. The annuitant is permitted at any time during the accumulation period to withdraw all or part of the single premium paid plus the amount credited to his or her account. Any such withdrawal, however, typically is subject to a surrender charge during the early years of the annuity contract.

2.

Single Premium Immediate Annuity Products ("SPIAs") guarantee a stream of payments which begin immediately and continue for the life of the annuitant. The payment may be guaranteed for a period of time (typically five to 20 years) (the "Guarantee Period"). If the annuitant dies during the Guarantee Period, payments will continue to be made to the annuitant´s beneficiary for the balance of the Guarantee Period. SPIAs differ from deferred annuities in that generally they provide for payments to begin immediately and are not subject to surrender or loan. The implicit interest rate on SPIAs is based on market conditions which existed at the time that the annuity was issued and is guaranteed for the term of the annuity.

Single Premium Immediate Income Products ("SPIIs") are similar to SPIAs in that they guarantee a stream of payments. Unlike SPIAs, SPII payments always are guaranteed for a specified period of time, not for the life of the annuitant. Payments are made to the payee or beneficiary even if the annuitant dies during the payout period.

Single Premium Immediate Structured Settlement Annuities provide an alternative to a lump-sum payment or settlement in the case of a lottery or a personal injury case, as the case may be, and generally are purchased by state lottery agencies for the benefit of a lottery winner or by property and casualty insurance companies for the benefit of an injured claimant, as the case may be, with benefits scheduled over a fixed period or, over a fixed period and for the life of the annuitant thereafter. Structured settlements offer tax advantaged long-range financial security to the annuitant and facilitate the operations of state lottery agencies and the ability of casualty insurance carriers to effect claim settlements. Structured settlement annuities are long-term in nature, guarantee a fixed benefit stream and cannot be surrendered or borrowed against.

Flexible Premium Annuity products provide similar benefits to those provided by the Company´s single premium deferred annuity products, but instead permit periodic premium payments in such amounts as the holder deems appropriate. As a result, the benefits attributable to such products will fluctuate according to the level of such payments.

Group Terminal Funding Annuity products provide benefits similar to single premium immediate annuities. Benefits are provided to employees when a company´s pension plan is terminated or when the employer wants to transfer liability for making payments. Group terminal funding annuities cannot be surrendered or borrowed against.

All of the Company´s deferred annuity products provide minimum interest rate guarantees. The minimum guaranteed rates on the Company´s deferred annuity products currently range from 4% to 5 1/2% annually and the contracts (except for SPIAs) are designed to permit the Company to change the crediting rates annually subject to the minimum guaranteed rate. The Company takes into account the profitability of its annuity business and its relative competitive position in determining the frequency and extent of changes to the interest crediting rates.

The Company´s deferred annuity products are designed to encourage persistency (see "Pricing" below for a definition of the term "persistency") by incorporating surrender charges that exceed the cost of issuing the annuity. An annuitant may not terminate or withdraw substantial funds for periods generally ranging from one to seven years without incurring significant penalties in the form of surrender charges. Notwithstanding the foregoing, approximately 42.0% of the Company´s deferred annuity contracts in force (measured by reserves) as of December 31, 2000 are surrenderable without charge.

3.

4.

Annuity Considerations and Premiums - The following table sets forth certain information with respect to the Insurance Company´s annuity considerations and premium revenues for each of the five fiscal years ended December 31, 2000, as determined in accordance with statutory accounting principles. Premiums shown on the Company´s consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP consist of premiums received for whole or term life insurance products, as well as that portion of the Company´s single premium immediate annuities which have life contingencies. With respect to that portion of single premium annuity contracts without life contingencies, as well as deferred annuities and universal life insurance products, premiums collected by the Company are not reported as premium revenues, but rather are reported as additions to policyholder account balances on the Company´s consolidated balance sheet.

Distribution of Products - By Gross Premiums and Other Considerations

5.

Universal Life policies are interest-sensitive products which typically provide the insured with "nonparticipating" (i.e. non-dividend paying) life insurance with a cash value. Current interest is credited to the policy´s cash value based upon interest rates that periodically are revised by the Company to reflect current economic conditions (primarily interest rates). In no event, however, will the interest rate credited on the policy´s cash value be less than the guaranteed rate specified in the policy. The Company offers both flexible premium and single premium universal life insurance products. The Company´s flexible premium and single premium universal life insurance products differ based on policy provisions affecting the amount and timing of premium payments.

Whole Life policies are products which provide the insured with life insurance with a guaranteed cash value. Typically, a fixed premium, which costs more than comparable term coverage when the policyholder is younger, but less than comparable term coverage as the policyholder grows older, is paid over a period of years. Whole life insurance products combine insurance protection with a savings plan that gradually increases in amount over time. With respect to the Company´s whole life insurance products, the policyholder may borrow against the policy´s accumulated cash value. However, the death benefit is decreased by the amount of the outstanding loan. In addition, the policyholder may choose to surrender the policy and receive the accumulated cash value rather than continuing the insurance protection.

Term Life policies are products which provide insurance protection if the insured dies during the time period specified in the policy. No cash value is built up. These products provide the maximum benefit for the lowest initial premium outlay. The Company´s term life insurance products include annually renewable, convertible and decreasing term insurance.

Graded Benefit Life policies are products designed for the upper age (i.e. ages 40 to 80), sub-standard applicant. Depending upon age, these products provide for a limited death benefit of either the return of premium plus 5% interest for three years, or the return of premium plus 5% interest for two years. Thereafter, the death benefit is limited to the face amount of the policy. This product typically is offered with a maximum face value of $25,000.

Increasing Premium Whole Life policies are products which have characteristics of both whole life and term life products. Initial premiums are comparatively low and generally increase each year until the twentieth policy year when the premium becomes fixed. No cash values are built up in the early years of the policy, but cash values do begin to accumulate in the later (typically around the fifteenth policy year) years of the policy.

6.

Insurance Policies in Force - The following table provides a reconciliation of beginning and ending universal, whole and term life insurance policies, in force, as well as certain statistical data for each of the years in the five fiscal year period ended December 31, 2000.

<F1> Includes graded benefit life insurance products.

7.

The Company, through the Insurance Company, is licensed to market its products in 48 states and in the District of Columbia. The Company sells its individual annuity and life insurance products through approximately 910 independent general agents (approximately 285 of which are located in the State of New York), who are independent contractors. These independent general agents market the Company´s products through approximately 9,900 licensed insurance agents or brokers, most of whom also write products similar to those sold by the Company for other companies. Management believes that the Company offers competitive commission rates and seeks to provide innovative products and quality service to its independent general agents. Compensation of agents is strictly regulated by the New York State Department of Insurance (the "NYSDI").

The independent general agency system has been the Insurance Company´s primary distribution system since the Insurance Company was founded. Management believes that the Company´s consistent focus on the independent general agent distribution system provides a cost advantage, since the Company incurs no fixed costs associated with recruiting, training and maintaining employee agents. Accordingly, a substantial portion of the costs associated with generating new business for the Company are not fixed costs but vary directly with the level of business produced.

Since the Company utilizes independent general agents to market its products, it is not dependent on any one agency for any substantial amount of its business. On the other hand, the independent agents are not captive to the Company, and most write products similar to those sold by the Company for other companies. This can result in significant sales declines if for any reason the Company is relatively less competitive or if there is cause for general concern.

Among other things, crediting rates, commissions, the perceived quality of the issuer, product features and services generally are significant factors that management believes influence an agent´s willingness and ability to sell particular annuity products. The Company generally issues annuity contracts, together with the agent´s commission check, within two business days of receiving the application and premium. The Company also seeks to provide ongoing service to the agent. Towards that end, the Company provides agents with access to the Company´s senior executives. In addition, agents and contract owners can access information about their contracts via a toll-free telephone number.

Management believes that the Company is able to offer its products at competitive prices to its targeted markets as a result of: (i) maintaining relatively low issuance costs by selling through the independent general agency system; (ii) minimizing home office administrative costs; and (iii) utilizing appropriate underwriting guidelines.

8.

The long-term profitability of sales of life and most annuity products depends on the degree of margin of the actuarial assumptions that underlie the pricing of such products. Actuarial calculations for such products, and the ultimate profitability of sales of such products, are based on four major factors: (i) persistency; (ii) rate of return on cash invested during the life of the policy or contract; (iii) expenses of acquiring and administering the policy or contract; and (iv) mortality.

Persistency is the rate at which insurance policies remain in force, expressed as a percentage of the number of policies remaining in force over the previous year. Policyholders sometimes do not pay premiums, thus, causing their policies to lapse.

The assumed rate of return on invested cash and desired spreads during the period that insurance policies or annuity contracts are in force also affects pricing of products and currently includes an assumption by the Company of a specified rate of return and/or spread on its investments for each year that such insurance or annuity product is in force.

Another major factor affecting profitability is the level of expenses. Management believes that one of the Company´s strengths is its concentration on minimizing expenses through periodic review and adjustment of general and administrative costs.

Mortality is the rate of death experienced by life insurance policyholders and certain annuitants taken as a group. For calculating premiums, the Company uses actuarial assumptions with margins added to allow for adverse statistical variations. Actual mortality experience in a particular period may be different than actuarially expected mortality experience and, consequently, may adversely affect the Company´s operating results for such period.

Premiums charged on insurance products are based, in part, on assumptions about the expected mortality experience. In that regard, the Company has adopted and follows detailed, uniform underwriting procedures designed to assess and quantify insurance risks before issuing life insurance policies to individuals. To implement these procedures, the Company employs an experienced professional underwriting staff. The underwriting practice of the Company is to require attending physicians´ statements and medical examinations for each applicant over age 55 or for policies in excess of certain prescribed policy amounts, ranging from $25,000 and up. These requirements are graduated according to the applicant´s age and the face amount of the policy. The Company also carefully reviews medical records and each applicant´s written application for insurance, which generally is prepared under the supervision of one of the Company´s independent general agents. The factors considered in evaluating an application for individual life insurance coverage include the applicant´s age, occupation, avocations, driving record, finances, aviation activities, smoking habits, alcohol usage and general health and medical history. These factors are discovered through the application, attending physicians´ statements, consumer investigation reports from investigative agencies, direct contact, motor vehicle reports and the Medical Information Bureau, an insurance industry information service. In accordance with industry practice, material misrepresentations on a policy application can result in the cancellation by the Company of the policy under the two year incontestability clause in the general provisions of the policy.

9.

To the extent that an applicant does not meet the Company´s underwriting standards for issuance of a policy at the standard risk classifications, the Company may offer to issue a classified, sub-standard or impaired risk policy for a risk adjusted premium amount rather than declining the application. The amount of the Company´s impaired risk insurance in force in proportion to the total amount of the Company´s individual life insurance in force was approximately 5.9% at December 31, 2000.

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome ("AIDS"), which has received wide publicity because of its serious public health implications, presents special concerns to the life insurance industry. Mortality risks are accepted by insurers based on methods of classification designed to appropriately relate premiums charged to such risks and, in this connection, steps have been taken toward strengthening the Company´s underwriting and selection process. The Company considers AIDS information in underwriting and pricing decisions in accordance with applicable laws. A prospective policyholder must submit to a blood or urine test, which includes AIDS antibody screening, if the amount of coverage applied for equals or exceeds $100,000. The Company´s own mortality experience reflects no significant adverse impact as a result of any acceleration of AIDS-related claims. The Company is continuing to monitor developments in this area but is necessarily unable to predict the long term impact of this problem on the life insurance industry, in general, or on the Company, in particular.

In accordance with applicable insurance regulations, the Company has established and carries as liabilities in its statutory financial statements actuarially determined reserves that are calculated to satisfy its policy and contract obligations. Reserves, together with premiums to be received on outstanding policies and contracts and interest thereon at certain assumed rates, are calculated to be sufficient to satisfy policy and contract obligations. The actuarial factors used in determining such reserves are based on statutorily prescribed mortality and morbidity tables and interest rates. Reserves maintained also include unearned premiums, premium deposits, reserves for claims that have been reported but are not yet paid, reserves for claims that have been incurred but have not yet been reported and claims in the process of settlement. Generally, the Company maintains reserves on assumed reinsurance, but does not continue accumulating reserves with respect to that portion of policies or contracts that are reinsured with, or ceded to, other insurance companies. Reserves for assumed reinsurance are computed on bases essentially comparable to direct insurance reserves.

The reserves reflected in the Company´s consolidated financial statements included herein are calculated based on GAAP and differ from those specified by the laws of the various states in which the Company does business and those reflected in the Company´s statutory financial statements. These differences arise from the use of different mortality and morbidity tables and interest rate assumptions, the introduction of lapse assumptions into the reserve calculation and the use of the net level premium reserve method on all insurance business. See "Notes 1G, 1H and 8 to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements."

The reserves reflected in the Company´s consolidated financial statements are based upon the Company´s best estimates of mortality, persistency, expenses and investment income, with appropriate provisions for adverse statistical deviation and the use of the net level premium method for all non-interest-sensitive products. For all interest-sensitive products the policy account value is equal to the accumulation of gross premiums plus interest credited less mortality and expense charges and withdrawals. In determining reserves for its insurance and annuity products, the

10.

Company performs periodic studies to compare current experience for mortality, interest and lapse rates with expected experience in the reserve assumptions. Differences are reflected currently in earnings for each period. The Company historically has not experienced significant adverse deviations from its assumptions.

In evaluating a company´s statutory financial and operating performance, A.M. Best reviews the company´s profitability, leverage and liquidity, as well as the company´s book of business, the adequacy and soundness of its reinsurance, the quality and estimated market value of its assets, the adequacy of its reserves and the experience and competency of its management.

A.M. Best´s rating is based on factors which primarily are relevant to policyholders, agents and intermediaries and is not directed towards the protection of investors, nor is it intended to allow investors to rely on such a rating in evaluating the financial condition of the Insurance Company. Moody´s Investor Services ("Moody´s") rates the Insurance Company´s insurance financial strength as Baa2. Standard & Poor´s Corporation (" Standard & Poor´s") rates the Insurance Company´s insurance financial strength as Api. The Company´s Senior Notes, due February 15, 2009 (the "Senior Notes"), are rated BBB by Standard & Poor´s and Baa3 by Moody´s.

Claims are received and reviewed by claims examiners at the Company´s home office. The initial review of claims includes verification that coverage is in force and that the claim is not subject to an exclusion under the policy. Birth and death certificates are basic requirements. Medical records and investigative reports are ordered for contestable claims.

The Company follows the usual industry practice of reinsuring ("ceding") portions of its life insurance and accident and health, including medical stop loss, risks with other companies, a practice which permits the Company to write policies in amounts larger than the risk it is willing to retain on any one life or group of lives, and also to continue writing a larger volume of new business. The Company also reinsures a portion of its life insurance business and accident and health business in order to obtain commissions on the insurance ceded and thereby reduce its net commission expense. The maximum amount of individual life insurance normally retained by the Company on any one life is $50,000 per policy and $100,000 per life. The maximum retention with respect to impaired risk policies typically is the same. The Company cedes insurance primarily on an "automatic" basis, under which risks are ceded to a reinsurer on specific blocks of business where the underlying risks meet certain predetermined criteria, and on a "facultative" basis, under which the reinsurer´s prior approval is required on each risk reinsured. The maximum retention of the group medical stop loss business varies, but typically the Company cedes ninety percent on a quota share basis. Reinsurance assumed consists entirely of the Company´s participation in Servicemen´s Group Life Insurance.

11.

Use of reinsurance does not discharge an insurer from liability on the insurance ceded. An insurer is required to pay the full amount of its insurance obligations regardless of whether it is entitled or able to receive payments from its reinsurer. No reinsurer of business ceded by the Company has failed to pay any policy claims with respect to such ceded business. At December 31, 2000, of the approximately $835 million of the Company´s individual life insurance in force, the Company had ceded to reinsurers approximately $479 million of such insurance in force. The principal reinsuring companies of individual life policies with whom the Company does business at December 31, 2000 (and their corresponding A.M. Best ratings) were Life Reassurance Corporation of America ("A+ (Superior) ") and Swiss Re Life & Health America ("A+ (Superior)").

The Company operates in a highly competitive environment. There are numerous insurance companies, banks, securities brokerage firms and other financial intermediaries marketing insurance products, annuities, and other investments that compete with the Company, many of which have substantially greater resources than the Company.

The Company believes that the principal competitive factors in the sale of annuity and life insurance products are product features, commission structure, perceived stability of the insurer, claims paying ratings, name recognition, crediting rates, and service. Many other insurance and other companies are capable of competing for sales in the Company´s target markets.

Management believes that the Company´s ability to compete is dependent upon, among other things, its ability to retain and attract independent general agents to market its products, its ability to develop competitive products that also are profitable and its ability to provide quality service. Management believes that the Company has good relationships with its agents, has an adequate variety of products approved for issuance and generally is competitive within the industry.

The Company derives a substantial portion of its total revenues from investment income. The Company manages most of its investments internally. All investments made on behalf of the Company are governed by the general requirements and guidelines established and approved by the Company´s investment committee (the "Investment Committee") and by qualitative and quantitative limits prescribed by applicable insurance laws and regulations. The Investment Committee meets regularly to set and review investment policy and to approve current investment plans. The actions of the Investment Committee are subject to review and approval by the Board of Directors of the Insurance Company. The Company´s investment policy must comply with NYSDI regulations and the regulations of other applicable regulatory bodies.

The Company´s investment philosophy generally focuses on purchasing investment grade securities with the intention of holding such securities to maturity. The Company´s investment philosophy is focused on the intermediate to longer-term horizon and is not oriented towards trading. However, as market opportunities, liquidity or regulatory considerations may dictate, securities may be sold prior to maturity. The Company has categorized all fixed maturity securities as available for sale and carries such investments at market value.

12.

The Company manages its investment portfolio to meet the diversification, yield and liquidity requirements of its insurance policy and annuity contract obligations. The Company´s liquidity requirements are monitored regularly so that cash flow needs are sufficiently satisfied. Adjustments periodically are made to the Company´s investment policies to reflect changes in the Company´s short-and long-term cash needs, as well as changing business and economic conditions.

As of December 31, 2000, approximately 22.0% of the Company´s investment portfolio was invested in mortgage-backed related securities most of which are U.S. government and agency mortgage-backed securities, and other mortgage-backed obligations, most of which are collateralized mortgage obligations ("CMOs") backed by residential mortgages. Most of the Company´s CMOs represent beneficial ownership interests in mortgage-backed securities of the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation ("FHLMC"), the Federal National Mortgage Association ("FNMA"), the Government National Mortgage Association ("GNMA"), the Resolution Trust Corporation ("RTC") or other asset backed securities. Mortgage-backed securities are subject to significant prepayment risk due to the fact that, in periods of declining interest rates, mortgages may be repaid more rapidly than scheduled as borrowers refinance higher rate mortgages to take advantage of the lower current rates. As a result, holders of mortgage-backed securities may receive prepayments on their investments which cannot be reinvested at an interest rate comparable to the rate on the prepaid mortgages. Notwithstanding the foregoing, because the Company historically has purchased CMOs in the secondary market at prices which typically are below their par or maturity value, the Company´s portfolio has not been materially impacted as a result of such prepayments. The Company does not invest in interest only or principal only CMOs.

As of December 31, 2000, approximately 2.6% of the Company´s investment portfolio consisted of bonds acquired in private placements. While these bonds are not usually registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC" or "Commission"), management believes that these bonds are marketable to other institutional investors. Approximately 71.3% of the investments acquired by the Company in private placements have been assigned a National Association Insurance Commissioners ("NAIC") designation corresponding to one of the two highest quality rating categories. NAIC designations corresponding to the entire Investment Portfolio can be found on page 18.

As of December 31, 2000, approximately 9.2% of the Company´s investment portfolio, and approximately 55.8% of its stockholders´ equity, consisted of interests in over forty-five limited partnerships which are engaged in a variety of investment strategies, principally including merchant banking, real estate, debt restructurings and international opportunities. In general, risks associated with such limited partnerships include those related to their underlying investments (i.e., equity securities, debt securities and real estate), plus a level of illiquidity, which is mitigated by the ability of the Company to take annual distributions of partnership earnings.

The limited partnerships that are involved in merchant banking activities generally seek to achieve significant rates of return (including capital gains) through a wide variety of investment strategies, including leveraged acquisitions, bridge financing and other private equity investments in existing businesses.

The limited partnerships that are involved in real estate activities generally invest in real estate assets, real estate joint ventures and real estate operating companies. These partnerships seek to achieve significant rates of return by targeting investments which provide a strategic or competitive advantage and are priced at levels which the general partner believes to be attractive.

13.

The limited partnerships that are involved in debt restructuring activities take positions in debt and equity securities, loans originated by banks and other liabilities of financially troubled companies. Investments in companies undergoing debt restructurings, which by their nature have a high degree of financial uncertainty, may be senior, unsecured or subordinated indebtedness and carry a high degree of risk of loss upon default by the borrower. The high level of indebtedness characteristic of merchant banking and debt restructuring transactions makes such underlying investments particularly sensitive to interest rate increases, which could affect the ability of the borrower to generate sufficient cash flow to meet its fixed charges.

The limited partnerships that are involved in international investments generally purchase sovereign debt, corporate debt and/or equity in governments or foreign companies that are developing a greater world wide presence. Such limited partnerships are operated by a general partner who has a demonstrated expertise in this area and the particular country involved. Such investments involve risks related to the particular country including political instability, currency fluctuations, and repatriation restrictions.

The Company has been investing in limited partnerships for over nine years. During this time, the Company has had an opportunity to consider and evaluate a substantial number of limited partnerships and their managers. The Company makes limited partnership investments based on a number of considerations, including the reputation, investment philosophy (particularly with respect to risk), performance history and investment strategy of the manager of the limited partnership. Managers of the limited partnerships in which the Company is invested include, among others, Blackstone Investment Management, Omega Institutional Partners, Goldman Sachs Partners, Trust Company of the West Asset Management, Clayton Dubilier & Rice Partners, Apollo Real Estate and DLJ Real Estate Capital.

Limited partnership investments are selected through a careful, two-stage review process. The Investment Analyst staff reviews the offering documents and performance history of each investment manager. Separately, the Investment Committee (which is comprised of investment professionals who, collectively have more than 90 years experience in analyzing investments) interviews the manager to determine whether the investment philosophy (particularly with respect to risk) and strategies of the limited partnership are in the best interests of the Company. Only after a positive recommendation is made by both the Investment Analyst Staff and the Investment Committee does the Company invest in a limited partnership. In addition, the actions of the Investment Committee are subject to review and approval by the Board of Directors of the Company or the Insurance Company, as the case may be. To evaluate both the carrying value and the continuing appropriateness of the Company´s investment in any limited partnership, management maintains ongoing discussions with the investment manager and considers the limited partnership´s operations, its current and near term projected financial condition, earnings capacity and distributions received by the Company during the year.

Pursuant to the terms of certain limited partnership agreements to which the Company is a party, the Company is committed to contribute, if called upon, an aggregate of approximately $54.5 million of additional capital to certain of these limited partnerships. However, management does not expect the entire amount to be drawn down as certain of these limited partnerships are nearing the end of the period during which investors are required to make contributions.

The book value of the Company´s investments in limited partnerships as of December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998 was approximately $259.7 million, $245.5 million and $244.1 million respectively. Net investment income derived from the Company´s interests in limited partnership investments aggregated approximately $36.8 million, $30.4 million and $26.4 million in fiscal 2000, 1999 and 1998, respectively. The decrease in net investment income from limited partnerships in 1998 is attributable to losses of $18.0 million in certain investments in limited partnerships.

14.

Management anticipates that in the future it will continue to make selective investments in limited partnerships as opportunities arise, subject to the approval of the Chief Investment Officer and the Investment Committee and the review and approval by the Board of Directors of the Company or the Insurance Company, as the case may be. There can be no assurance that the Company will continue to achieve the same level of returns on its investments in limited partnerships that it has received during the foregoing periods or that it will achieve any returns on such investments at all. In addition, there can be no assurance that the Company will receive a return of all or any portion of its current or future capital investments in limited partnerships. The failure of the Company to receive the return of a material portion of its capital investments in limited partnerships, or to achieve historic levels of returns on such investments, could have a material adverse effect on the Company´s financial condition and results of operations.

As of December 31, 2000 the Company´s investment portfolio also consisted of approximately 0.2% invested in convertible debt securities, approximately 7.4% invested in preferred stock, approximately 0.5% invested in mortgage loans, and approximately 0.9% invested in common stock. The Company´s mortgage loans were collateralized by commercial office and retail properties located in New York and Pennsylvania. The Company´s only real estate investments are two buildings which are used as the current home office of the Insurance Company and two acres of undeveloped land in Nyack, New York.

In order to enhance investment income, the Company participates in "dollar roll" repurchase agreement transactions. Such transactions involve the sale of a mortgage-backed security to a holding institution and a simultaneous agreement to purchase a substantially similar security (with the same coupon rate as the security sold) for forward settlement (typically, around 60 days) at a lower dollar price.

The proceeds are invested in short-term investment grade commercial paper or loan participations at a positive spread until the settlement date of the similar security. In connection with its "dollar roll" transactions, the Company does not engage in yield maintenance transactions. The purchase and maturity dates of all short-term investments are matched exactly to the sale and purchase dates of the underlying collateral, with a 90-day maximum for any one transaction. During this period, the holding institution receives all income and prepayments for the security. To reduce the risk that a party will default on its obligations under the repurchase agreement, the Company only enters into "dollar roll" transactions with major securities dealers such as Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co. Incorporated, Goldman, Sachs & Co., Merrill Lynch & Co., Salomon Smith Barney Inc., Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., CS First Boston and Sandler, O´Neill L.P. Additionally, if the counterparty to the "dollar roll" agreement defaults under the terms of such agreement, the Company is not obligated to repurchase the underlying securities to the transaction.

Under GAAP, during the period between the sale by the Company of a mortgage-backed security to the institution party to the "dollar roll" transaction and the Company´s repurchase of a substantially similar mortgage-backed security from the holding institution, the Company´s consolidated balance sheet will reflect both the mortgage-backed security sold to the holding institution and the cash received for such security as assets, and the Company´s repurchase obligation as a liability. In fiscal 2000 and 1999, dollar roll transactions generated approximately $.8 million and $1.2 million, respectively, of net investment income for the Company. Amounts outstanding to repurchase securities under dollar roll repurchase agreements and reverse repurchase agreements were approximately $233.2 million and $212.6 million as of December 31, 2000 and December 31, 1999, respectively.

15.

The following table summarizes the Company´s investment portfolio at

December 31, 2000.

_______________________________________________________________________________

16.

The following table summarizes the Company´s investment results for the periods indicated, as determined in accordance with GAAP.

The following table sets forth the composition of the Company´s bond and notes portfolio by rating as of December 31, 2000.

17.

According to Moody´s, bonds which are rated "A" possess many favorable investment attributes and are to be considered as upper medium grade obligations. Moody´s applies numerical modifiers "1", " 2" and "3" in each generic rating classification from Aa to B. Modifier "1" indicates a bond in the higher end of a generic rating classification.

The NAIC assigns securities quality ratings and uniform prices called "NAIC Designations, " which are used by insurers when preparing their statutory annual statements. The NAIC assigns designations to publicly traded as well as privately placed securities. The designations assigned by the NAIC range from class 1 to class 6, with a designation in class 1 being of the highest quality. NAIC ratings are assigned annually as of December 31, and rerated periodically. Of the bonds and notes in the Company´s investment portfolio, approximately 89.8% were in one of the highest two NAIC Designations at December 31, 2000. The following table sets forth the carrying value and estimated market value of these securities according to NAIC Designations at December 31, 2000.

The Insurance Company is subject to Regulation 130 adopted and promulgated by the NYSDI. Under this Regulation, the Insurance Company´s ownership of below investment grade debt securities is limited to 20% of total admitted assets, as calculated under statutory accounting. As of December 31, 2000, approximately 7.92% of the Insurance Company´s total admitted assets were invested in below investment grade debt securities. In addition, as of that date, there were three bond holdings in the Company´s investment portfolio which were in default with an estimated market value totaling $3.7 million. For a detailed discussion concerning below investment grade debt securities, including the risks inherent in such investments, see "Item 7 - Management´s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-Liquidity and Capital Resources." Also see "Note 2 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" for certain other information concerning the Company´s investment portfolio.

18.

The following table sets forth the scheduled maturities for the Company´s investments in bonds and notes as of December 31, 2000.

________________________________________________________________________________

As an insurance holding company, the Company is subject to regulation by the State of New York, where the Insurance Company is domiciled, as well as all states in which the Insurance Company transacts business. Most states have enacted legislation that requires each insurance company in a holding company system to register with the insurance regulatory authority of its state of domicile and furnish to it financial and other information concerning the operations of companies within the holding company system that may materially affect the operations, management or financial condition of the insurers within the system. The Company has registered as a holding company system in New York.

The laws and regulations of New York applicable to insurance holding companies require, among other things, that all transactions within a holding company system be fair and equitable and that charges for services be reasonable. In addition, many transactions require either prior notification to or approval of the Superintendent of Insurance of the State of New York (the "Superintendent"). Prior written approval of the Superintendent is required for the direct or indirect acquisition of 10% or more of the insurance companies´ voting securities. Applicable state insurance laws, rather than federal bankruptcy laws, also apply to the liquidation or reorganization of insurance companies.

The Insurance Company is subject to regulation and supervision by the insurance regulatory agencies of the states in which it is authorized to transact business. State insurance laws establish supervisory agencies with broad administrative and supervisory powers. Principal among these powers are granting and revoking licenses to transact business, regulating marketing and other trade practices, operating guaranty associations, licensing agents, approving policy forms, regulating certain premium rates, regulating insurance holding company systems, establishing reserve requirements, prescribing the form and content of required financial statements and reports, performing financial, market conduct and other examinations, determining the reasonableness and adequacy of statutory capital and surplus, defining acceptable accounting principles, regulating the type, valuation and amount of investments permitted, and limiting the amount of dividends that can be paid and the size of transactions that can be consummated without first obtaining regulatory approval.

19.

During the last decade, the insurance regulatory framework has been placed under increased scrutiny by various states, the federal government and the NAIC. Various states have considered or enacted legislation that changes, and in many cases increases, the states´ authority to regulate insurance companies. Legislation was passed in Congress that could result in the federal government assuming some role in the regulation of insurance companies and allowing combinations between insurance companies, banks and other entities. In recent years, the NAIC has approved and recommended to the states for adoption and implementation several regulatory initiatives designed to reduce the risk of insurance company insolvencies and market conduct violations. These initiatives include investment reserve requirements, risk-based capital standards, codification of insurance accounting principles, new investment standards and restrictions on an insurance company´s ability to pay dividends to its stockholders.

The Insurance Company is required to file detailed periodic reports and financial statements with the state insurance regulators in each of the states in which it does business. In addition, insurance regulators periodically examine the Insurance Company´s financial condition, adherence to statutory accounting practices and compliance with insurance department rules and regulations. As part of their routine regulatory oversight process, the NYSDI generally conducts detailed examinations every three years of the books, records and accounts of the Insurance Company. The Insurance Company´s last examination occurred during 1997 for the three-year period ended December 31, 1996. The final report did not raise any issues or adjustments.

The Company is a legal entity separate and distinct from its subsidiaries. As a holding company with no other business operations, its primary sources of cash needed to meet its obligations, including principal and interest payments on its outstanding indebtedness and to pay dividends on its common stock, are rent from its real estate, interest on its investments and dividends from the Insurance Company.

The Insurance Company is subject to various regulatory restrictions on the maximum amount of payments, including loans or cash advances, that it may make to the Company without obtaining prior regulatory approval. Under the New York Insurance Law, the Insurance Company is permitted without prior insurance regulatory clearance to pay a stockholder dividend to the Company as long as the aggregate amount of all such dividends in any calendar year does not exceed the lesser of (i) 10% of its surplus as of the immediately preceding calendar year and (ii) its net gain from operations for the immediately preceding calendar year (excluding realized capital gains). The Insurance Company will be permitted to pay a stockholder dividend to the Company in excess of the lesser of such two amounts only if it files notice of its intention to declare such a dividend and the amount thereof with the Superintendent and the Superintendent does not disapprove the distribution. Under the New York Insurance Law, the Superintendent has broad discretion in determining whether the financial condition of a stock life insurance company would support the payment of such dividends to its stockholders. The NYSDI has established informal guidelines for such determinations. The guidelines, among other things, focus on the insurer's overall financial condition and profitability under statutory accounting practices. Management of the Company cannot provide assurance that the Insurance Company will have statutory earnings to support payment of dividends to the Company in an amount sufficient to fund its cash requirements and pay cash dividends or that the Superintendent will not disapprove any dividends that the Insurance Company must submit for the Superintendent's consideration. The Company's other insurance subsidiary is also subject to restrictions on the payment of dividends to their respective parent companies. During fiscal 2000, 1999 and 1998, the Insurance Company paid dividends of $49.6 million, $28.4 million and $49.4 million, respectively, to the Company.

20.

The dividend limitation is based on statutory financial results. Statutory accounting practices differ in certain respects from accounting principles used in financial statements prepared in conformity with GAAP. The significant differences relate to deferred policy acquisition costs, deferred income taxes, required investment reserves, reserve calculation assumptions, capital notes and surplus notes.

Asset Valuation Reserve. Statutory accounting practices require a life insurance company to maintain an Asset Valuation Reserve ("AVR") to absorb realized and unrealized capital gains and losses on a portion of an insurer´s fixed income securities and equity securities.

The AVR is required to stabilize statutory surplus from fluctuations in the market value of bonds, stocks, mortgage loans, real estate and other invested assets. The maximum AVR is calculated based on the application of various factors that are applied to the assets in an insurer´s portfolio. The AVR generally captures credit-related realized and unrealized capital gains or losses on such assets. Each year the amount of an insurer´s AVR will fluctuate as the investment portfolio changes and capital gains or losses are absorbed by the reserve. To adjust for such changes over time, contributions must be made to the AVR in an aggregate annual amount equal to 20% of the difference between the maximum AVR as calculated and the actual AVR. These

contributions may result in a slower rate of growth in or a reduction of the Insurance Company´s Unassigned Surplus. The extent of the impact of the AVR on the Insurance Company´s surplus depends in part on the future composition of the Insurance Company´s investment portfolio.

Interest Maintenance Reserve. The Interest Maintenance Reserve (the "IMR") captures capital gains and losses (net of taxes) on fixed income investments (primarily bonds and mortgage loans) resulting from interest rate changes, which are amortized into net income over the estimated remaining periods to maturity of the investments sold. The extent of the impact of the IMR depends on the amount of future capital gains and losses on fixed maturity investments resulting from interest rate changes.

The NAIC´s Insurance Regulatory Information System ("IRIS") was developed by a committee of state insurance regulators and primarily is intended to assist state insurance departments in executing their statutory mandates to oversee the financial condition of insurance companies operating in their respective states. IRIS identifies 12 industry ratios and specifies "normal ranges" for each ratio. The IRIS ratios were designed to advise state insurance regulators of significant changes in the operations of an insurance company, such as changes in its product mix, large reinsurance transactions, increases or decreases in premiums received and certain other changes in operations. These changes need not result from any problems with an insurance company but merely indicate changes in certain ratios outside ranges defined as normal by the NAIC. When an insurance company has four or more ratios falling outside "normal ranges," such state regulators may, but are not obligated to, inquire of the company regarding the nature of the company´s business to determine the reasons for the ratios being outside the "normal range." No regulatory significance results from being out of the normal range on fewer than four of the ratios. The Company anticipates that it may from time to time fall outside the "normal range" on some of these ratios. For the year ended December 31, 2000, the Company was within the normal range for all of the ratios. If four or more of the Company´s ratios fall outside the "normal range," the Company is likely to experience regulatory inquiry and a higher level of scrutiny.

21.

Under the NAIC´s risk-based capital formula, insurance companies must calculate and report information under a risk-based capital formula. The standards require the computation of a risk-based capital amount which then is compared to a company´s actual total adjusted capital. The computation involves applying factors to various financial data to address four primary risks: asset default, adverse insurance experience, disintermediation and external events. This information is intended to permit insurance regulators to identify and require remedial action for inadequately capitalized insurance companies, but is not designed to rank adequately capitalized companies. The NAIC formula provides for four levels of potential involvement by state regulators for inadequately capitalized insurance companies, ranging from regulatory control of the insurance company to a requirement for the insurance company to submit a plan to improve its capital. At December 31, 2000, the Insurance Company´s total adjusted capital was $350.6 million and the authorized control level risk based capital was $70.8 million.

Most applicable jurisdictions require insurance companies to participate in guaranty funds which are designed to indemnify policyholders of insolvent insurance companies. Insurers authorized to transact business in these jurisdictions generally are subject to assessments based on annual direct premiums written in that jurisdiction. These assessments may be deferred or forgiven under most guaranty laws if they would threaten an insurer´s solvency and, in certain instances, may be offset against future state premium taxes. The amount of these assessments in prior years has not been material, however, the amount and timing of any future assessment on the Insurance Company under these laws cannot be reasonably estimated and are beyond the control of the Company and the Insurance Company. Recent failures of substantially larger insurance companies could result in future assessments in material amounts.

Although the federal government generally does not directly regulate the insurance business, federal initiatives often have an impact on the business in a variety of ways. Current and proposed federal measures that may significantly affect the insurance business include limitations on antitrust immunity, minimum solvency requirements and the removal of barriers restricting banks from engaging in the insurance and mutual fund business. It is not possible to predict the outcome of any such congressional activity nor the potential effects thereof on the Company.

In addition to the Insurance Company, the Company has three subsidiaries, Presidential Securities Corporation, P.L. Assigned Services Corporation and Presidential Asset Management Company, Inc. In the aggregate, these three subsidiaries are not material to the Company´s consolidated financial condition or results of operations.

On December 29, 1999, the Company announced the completion of the purchase of The Central National Life Insurance Company of Omaha ("Central National") from the Household Insurance Group Holding Company, a subsidiary of Household International, Inc. Central National which has assets of $15.1 million and capital and surplus of $14.8 million as of December 31, 2000, is licensed to market insurance products in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

22.

The Company owns, and the Insurance Company is the sole occupant of, two adjacent office buildings located at 69 Lydecker Street and 10 North Broadway in Nyack, New York. These buildings contain an aggregate of approximately 45,000 square feet of useable floor space.

The Insurance Company also owns two acres of unimproved land in Nyack, New York.

Management believes that the Company´s present facilities are adequate for its anticipated needs.

From time to time, the Company is involved in litigation relating to claims arising out of its operations in the normal course of business. As of March 27, 2001, the Company is not a party to any legal proceedings, the adverse outcome of which, in management´s opinion, individually or in the aggregate, would have a material adverse effect on the Company´s financial condition or results of operations.

No matters were submitted by the Company to its shareholders for vote during the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2000.

23.

PART II

Item 5. Market for the Registrant´s Common Equity and Related Shareholder Matters

The Company´s common stock trades on The NASDAQ Stock Market^SM under the symbol "PLFE." The following table sets forth, for the indicated periods, the high and low bid quotations for the common stock, as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., and the per share cash dividends declared on the common stock.

The Company regularly has paid semi-annual cash dividends since 1980 and since the first quarter of 1997 has paid quarterly cash dividends. During the first quarter of 2001, the Company declared a quarterly cash dividend of $.10 per share payable April 2, 2001. The Company expects to continue its policy of paying regular cash dividends, although there is no assurance as to future dividends because they are dependent on future earnings, capital requirements, financial condition, and dividends from the Insurance Company. Any determination to pay dividends would be at the discretion of the Company´s Board of Directors and is subject to regulatory and contractual restrictions as described in "Part I -- Business -- Insurance Regulation" and Part II -- Management´s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations -- Liquidity and Capital Resources." On March 27, 2001, there were approximately 750 holders of record of the Company´s common stock.

24.

Selected consolidated financial data for the Company are presented below for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 2000. This data should be read in conjunction with the Company´s Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto and Item 7, Management´s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

<F1> Includes extraordinary loss of $514 thousand or $.02 per share.

25.

The Company has one reportable operating segment with two primary lines of business  individual annuities and individual life insurance. Operating segments are defined as components of an enterprise about which separate financial information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing performance. Premiums shown on the Company´s consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP consist of premiums received for whole or term life insurance products, as well as that portion of the Company´s single premium immediate annuities which have life contingencies. With respect to that portion of single premium annuity contracts without life contingencies, as well as single premium deferred annuities and universal life insurance products, premiums collected by the Company are not reported as premium revenues, but rather are reported as additions to policyholders´ account balances. With respect to products that are accounted for as policyholders´ account balances, revenues are recognized over time in the form of policy fee income, surrender charges and mortality and other charges deducted from the policyholders´ account balances. The Company´s operating earnings are derived primarily from these revenues, plus the Company´s investment results, including realized gains (losses), less interest credited, benefits to policyholders and expenses.

Certain costs related to the sale of new business are deferred as "deferred policy acquisition costs" ("DAC") and amortized into expenses in proportion to the recognition of earned revenues. Costs deferred include principally commissions, certain expenses of the policy issue and underwriting departments and certain variable sales expenses. Under certain circumstances, DAC will be expensed earlier than originally estimated, including those circumstances where the policy terminations are higher than originally estimated with respect to certain annuity products. Most of the Company´s annuity products have surrender charges which are designed to discourage and mitigate the effect of early terminations.

The Insurance Company is rated "A- (Excellent)" by A.M. Best.

Comparison of Fiscal Year 2000 to Fiscal Year 1999 and Fiscal Year 1999 to Fiscal Year 1998.

Total annuity considerations and life insurance premiums increased to approximately $62.6 million in fiscal 2000 from approximately $58.9 million in fiscal 1999, an increase of approximately 6.3%. Of this amount, annuity considerations increased to approximately $55.2 million in fiscal 2000 from approximately $54.4 million in fiscal 1999, an increase of approximately $871 thousand. In accordance with GAAP, sales of single premium deferred annuities are not reported as annuity considerations, but rather as additions to policyholder account balances. Sales of single premium annuities were approximately $350.4 million, $186.1 million and $135.2 million in fiscal 2000, 1999 and 1998, respectively. Management believes that the increase in annuity considerations is due to the successful expansion of our Marketing Department. Beginning in 1996, the Company added regional sales directors in various states. These regional sales directors have added new general agents, which have generated sales.

26.

Total annuity considerations and life insurance premiums increased to approximately $58.9 million in fiscal 1999 from approximately $32.2 million in fiscal 1998, an increase of approximately 82.8%. Of this amount, annuity considerations increased to approximately $54.4 million in fiscal 1999 from approximately $28.1 million in fiscal 1998, an increase of approximately $26.3 million.

Universal life and investment type policy fee income was approximately $.7 million in fiscal 2000, as compared to approximately $2.6 million in fiscal 1999 and approximately $2.1 million in fiscal 1998. The decrease in 2000 is attributed to a decline in the number of policies surrendered during 2000 that were within the surrender charge period. Policy fee income consists principally of amounts assessed during the period against policyholders´ account balances for mortality charges and surrender charges.

Net investment income totaled approximately $225.2 million in fiscal 2000, as compared to approximately $208.1 million in fiscal 1999 and approximately $187.2 million in fiscal 1998. This represents approximately an 8.2% increase comparing fiscal 2000 to fiscal 1999 and approximately an 11.2% increase comparing fiscal 1999 to fiscal 1998. Investment income from "other invested assets" totaled approximately $36.8 million in fiscal 2000, $30.4 million in fiscal 1999 and $26.4 million in fiscal 1998. In fiscal 2000, 1999 and 1998, the Insurance Company participated in "dollar roll" transactions (i.e., the sale of a mortgage-backed security and a simultaneous agreement to purchase a similar security at a later date at a lower price) to enhance investment income. The proceeds from the sale are invested in short-term securities at a positive spread until the settlement date of the similar security. During this period, the holding institution receives all income and prepayments for the security. The Company´s ratio of net investment income to average cash and invested assets less net investment income for the years ended December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998 was approximately 9.21%, 9.06% and 8.14%, respectively. For additional information, please refer to "Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements."

Realized investment losses amounted to approximately $8.5 million in fiscal 2000, as compared to approximately $2.8 million of gains in fiscal 1999 and gains of approximately $17.2 million in fiscal 1998. Realized investment losses for December 31, 2000 and gains for the years ended December 31, 1999 and 1998 include realized investment losses of approximately $22.8 million, $14.8 million and $8.3 million, respectively, attributable to writedowns of certain securities contained in the Company´s investment portfolio. Realized investment gains (losses) result from sales of certain equities and convertible securities, and calls and sales of fixed maturity investments in the Company´s investment portfolio. There can be no assurance that the Company´s investment portfolio will yield comparable investment results in future periods.

Total benefits and expenses for fiscal 2000 aggregated approximately $226.5 million, as compared to approximately $208.6 million for fiscal 1999 and approximately $170.5 million for fiscal 1998. This represents an increase of approximately 8.6% comparing fiscal 2000 to fiscal 1999 and an increase of approximately 22.4% comparing fiscal 1999 to fiscal 1998. The reasons for these changes will be discussed under the respective components below.

27.

Interest credited and benefits to policyholders amounted to approximately $197.8 million in fiscal 2000 as compared to approximately $181.1 million in fiscal 1999 and approximately $146.4 million in fiscal 1998. This represents an increase of approximately 9.2% comparing fiscal 2000 to fiscal 1999 and approximately a 23.7% increase comparing fiscal 1999 to fiscal 1998. These increases principally are attributable to a higher level of policyholder account balances as a result of the increase in annuity considerations received during the respective years.

The Insurance Company´s average credited rates for reserves and account balances for the 12 months ended December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998 were less than the Company´s ratio of net investment income to mean assets for the same periods as noted above under "Net Investment Income." Although management does not currently expect material declines in the spread between the Company´s average credited rate for reserves and account balances and the Company´s ratio of net investment income to mean assets (the "Spread"), there can be no assurance that the Spread will not decline in future periods or that such decline will not have a material adverse effect on the Company´s financial condition and results of operations. Depending, in part, upon competitive factors affecting the industry in general, and the Company in particular, the Company may, from time to time, adjust the average credited rates on certain of its products. There can be no assurance that the Company will reduce such rates or that any such reductions will broaden the Spread.

The interest expense on the Company´s notes payable amounted to approximately $9.77 million in fiscal 2000, approximately $8.96 million in fiscal 1999 and approximately $7.12 million in fiscal 1998. The increase in interest expense in fiscal 2000 and 1999 is attributable to the increase in the Company´s notes payable.

General expenses, taxes and commissions to agents totaled approximately $29.9 million in fiscal 2000 as compared to approximately $23.7 million in fiscal 1999 and approximately $19.3 million in fiscal 1998. This represents an increase of approximately 26.2% comparing fiscal 2000 to fiscal 1999 and an increase of approximately 22.7% comparing fiscal 1999 to fiscal 1998. The increase in fiscal 2000 compared to fiscal 1999 principally is attributable to higher costs associated with higher commissions and selling expenses incurred associated with the higher level of sales of single premium annuities. The increase in fiscal 1999 compared to fiscal 1998 principally is attributable to higher commissions and selling expenses incurred associated with the higher level of sales of single premium annuities

The change in the net DAC for fiscal 2000 resulted in a credit of approximately $11.0 million, as compared to a credit of approximately $5.2 million in fiscal 1999 and a credit of approximately $2.4 million in fiscal 1998. Such changes are due (i) to the increase in costs associated with recent new product sales which have been deferred and are amortized in proportion to the recognition of earned revenue and (ii) to the effect of revisions to estimated gross profits on unamortized deferred acquisition costs which are reflected in the year such estimated gross profits are revised.

For the reasons discussed above, income before income taxes amounted to approximately $58.0 million in fiscal 2000, as compared to approximately $69.5 million in fiscal 1999 and approximately $71.1 million in fiscal 1998.

28.

Income tax expense was approximately $17.1 million for fiscal 2000, as compared to approximately $21.3 million in fiscal 1999 and approximately $22.5 million in fiscal 1998. The decrease in income taxes in fiscal 2000 is primarily attributable to realized capital losses during fiscal 2000.

For the reasons discussed above, the Company had net income of approximately $40.9 million in fiscal 2000, net income of approximately $47.7 million in fiscal 1999 and net income of approximately $49.2 million in fiscal 1998.

The Company is an insurance holding company and its primary uses of cash are debt service obligations, operating expenses and dividend payments. The Company´s principal sources of cash are dividends from the Insurance Company, sales of and interest on the Company´s investments and rent from its real estate. During 2000, the Company´s Board of Directors increased the quarterly dividend rate to $.10 per share. During 2000 and 1999, the Company purchased and retired 1,506,200 and 918,300 shares of common stock, respectively. At December 31, 2000, the Company was authorized to purchase approximately an additional 411,000 shares of common stock.

The Insurance Company is subject to various regulatory restrictions on the maximum amount of payments, including loans or cash advances, that it may make to the Company without obtaining prior regulatory approval. Under the New York Insurance Law, the Insurance Company is permitted without prior insurance regulatory clearance to pay a stockholder dividend to the Company as long as the aggregate amount of all such dividends in any calendar year does not exceed the lesser of (i) 10% of its surplus as of the immediately preceding calendar year and (ii) its net gain from operations for the immediately preceding calendar year (excluding realized capital gains). The Insurance Company will be permitted to pay a stockholder dividend to the Company in excess of the lesser of such two amounts only if it files notice of its intention to declare such a dividend and the amount thereof with the Superintendent and the Superintendent does not disapprove the distribution. Under the New York Insurance Law, the Superintendent has broad discretion in determining whether the financial condition of a stock life insurance company would support the payment of such dividends to its stockholders. The NYSDI has established informal guidelines for such determinations. The guidelines, among other things, focus on the insurer's overall financial condition and profitability under statutory accounting practices. Management of the Company cannot provide assurance that the Insurance Company will have statutory earnings to support payment of dividends to the Company in an amount sufficient to fund its cash requirements and pay cash dividends or that the Superintendent will not disapprove any dividends that the Insurance Company must submit for the Superintendent's consideration. The Company's other insurance subsidiary is also subject to restrictions on the payment of dividends to their respective parent companies. During fiscal 2000, 1999 and 1998, the Insurance Company paid dividends of $49.6 million, $28.4 million and $49.4 million, respectively, to the Company.

Principal sources of funds at the Insurance Company are premiums and other considerations paid, net investment income received and proceeds from investments calle, redeemed or sold. The principal uses of these funds are the payment of benefits on annuity contracts and life insurance policies, (including withdrawals and surrender payments), the payment of policy acquisition costs, operating expenses and the purchase of investments.

Net cash provided by the Company´s operating activities (reflecting principally: (i) premiums and contract charges collected less (ii) benefits paid on life insurance and annuity products plus (iii) income collected on invested assets less (iv) commissions and other general expenses paid) was approximately $71.6 million, $69.3 million and $37.0 million in fiscal 2000, 1999 and 1998, respectively. Net cash used in the Company´s investing activities (principally reflecting investments purchased less investments called, redeemed or sold) was approximately $288.5 million, $172.2 million and $27.2 million in fiscal 2000, 1999 and 1998, respectively.

29.

For purposes of the Company´s consolidated statements of cash flows, financing activities relate primarily to "dollar roll" repurchase transactions, and to sales and surrenders of the Company´s annuity and universal life insurance products. The payment of dividends by the Company to its stockholders also is considered to be a financing activity. Net cash provided by (used in) the Company´s financing activities amounted to approximately $183.7 million, $130.1 million and $(21.9) million in fiscal 2000, 1999 and 1998, respectively. These fluctuations primarily are attributable to the new Senior Notes, higher policyholder account balances (as a result of increased sales), partially offset by the repayment of amounts outstanding under the Company´s line of credit during fiscal 1999.

During the first quarter of 1999, the Company sold $100 million of its 7 7/8% Senior Notes due 2009. The net proceeds were used to retire all of the outstanding $50 million, 9 1/2% Senior Notes and to repay the amounts outstanding on the bank line of credit. The repayment of the 9 1/2% Senior Notes resulted in an extraordinary loss of $514 thousand, after income taxes of $276.5 thousand.

The indenture governing the Senior Notes contains covenants relating to limitations on liens and sale or issuance of capital stock of the Insurance Company. In the event the Company violates such covenants as defined in the indenture, the Company may be obligated to offer to repurchase all of the outstanding principal amount of such notes. The Company believes that it is in compliance with all of the covenants.

Given the Insurance Company´s historic cash flow and current financial results, management believes that, for the next twelve months and for the reasonably foreseeable future, the Insurance Company´s cash flow from operating activities will provide sufficient liquidity for the operations of the Insurance Company, as well as provide sufficient funds to the Company, so that the Company will be able to make dividend payments, as described in "Item 5 - Market for the Registrant´s Common Equity and Related Shareholder Matters," satisfy its debt service obligations and pay its other operating expenses.

Market risk is the risk of loss arising from adverse changes in market rates and prices, such as interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates, and other relevant market rate or price changes. Market risk is directly influenced by the volatility and liquidity in the markets in which the related underlying assets are traded. The following is a discussion of the Company´s primary market risk exposures and how those exposures are currently managed as of December 31, 2000.

The primary market risk to the Company´s investment portfolio is interest rate risk. The Company´s exposure to equity price risk and foreign exchange risk is not significant. The Company has no direct commodity risk.

The Company believes that its fixed-rate liabilities should be backed by a portfolio principally composed of fixed-rate investments that generate predictable rates of return. The Company does not have a specific target rate of return. Instead, its rates of return vary over time depending on the current interest rate environment, the slope of the yield curve, the spread at which fixed-rate investments are priced over the yield curve, and general economic conditions. Its portfolio strategy is constructed with a view to achieve adequate risk-adjusted returns consistent with its investment objectives of effective asset-liability matching, liquidity and safety.

The Company´s deferred annuity products are designed to encourage persistency by incorporating surrender charges. An annuitant may not terminate or withdraw substantial funds for a period of generally seven years without incurring significant penalties in the form of surrender charges. Approximately 42.0%, 50.9% and 56.0% of the Company´s deferred annuity contracts in force (measured by reserves) as of December 31, 2000, 1999, and 1998 are surrenderable without charge. The decrease since December 31, 1998 is attributable to the increase in deferred annuity contracts inforce as a result of the increase in annuity considerations received.

30.

The market value of the Company´s fixed maturity portfolio changes as interest rates change. In general, rate decreases cause asset prices to rise, while rate increases cause asset prices to fall. Interest rate sensitivity can be modeled using the fixed maturitys effective duration and convexity to estimate price change for a given rate change. To model such changes, both spreads and yield curve slope are held constant while the portfolio is subjected to a hypothetical instantaneous rate change. Actual results may differ from the hypothetical change in market rates assumed in this disclosure since the model does not reflect the results of any actions that would be taken by the Company to mitigate such hypothetical loss in market value.

Based on market values and prevailing interest rates as of December 31, 2000, a hypothetical instantaneous increase of 100 basis points would produce a loss in fair value of fixed maturity assets of approximately $176.3 million. Since the Company is able to hold its fixed maturity securities to maturity, it does not expect to realize significant losses under such a hypothetical scenario.

To meet its anticipated liquidity requirements, the Company purchases investments taking into account the anticipated future cash flow requirements of its underlying liabilities. In managing the relationship between assets and liabilities, the Company analyzes the cash flows necessary to correspond with the expected cash needs on the underlying liabilities under various interest rate scenarios. In addition, the Company

invests a portion of its total assets in short-term investments (approximately 8.77%, 8.14% and 8.74% as of December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998, respectively). The weighted average duration of the Company´s bond portfolio was approximately five and three quarter years as of December 31, 2000. The Company´s fixed maturity investments are all classified as available for sale and include those securities available to be sold in response to, among other things, changes in market interest rates, changes in the security´s prepayment risk, the Company´s need for liquidity and other similar factors.

These investments are carried at estimated market value, and unrealized gains (losses), net of federal income taxes and deferred policy acquisition costs, if any, are charged directly to shareholders´ equity, unless a decline in market value is considered to be other than temporary, in which event the Company recognizes a loss. Equity securities include common stocks and non-redeemable preferred stocks and are carried at market, with the related unrealized gains and losses, net of federal income taxes, if any, charged or credited directly to shareholders´ equity, unless a decline in market value is considered to be other than temporary, in which event the Company recognizes a loss.

Capital expenditures during fiscal 2000 were approximately $32,000. As of December 31, 2000, the Company had no outstanding commitments for significant capital expenditures.

The Insurance Company is subject to Regulation 130 adopted and promulgated by the NYSDI. Under this Regulation, the Insurance Company´s ownership of below investment grade debt securities is limited to 20.0% of total admitted assets, as calculated under statutory accounting practices. As of December 31, 2000 and 1999, approximately 7.92% and 8.37%, respectively, of the Insurance Company´s total admitted assets were invested in below investment grade debt securities.

The Company maintains a portfolio which includes below investment grade securities which were purchased to achieve a more favorable investment yield, all of which are classified as available for sale and reported at estimated market value. As of December 31, 2000 and 1999, the carrying value of these securities was approximately $178.6 million and $187.7 million, respectively (representing approximately 6.0% and 7.1%, respectively, of the Company´s total assets and 38.1% and 46.2%, respectively, of shareholders´ equity).

31.

Investments in below investment grade debt securities have different risks than investments in corporate debt securities rated investment grade. Risk of loss upon default by the borrower is significantly greater with respect to below investment grade debt securities than with respect to other corporate debt securities because below investment grade debt securities generally are unsecured and often are subordinated to other creditors of the issuer. Also, issuers of below investment grade debt securities usually have high levels of indebtedness and often are more sensitive to adverse economic conditions, such as recession or increasing interest rates, than are investment grade issuers. Typically, there is only a thinly traded market for such securities and recent market quotations may not be available for some of these securities. Market quotes generally are available only from a limited number of dealers and may not represent firm bids of such dealers or prices for actual sales. The Company attempts to reduce the overall risk in its below investment grade portfolio, as in all of its investments, through careful credit analysis, investment policy limitations, and diversification by company and by industry. Below investment grade debt investments, as well as other investments, are being monitored on an ongoing basis.

In certain situations, the terms of some fixed maturity assets are restructured or modified. There were no restructured fixed maturities at December 31, 2000.

As of December 31, 2000, approximately 9.2% of the Company´s total invested assets were invested in limited partnerships. Pursuant to NYSDI regulations, the Company´s investments in equity securities, including limited partnership interests, may not exceed 20% of the Insurance Company´s invested assets. Investments in limited partnerships are included in the Company´s consolidated balance sheet under the heading "Other invested assets." See " Note 2 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements." The Company is committed, if called upon during a specified period, to contribute an aggregate of approximately $54.5 million of additional capital to certain

of these limited partnerships. However, management does not expect this entire amount to be called because certain of these limited partnerships are nearing the end of the period during which investors are required to make contributions. The Company may make selective investments in additional limited partnerships as opportunities arise. In general, risks associated with such limited partnerships include those related to their underlying investments (i.e., equity securities, debt securities and real estate), plus a level of illiquidity, which is mitigated by the ability of the Company to take annual distributions of partnership earnings. There can be no assurance that the Company will continue to achieve the same level of returns on its investments in limited partnerships as it has historically or that the Company will achieve any returns on such investments at all. Further, there can be no assurance that the Company will receive a return of all or any portion of its current or future capital investments in limited partnerships. The failure of the Company to receive the return of a material portion of its capital investments in limited partnerships, or to achieve historic levels of return on such investments, could have a material adverse effect on the Company´s financial condition and results of operations.

As previously discussed, in fiscal 2000 and 1999 the Company participated in "dollar roll" repurchase agreement transactions. Amounts outstanding to repurchase securities under such agreements were approximately $233.2 million and $212.6 million at December 31, 2000 and 1999, respectively. The Company may engage in selected "dollar roll" transactions as market opportunities arise.

32.

All 50 states of the United States, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have insurance guaranty fund laws requiring all life insurance companies doing business within the jurisdictions to participate in guaranty associations, which are organized to pay contractual obligations under insurance policies (and certificates issued under group insurance policies) issued by impaired or insolvent life insurance companies. These associations levy assessments (up to prescribed limits) on all member insurers in a particular state on the basis of the proportionate share of the premiums written by member insurers in the lines of business in which the impaired or insolvent insurer

is engaged. Some states permit member insurers to recover assessments paid through full or partial premium tax offsets. These assessments may be deferred or forgiven under most guaranty laws if they would threaten an insurer´s solvency. The amount of these assessments in prior years has not been material, however, the amount and timing of any future assessment on the Insurance Company under these laws cannot be reasonably estimated and are beyond the control of the Company and the Insurance Company. Recent failures of substantially larger insurance companies could result in future assessments in material amounts.

See "Item 1 - Business - Insurance Regulation" for a description of certain NAIC initiatives that also may impact the Company´s financial condition and results of operations.

The Company seeks to manage its investment portfolio in part to reduce its exposure to interest rate fluctuations. In general, the market value of the Company´s fixed maturity portfolio increases or decreases in an inverse relationship with fluctuations in interest rates, and the Company´s net investment income increases or decreases in direct relationship with interest rate changes. For example, if interest rates decline, the Company´s fixed maturity investments generally will increase in market value, while net investment income will decrease as fixed income investments mature or are sold and proceeds are reinvested at the declining rates, and vice versa. Management is aware that prevailing market interest rates frequently shift and, accordingly, the Company has adopted strategies which are designed to address either an increase or decrease in prevailing rates. In a rising interest rate environment, the Company´s average cost of funds would be expected to increase over time as it prices its new and renewing annuities to maintain a generally competitive market rate. In addition, the market value of the Company´s fixed maturity portfolio decreases resulting in a decline in shareholders´ equity. Concurrently, the Company would attempt to place new funds in investments which were matched in duration to, and higher yielding than, the liabilities associated with such annuities. Management believes that liquidity necessary in such an interest rate environment to fund withdrawals, including surrenders, would be available through income, cash flow, the Company´s cash

reserves or from the sale of short-term investments. In a declining interest rate environment, the Company´s cost of funds would be expected to decrease over time, reflecting lower interest crediting rates on its fixed annuities. Should increased liquidity be required for withdrawals in such an interest rate environment, management believes that the portion of the Company´s investments which are designated as available for sale in the Company´s consolidated balance sheet could be sold without materially adverse consequences in light of the general strengthening in market prices which would be expected in the fixed maturity security market.

33.

Interest rate changes also may have temporary effects on the sale and profitability of the universal life and annuity products offered by the Company. For example, if interest rates rise, competing investments (such as annuity or life insurance products offered by the Company´s competitors, certificates of deposit, mutual funds and similar instruments) may become more attractive to potential purchasers of the Company´s products until the Company increases the rates credited to holders of its universal life and annuity products. In contrast, as interest rates fall, the Company attempts to lower its credited rates to compensate for the corresponding decline in its net investment income. As a result, changes in interest rates could materially adversely effect the financial condition and results of operations of the Company depending on the attractiveness of alternative investments available to the Company´s customers. In that regard, in the current interest rate

environment, the Company has attempted to maintain its credited rates at competitive levels which are designed to discourage surrenders and which may be considered attractive to purchasers of new annuity products. In addition, because the level of prevailing interest rates impacts the Company as well as its competition, management does not believe that the current interest rate environment has materially affected the Company´s competitive position vis a vis other life insurance companies that emphasize the sale of annuity products. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if interest rates continue at current levels or decline, there can be no assurance that this segment of the life insurance industry, including the Company, would not experience increased levels of surrenders and reduced sales and thereby be materially adversely affected.

The Company cautions readers regarding certain forward-looking statements contained in this report and in any other statements made by, or on behalf of, the Company, whether or not in future filings with the SEC. Forward-looking statements are statements not based n historical information and which relate to future operations, strategies, financial results, or other developments. Statements using verbs such as "expect", "anticipate", "believe" or words of similar import generally involve forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, forward-looking statements include statements which represent the Company´s beliefs concerning future levels of sales and redemptions of the Company´s products, investment spreads and yields, or the earnings and profitability of the Company´s activities.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond the Company´s control and many of which are subject to change. These uncertainties and contingencies could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, the Company. Whether or not actual results differ

materially from forward-looking statements may depend on numerous foreseeable and unforeseeable developments. Some may be national in scope, such as general economic conditions, changes in tax law and changes in interest rates. Some may be related to the insurance industry generally, such as pricing competition, regulatory developments and industry consolidation. Others may relate to the Company specifically, such as credit, volatility and other risks associated with the Company´s investment portfolio. The Company disclaims any obligation to update forward-looking information.

34.

In June 2000, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 138, Accounting for Certain Derivative Instruments and Certain Hedging Activities-an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 ("SFAS 138"). In June 1999, the FASB also issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 137, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities-Deferral of the Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities ("SFAS 133") until January 1, 2001. SFAS 133, as amended by SFAS 138, requires, among other things, that all derivatives be recognized in the consolidated balance sheets as either assets or liabilities and measured at fair value. The corresponding derivative gains and losses should be reported based upon the hedge relationship, if such a relationship exists. Changes in the fair value of derivatives that are not designated as hedges or that do not meet the hedge accounting criteria in SFAS 133 are required to be reported in income. The impact of adopting SFAS 133, as amended by SFAS 138, will not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

In September 2000, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 140, Accounting for transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities - a replacement of FASB Statement No. 125 ("SFAS 140"). SFAS 140 is effective for transfers after March 31, 2001 and is effective for disclosures about securitizations and collateral and for recognition and reclassification of collateral for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2000. The Company does not believe that adoption of this FASB will have a material impact on its consolidated financial statements.

In March 1998, the National Association of Insurance Commissioner ("NAIC") adopted the Codification of Statutory Accounting Principles (the "Codification"). The Codification, which is intended to standardize regulatory accounting and reporting to state insurance departments, is effective January 1, 2001. However, statutory accounting principles will continue to be established by individual state laws and permitted practices. The NYSDI required adoption of the Codification with certain modifications, for the preparation of statutory financial statements effective January 1, 2001. The adoption of Codification by the NAIC and the Codification as modified by the NYSDI, as currently interpreted, did not adversely affect statutory capital and surplus as of January 1, 2001.

The information required by this item is contained in the Liquidity and Capital Resources section of Management´s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

See the accompanying Table of Contents to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedules on Page F-1.

None

35.

The information relating to the Company´s directors, nominees for election as directors and executive officers will be included in the Company´s definitive Proxy Statement for its 2000 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (the "Proxy Statement"), which the Company intends to file pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, not later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this Annual Report on Form 10-K, under the heading "Directors and Executive Officers and is incorporated herein by reference.

The information relating to compensation paid to executive officers and directors of the Company will be included in the Proxy Statement under the heading "Compensation of Directors and Executive Officers" and is incorporated herein by reference.

The information relating to the security ownership of certain beneficial owners and management of the Company will be included in the Proxy Statement under the heading "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management" and is incorporated herein by reference.

From time to time in the ordinary course of business, certain of the Company´s directors and executive officers have purchased, and may in the future, purchase annuity contracts or life insurance policies from the Insurance Company. Such transactions in the past have been, and will in the future be, on terms no less favorable to the Insurance Company than those that could be obtained from unaffiliated third parties. In that regard, since January 1, 1998, directors and executive officers, have not engaged in transactions with the Insurance Company.

PART IV

(a). The Independent Auditors´ Report, Consolidated Financial Statements and Consolidated Financial Statement Schedules listed in the Table of Contents on page F-1 are being filed as part of this Form 10-K.

(b). During the last quarter of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000 the Company did not file a current report on Form 8-K.

(c). Exhibit Index

Exhibit

Number Description of Document

1. Certificate of Ownership and Merger, as filed with the Secretary of State of Delaware on July 27, 1993 (Incorporated by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1993)

36.

2. Form of Indenture dated as of February 23, 1999 between the Registrant and Bankers Trust Company relating to the 7 7/8% Senior Note due 2009 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of the Company filed on November 3, 1998)

37.

38.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

PRESIDENTIAL LIFE CORPORATION

Herbert Kurz

Principal Executive Officer

and Director

Date: March 27, 2001

39.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated:

Date: March 27, 2001 /s/ Herbert Kurz

Herbert Kurz

Principal Executive Officer

and Director

Date: March 27, 2001 /s/ Charles J. Snyder

Charles J. Snyder, Treasurer

and Principal Accounting Officer

Date: March 27, 2001 /s/ Peter A. Cohen

Peter A. Cohen Director

Date: March 27, 2001 /s/ Jules Kroll

Jules Kroll Director

Date: March 27, 2001 /s/ Lawrence Rivkin

Lawrence Rivkin Director

Date: March 27, 2001 /s/ Morton B. Silberman

Morton B. Silberman Director

40. A.-F.

TABLE OF CONTENTS TO

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES

Independent Auditors´ Report...................................... F-2

Consolidated Financial Statements:

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2000 and 1999.... F-3

Consolidated Statements of Income - Years Ended December 31,

2000, 1999 and 1998.......................................... F-4

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders´ Equity - Years Ended

December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998............................. F-5

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Years Ended December 31,

2000, 1999 and 1998.......................................... F-6

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements........................ F-7

Consolidated Financial Statement Schedules:

II Condensed Balance Sheets (Parent Company Only) as of

December 31, 2000 and 1999................................. S-1

II Condensed Statements of Income (Parent Company

Only)- Years Ended December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998........ S-2

II Condensed Statements of Cash Flows (Parent

Company Only) - Years Ended December 31, 2000, 1999

and 1998................................................... S-3

III Supplemental Insurance Information - Years Ended

December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998........................... S-4

IV Reinsurance - Years Ended December 31, 2000, 1999 and 1998... S-5

All schedules not included are omitted because they are either not applicable or because the information required therein is included in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

F-1.

The Board of Directors and Shareholders

Presidential Life Corporation

Nyack, New York 10960

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Presidential Life Corporation and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 2000 and 1999 and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders´ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2000. Our audits also included the consolidated financial statement schedules listed in the foregoing Table of Contents. These financial statements and financial statement schedules are the responsibility of the Company´s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements and financial statement schedules based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2000 and 1999 and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2000 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also, in our opinion, such financial statement schedules, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, present fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

New York, New York

February 14, 2001

F-2.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.

F-3.

F-4.