ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2017

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

Organization and Basis of Presentation

ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The preparation of the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions (including normal, recurring accruals) that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from these estimates. The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements reflect all adjustments necessary in the opinion of management for a fair statement of the consolidated financial position of AXA Equitable and its consolidated results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. These statements should be read in conjunction with the audited Consolidated Financial Statements of AXA Equitable for the year ended December 31, 2016. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of AXA Equitable and its subsidiaries engaged in insurance related businesses (collectively, the “Insurance segment”); other subsidiaries, principally AB, engaged in investment management related businesses (the “Investment Management segment”), partnerships and joint ventures in which AXA Equitable or its subsidiaries have control and a majority economic interest as well as those variable interest entities (“VIEs”) that meet the requirements for consolidation (collectively the “Company”).

At March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, AXA Equitable’s economic interest in AB was 29.0% and 29.0%. At March 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, AXA and its subsidiaries’ economic interest in AB was 63.8% and 63.7%.

The terms “first quarter 2017” and “first quarter 2016” refer to the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The terms “first three months of 2017” and “first three months of 2016” refer to the three months ended March 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Certain reclassifications have been made in the amounts presented for prior periods to conform those periods to the current presentation.