424B2
CALCULATION
OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Amount of
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Maximum Aggregate
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Registration
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Title of Each Class of Securities Offered
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Offering Price
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Fee(1)(2)
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10.750% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Debentures
due 2069
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$
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500,000,000
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$
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27,900
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(1)
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Calculated in accordance with Rule 457(r) under the
Securities Act of 1933 as amended (the Securities
Act).
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(2)
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Pursuant to Rule 457(p) under the Securities Act, the
Registration fee of $27,900 due with respect to this offering is
offset against $465,896 that has already been paid with respect
to unsold securities that were previously registered pursuant to
Registration Statement Nos.
333-124358,
333-124358-01
and
333-124358-02
and were not sold thereunder. No additional registration fee has
been paid with respect to this offering. $437,996 remains
available for future registration fees after giving effect to
this offering. This Calculation of Registration Fee
table shall be deemed to update the Calculation of
Registration Fee table in Registration Statement No.
333-147180
on
Form S-3.
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Filed
Pursuant to
Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration No. 333-147180
Prospectus Supplement
(To Prospectus Dated
November 6, 2007)
$500,000,000
MetLife, Inc.
10.750% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Debentures
due 2069
MetLife, Inc. is offering $500,000,000 aggregate principal
amount of its 10.750% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Junior Subordinated
Debentures due 2069, which are part of subordinated debt
securities referred to in the accompanying prospectus and
which we refer to as the Junior Subordinated
Debentures in this prospectus supplement. The Junior
Subordinated Debentures will bear interest on their principal
amount from the date they are issued to but excluding
August 1, 2039, or earlier redemption, at an annual fixed
rate of 10.750%, payable semi-annually in arrears on each
February 1 and August 1, beginning February 1,
2010, and, solely in the event that we are unable to redeem the
Junior Subordinated Debentures on the Scheduled
Redemption Date (as described below), from and including
August 1, 2039 to but excluding August 1, 2069, or
earlier redemption, at an annual rate equal to Three-Month LIBOR
plus a margin equal to 7.548%, payable quarterly in arrears on
each February 1, May 1, August 1 and
November 1, subject to our right or, in certain
circumstances, requirement to defer interest payments as
described in this prospectus supplement under Description
of the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
We have agreed to repay the Junior Subordinated Debentures on
August 1, 2039, which we refer to as the Scheduled
Redemption Date, but only to the extent that we
have raised sufficient net proceeds during the
180-day
period ending on the Notice Date for the Scheduled
Redemption Date from the issuance of certain
Qualifying Capital Securities, as described
in this prospectus supplement. We will covenant to use our
commercially reasonable efforts to raise sufficient net proceeds
during such
180-day
period from the issuance of Qualifying Capital Securities to
permit repayment of the Junior Subordinated Debentures in full
on the Scheduled Redemption Date, subject to certain
Market Disruption Events described herein and
subject to our right to otherwise redeem the Junior Subordinated
Debentures as described below. If any Junior Subordinated
Debentures are not repaid on the Scheduled Redemption Date,
they will remain outstanding and will bear interest at the
floating rate specified above, payable quarterly in arrears and,
subject to the limitations described in the immediately
preceding sentence, we will continue to use our commercially
reasonable efforts to raise sufficient net proceeds during the
90-day
period ending on the Notice Date for each subsequent Interest
Payment Date (as defined in this prospectus supplement) from the
issuance of Qualifying Capital Securities to permit repayment of
the Junior Subordinated Debentures in full on such Interest
Payment Date. We refer to each such
180-day and
90-day
period as a QCS Proceeds Collection Period.
On August 1, 2069 we must pay any remaining principal and
interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures in full whether
or not we have sold a sufficient amount of Qualifying Capital
Securities.
We may redeem, at our option, the Junior Subordinated
Debentures, subject to certain provisions described in this
prospectus supplement under Description of the Replacement
Capital Covenant:
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in whole or in part, at any time on
or after August 1, 2034 at their principal amount plus
accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of such
redemption, which we refer to as the
Par Redemption Amount; provided
that if the Junior Subordinated Debentures are not redeemed
in whole, at least $50 million aggregate principal amount
of the Junior Subordinated Debentures (excluding any Junior
Subordinated Debentures held by us or any of our affiliates)
must remain outstanding after giving effect to such redemptions;
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in whole or in part, at any time
prior to August 1, 2034, in cases not involving a
Tax Event or Rating Agency
Event, in each case as defined in this prospectus
supplement, at the Par Redemption Amount or, if
greater, the Make-Whole
Redemption Amount calculated as described in this
prospectus supplement; provided that if the Junior
Subordinated Debentures are not redeemed in whole, at least
$50 million aggregate principal amount of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures (excluding any Junior Subordinated
Debentures held by us or any of our affiliates) must remain
outstanding after giving effect to such redemptions; and
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in whole, but not in part, at any
time prior to August 1, 2034, after the occurrence of a Tax
Event or a Rating Agency Event, at the Par
Redemption Amount or, if greater, the Special
Event Make-Whole Redemption Amount calculated as
described in this prospectus supplement.
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The Junior Subordinated Debentures will be issued in
denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000, and
will be our junior subordinated unsecured obligations issued
under a Junior Subordinated Indenture. The payment of principal
of and interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures, to the
extent provided in the Junior Subordinated Indenture, will be
subordinated to the prior payment in full of all present and
future senior indebtedness, pari passu with trade
creditors and senior to all classes of our share capital as
described in Description of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures Subordination, and will be
effectively subordinated to all indebtedness of our
subsidiaries. Each of (i) MetLife, Inc.s obligations
under the Financing Agreement relating to the 9.250%
Fixed-to-Floating-Rate Exchangeable Surplus
Trust Securities of MetLife Capital Trust X (the
9.250% X-SURPS) and, upon an exchange of the
9.250% X-SURPS, the related 9.250% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Junior
Subordinated Debentures due 2068 of MetLife, Inc.,
(ii) MetLife, Inc.s obligations under the Financing
Agreement relating to the 7.875% Fixed-to-Floating-Rate
Exchangeable Surplus Trust Securities of MetLife Capital
Trust IV (the 7.875% X-SURPS) and, upon
an exchange of the 7.875% X-SURPS, the related 7.875%
Fixed-to-Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2067
of MetLife, Inc. and (iii) MetLife, Inc.s 6.40%
Fixed-to-Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2066
shall rank equally with, and shall not be senior in right of
payment to, the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
As further described in this prospectus supplement, if
(1) we have optionally deferred interest payments for a
period of more than five consecutive years or (2) if a
Trigger Event (as defined in this prospectus
supplement) has occurred and the related Trigger
Period (as defined in this prospectus supplement) is
continuing as of the 30th day prior to an Interest Payment
Date, we may satisfy our obligation to pay interest on the
Junior Subordinated Debentures (i) in the case of an event
described in (1) above, on any subsequent Interest Payment
Date; and (ii) in the case of an event described in
(2) above, on such Interest Payment Date (in the case of
clause (2), other than any interest that has accrued during an
Optional Deferral Period (as defined in this prospectus
supplement) of less than five years, which may continue to be
deferred to the extent provided herein or be paid out of any
source of funds), only to the extent of net proceeds from the
sale of Qualifying APM Securities (as defined
in this prospectus supplement) received by us during the
180 days prior to such Interest Payment Date. We refer to
this method of funding the payment of accrued and unpaid
interest as the Alternative Payment
Mechanism. An Event of Default will occur, among other
things, if non-payment of interest, due to an Optional Deferral
(as defined in this prospectus supplement), the continuance of a
Trigger Period or otherwise, continues for ten consecutive years
without all accrued and unpaid interest (including compounded
interest) having been paid in full. In certain events of our
bankruptcy, insolvency or receivership prior to the maturity or
redemption of any Junior Subordinated Debentures, whether
voluntary or not, a holder of Junior Subordinated Debentures
will have no claim for interest that is unpaid as a result of
certain consequences of a Trigger Event (including compounded
interest thereon) and has not been settled through the
application of the Alternative Payment Mechanism to the extent
the amount of such interest exceeds 25% of the then outstanding
principal amount of such holders Junior Subordinated
Debentures. For the avoidance of doubt, this limitation on
claims for unpaid interest does not apply to amounts of interest
deferred on an optional basis, and holders will have a full
claim for, and right to receive such amounts.
See Risk Factors beginning on
page S-18
of this prospectus supplement to read about important factors
you should consider before buying the Junior Subordinated
Debentures.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any other
regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities
or passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus supplement or the
accompanying prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offense.
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Per Junior Subordinated Debenture
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Total
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Price to the Public (1)
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99.981%
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$
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499,905,000
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Underwriting Discount
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1.000%
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$
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5,000,000
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Proceeds, before expenses, to MetLife, Inc.
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98.981%
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$
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494,905,000
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(1)
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Plus accrued and unpaid interest,
if any, from July 8, 2009.
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The Underwriters expect to deliver the Junior Subordinated
Debentures, in book-entry form only, through the facilities of
The Depository Trust Company (DTC) for
the accounts of its Participants (as defined herein), including
Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, Luxembourg
(Clearstream Luxembourg)
and/or
Euroclear Bank N.V./S.A. (Euroclear), on or
about July 8, 2009.
Joint Book-Running
Managers
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J.P. Morgan |
Morgan Stanley |
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BNP
PARIBAS |
Credit Suisse |
Daiwa Securities America Inc. |
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Deutsche
Bank Securities |
Goldman, Sachs & Co. |
HSBC |
ING WHOLESALE |
Raymond
James RBS
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Blaylock Robert Van, LLC
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Cabrera Capital Markets, LLC
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CastleOak Securities, L.P.
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Guzman & Company
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Ramirez & Co., Inc.
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Siebert Capital Markets
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Toussaint Capital Partners, LLC
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The Williams Capital Group, L.P.
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Prospectus Supplement dated
June 30, 2009
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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Page
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Prospectus Supplement
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S-3
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S-3
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S-5
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S-6
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S-7
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S-18
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S-25
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S-30
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S-31
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S-32
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S-33
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S-54
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S-68
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S-72
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S-76
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S-78
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S-80
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S-82
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S-82
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Prospectus
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You should rely only on the information contained or
incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus. Neither we nor the Underwriters have
authorized anyone to provide you with additional or different
information. If anyone provided you with additional or different
information, you should not rely on it. Neither we nor the
Underwriters are making an offer to sell these Junior
Subordinated Debentures in any jurisdiction where the offer or
sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information
contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying
prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference, is
accurate only as of their respective dates. Our business,
financial condition, results of operations and prospects may
have changed since those dates.
S-2
The Junior Subordinated Debentures are offered for sale in those
jurisdictions in the United States, Europe, Asia and elsewhere
where it is lawful to make such offers. The distribution of this
prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the
offering or sale of the Junior Subordinated Debentures in some
jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons into whose
possession this prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus come are required by us and the Underwriters to
inform themselves about and to observe any applicable
restrictions. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus may not be used for or in connection with an offer or
solicitation by any person in any jurisdiction in which that
offer or solicitation is not authorized or to any person to whom
it is unlawful to make that offer or solicitation. See
Offering Restrictions in this prospectus supplement.
ABOUT
THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
You should read this prospectus supplement along with the
accompanying prospectus carefully before investing in the Junior
Subordinated Debentures. This prospectus supplement contains the
terms of the Junior Subordinated Debentures. This prospectus
supplement may add, update or change information in the
accompanying prospectus. In addition, the information
incorporated by reference in the accompanying prospectus may
have added, updated or changed information in the accompanying
prospectus. If information in this prospectus supplement is
inconsistent with any information in the accompanying prospectus
(or any information incorporated therein by reference), this
prospectus supplement will apply and will supersede such
information.
It is important for you to read and consider all information
contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus in making your investment decision. You should also
read and consider the additional information under the caption
Where You Can Find More Information in the
accompanying prospectus and in this prospectus supplement.
Unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires,
references in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus to MetLife, we,
our, or us refer to
MetLife, Inc., together with its direct and indirect
subsidiaries, while references to MetLife,
Inc. refer only to the holding company on an
unconsolidated basis.
WHERE YOU
CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
MetLife, Inc. files reports, proxy statements and other
information with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC). These reports, proxy statements and
other information can be read and copied at the SECs
public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E.,
Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330
for further information on the operation of the public reference
room. The SEC maintains an internet site at www.sec.gov that
contains reports, proxy and information statements and other
information regarding companies that file electronically with
the SEC, including MetLife, Inc. MetLife, Inc.s common
stock is listed and trading on the New York Stock Exchange under
the symbol MET. These reports, proxy statements and
other information can also be read at the offices of the New
York Stock Exchange, 11 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005.
The SEC allows incorporation by reference into this
prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus of
information that MetLife, Inc. files with the SEC. This permits
MetLife, Inc. to disclose important information to you by
referencing these filed documents. Any information referenced
this way is considered part of this prospectus supplement and
accompanying prospectus. Information furnished under
Item 2.02 and Item 7.01 of MetLife, Inc.s
Current Reports on
Form 8-K
is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement
and accompanying prospectus. MetLife, Inc. incorporates by
reference the following documents which have been filed with the
SEC:
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Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2008 (the 2008
MetLife
Form 10-K);
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Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 (the First
Quarter MetLife
Form 10-Q); and
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Current Reports on
Form 8-K
filed January 14, 2009, January 30, 2009,
February 9, 2009 (only with respect to the Item 3.03
information), February 10, 2009, February 18, 2009,
March 5, 2009, March 13, 2009,
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S-3
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March 23, 2009, March 26, 2009, March 31, 2009,
April 17, 2009, May 1, 2009 (only with respect to the
Item 8.01 information), May 11, 2009, May 21,
2009, May 29, 2009, June 12, 2009, and June 29,
2009.
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MetLife, Inc. incorporates by reference the documents listed
above and any future filings made with the SEC in accordance
with Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange
Act), until the termination or completion of the
offering of the Junior Subordinated Debentures made by this
prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus. Any reports
filed by us with the SEC after the date of this prospectus
supplement and before the date that the offering of Junior
Subordinated Debentures by means of this prospectus supplement
and accompanying prospectus is terminated or completed will
automatically update and, where applicable, supersede any
information contained in this prospectus supplement and
accompanying prospectus or incorporated by reference in this
prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus.
MetLife, Inc. will provide without charge upon written or oral
request, a copy of any or all of the documents that are
incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and
accompanying prospectus, other than exhibits to those documents,
unless those exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference
into those documents. Requests should be directed to Investor
Relations, MetLife, Inc., 1095 Avenue of the Americas, New York,
New York 10036 by electronic mail (metir@metlife.com), or by
telephone
(212-578-2211).
You may also obtain some of the documents incorporated by
reference into this document at MetLifes website,
www.metlife.com. All other information contained on
MetLifes website is not a part of this document.
S-4
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
This prospectus supplement may contain or incorporate by
reference information that includes or is based upon
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking
statements give expectations or forecasts of future events.
These statements can be identified by the fact that they do not
relate strictly to historical or current facts. They use words
such as anticipate, estimate,
expect, project, intend,
plan, believe and other words and terms
of similar meaning in connection with a discussion of future
operating or financial performance. In particular, these include
statements relating to future actions, prospective services or
products, future performance or results of current and
anticipated services or products, sales efforts, expenses, the
outcome of contingencies such as legal proceedings, trends in
operations and financial results.
Any or all forward-looking statements may turn out to be wrong.
They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions or by known or
unknown risks and uncertainties. Many such factors will be
important in determining MetLifes actual future results.
These statements are based on current expectations and the
current economic environment. They involve a number of risks and
uncertainties that are difficult to predict. These statements
are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could
differ materially from those expressed or implied in the
forward-looking statements. Risks, uncertainties, and other
factors that might cause such differences include the risks,
uncertainties and other factors identified in MetLife,
Inc.s filings with the SEC. These factors include:
(i) difficult and adverse conditions in the global and
domestic capital and credit markets; (ii) continued
volatility and further deterioration of the capital and credit
markets, which may affect MetLifes ability to seek
financing or access its credit facilities;
(iii) uncertainty about the effectiveness of the
U.S. governments plan to stabilize the financial
system by injecting capital into financial institutions,
purchasing large amounts of illiquid, mortgage-backed and other
securities from financial institutions, or otherwise;
(iv) the impairment of other financial institutions;
(v) potential liquidity and other risks resulting from
MetLifes participation in a securities lending program and
other transactions; (vi) exposure to financial and capital
market risk; (vii) changes in general economic conditions,
including the performance of financial markets and interest
rates, which may affect MetLifes ability to raise capital,
generate fee income and market-related revenue and finance
statutory reserve requirements and may require MetLife to pledge
collateral or make payments related to declines in value of
specified assets; (viii) defaults on MetLifes
mortgage and consumer loans; (ix) investment losses and
defaults, and changes to investment valuations;
(x) impairments of goodwill and realized losses or market
value impairments to illiquid assets; (xi) unanticipated
changes in industry trends; (xii) heightened competition,
including with respect to pricing, entry of new competitors,
consolidation of distributors, the development of new products
by new and existing competitors and for personnel;
(xiii) discrepancies between actual claims experience and
assumptions used in setting prices for MetLifes products
and establishing the liabilities for MetLifes obligations
for future policy benefits and claims; (xiv) discrepancies
between actual experience and assumptions used in establishing
liabilities related to other contingencies or obligations;
(xv) ineffectiveness of risk management policies and
procedures, including with respect to guaranteed benefit riders
(which may be affected by fair value adjustments arising from
changes in our own credit spread) on certain of MetLifes
variable annuity products; (xvi) increased expenses
relating to pension and post-retirement benefit plans,
(xvii) catastrophe losses; (xviii) changes in
assumptions related to deferred policy acquisition costs, value
of business acquired or goodwill; (xix) downgrades in
MetLife, Inc.s and its affiliates claims paying
ability, financial strength or credit ratings;
(xx) economic, political, currency and other risks relating
to MetLifes international operations;
(xxi) availability and effectiveness of reinsurance or
indemnification arrangements, (xxii) regulatory,
legislative or tax changes that may affect the cost of, or
demand for, MetLifes products or services;
(xxiii) changes in accounting standards, practices
and/or
policies; (xxiv) adverse results or other consequences from
litigation, arbitration or regulatory investigations;
(xxv) deterioration in the experience of the closed
block established in connection with the reorganization of
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company; (xxvi) the effects of
business disruption or economic contraction due to terrorism,
other hostilities, or natural catastrophes;
(xxvii) MetLifes ability to identify and consummate
on successful terms any future acquisitions, and to successfully
integrate acquired businesses with minimal disruption;
(xxviii) MetLife, Inc.s primary reliance, as a
holding company, on dividends from its subsidiaries to meet debt
payment obligations and the applicable regulatory restrictions
on the ability of the subsidiaries to pay such dividends; and
(xxix) other risks and uncertainties described from time to
time in MetLife, Inc.s filings with the SEC.
MetLife, Inc. does not undertake any obligation to publicly
correct or update any forward-looking statement if MetLife, Inc.
later becomes aware that such statement is not likely to be
achieved. Please consult any further disclosures MetLife, Inc.
makes on related subjects in reports to the SEC.
S-5
NOTE REGARDING
RELIANCE ON STATEMENTS IN OUR CONTRACTS
In reviewing the agreements included as exhibits to any of the
documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus
supplement and the accompanying prospectus, please remember that
they are incorporated to provide you with information regarding
their terms and are not intended to provide any other factual or
disclosure information about MetLife, Inc., its subsidiaries or
the other parties to the agreements. The agreements contain
representations and warranties by each of the parties to the
applicable agreement. These representations and warranties have
been made solely for the benefit of the other parties to the
applicable agreement and:
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should not in all instances be treated as categorical statements
of fact, but rather as a way of allocating the risk to one of
the parties to the agreement if those statements prove to be
inaccurate;
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have been qualified by disclosures that were made to the other
party in connection with the negotiation of the applicable
agreement, which disclosures are not necessarily reflected in
the agreement;
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may apply standards of materiality in a way that is different
from what may be viewed as material to investors; and
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were made only as of the date of the applicable agreement or
such other date or dates as may be specified in the agreement
and are subject to more recent developments.
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Accordingly, these representations and warranties may not
describe the actual state of affairs as of the date they were
made or at any other time.
S-6
SUMMARY
This summary contains basic information about us and this
offering. Because it is a summary, it does not contain all of
the information that you should consider before purchasing any
securities in the offering. You should read this entire
prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus carefully,
including the section entitled Risk Factors, our
financial statements and the notes thereto incorporated by
reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus, before making an investment decision.
MetLife
MetLife, Inc. is a leading provider of insurance, employee
benefits and financial services with operations throughout the
United States and the Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific
regions. Through its subsidiaries and affiliates, MetLife, Inc.
reaches more than 70 million customers around the world and
MetLife is the largest life insurer in the United States (based
on life insurance in-force). The MetLife companies offer life
insurance, annuities, auto and home insurance, retail banking
and other financial services to individuals, as well as group
insurance and retirement & savings products and
services to corporations and other institutions. MetLife is one
of the largest insurance and financial services companies in the
United States. MetLife believes that its franchises and brand
names uniquely position it to be the preeminent provider of
protection and savings and investment products in the United
States. In addition, its international operations are focused on
markets where the demand for insurance and savings and
investment products is expected to grow rapidly in the future.
MetLife divides its business into four operating segments:
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Institutional. The Institutional segment
offers a broad range of group insurance and
retirement & savings products and services to
corporations and other institutions and their respective
employees.
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Group insurance products and services include group life
insurance, non-medical health insurance products and related
administrative services, as well as other benefits and services,
such as employer-sponsored auto and homeowners insurance
provided through the Auto & Home segment and prepaid
legal services plans. MetLife offers group insurance products as
employer-paid benefits or as voluntary benefits where all or a
portion of the premiums are paid by the employee. MetLife has
built a leading position in the U.S. group insurance market
through long-standing relationships with many of the largest
corporate employers in the United States. MetLife distributes
its group insurance products and services through a sales force
that is segmented by the size of the target customer. Voluntary
products are sold through the same sales channels, as well as by
specialists for these products.
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Institutionals retirement & savings products and
services include an array of annuity and investment products,
including guaranteed interest products and other stable value
products, accumulation and income annuities, and separate
account contracts for the investment management of defined
benefit and defined contribution plan assets. MetLife
distributes retirement & savings products and services
through dedicated sales teams and relationship managers. In
addition, the retirement & savings organization works
with the distribution channels in the Individual segment and in
the group insurance area, to better reach and service customers,
brokers, consultants and other intermediaries.
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Individual. The Individual segment offers a
wide variety of protection and asset accumulation products aimed
at serving the financial needs of our customers throughout their
entire life cycle. Individual segment products include insurance
products, such as traditional, variable and universal life
insurance and variable and fixed annuities. In addition,
Individual sales representatives distribute disability insurance
and long-term care insurance products offered through the
Institutional segment, investment products such as mutual funds,
as well as other products offered by MetLifes other
businesses.
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Individual products are distributed nationwide through multiple
channels, with the primary distribution systems being the
individual distribution group and the third-party distribution
group.
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International. The International segment
provides life insurance, accident and health insurance, credit
insurance, annuities and retirement & savings products
to both individuals and groups. MetLife focuses on emerging
markets primarily within the Latin America, Europe and Asia
Pacific regions. MetLife operates in
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S-7
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Latin America in Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.
In Europe, MetLife operates in the United Kingdom, Belgium,
Poland and Ireland. The results of our operations in India are
also included in this region. In the Asia Pacific region,
MetLife operates in South Korea, Taiwan, Australia, Japan, Hong
Kong and China.
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Auto & Home. The Auto &
Home segment offers personal lines property and casualty
insurance directly to employees at their employers
worksite, as well as to individuals through a variety of retail
distribution channels, including independent agents, property
and casualty specialists, direct response marketing and the
agency distribution group.
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Corporate & Other contains the excess capital not
allocated to the business segments, various
start-up
entities, including MetLife Bank, N.A., a national bank, and
run-off entities, as well as interest expense related to the
majority of MetLifes outstanding debt and expenses
associated with certain legal proceedings and income tax audit
issues. Corporate & Other also includes the
elimination of all intersegment amounts.
On September 12, 2008, MetLife completed a tax-free
split-off of its majority-owned subsidiary, Reinsurance Group of
America, Incorporated (RGA). The disposition
of RGA resulted in the elimination of MetLifes Reinsurance
segment.
MetLife, Inc. is incorporated under the laws of the State of
Delaware. MetLife, Inc.s principal executive offices are
located at 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York
10166-0188
and its telephone number is
(212) 578-2211.
S-8
The
Offering
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Issuer |
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MetLife, Inc. |
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Securities |
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10.750% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Debentures
due 2069 (the Junior Subordinated Debentures). |
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The Junior Subordinated Debentures will be issued under an
indenture, dated June 21, 2005, between us and The Bank of
New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (as successor to
J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association), as
trustee, as supplemented by a supplemental indenture, to be
dated as of the closing date of this offering (the indenture, as
supplemented by such supplemental indenture, is referred to as
the Junior Subordinated Indenture). The
Junior Subordinated Debentures will be issued in denominations
of $2,000 principal amount and integral multiples of $1,000. |
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Aggregate Principal Amount |
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$500,000,000 |
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Interest |
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Subject to the provisions described below under
Optional Deferral and
Trigger Event, interest on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures will accrue: |
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from and including the issue date to but excluding
August 1, 2039, or earlier redemption, at a fixed rate
equal to 10.750% per annum, payable semi-annually in
arrears on each February 1 and August 1, beginning on
February 1, 2010; and
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solely in the event that the Junior Subordinated
Debentures are not repaid or otherwise redeemed on or before the
Scheduled Redemption Date, from and including
August 1, 2039 to but excluding August 1, 2069 or
earlier redemption, at a floating rate per annum equal to
Three-Month LIBOR plus a margin equal to 7.548%, payable
quarterly in arrears on each February 1, May 1,
August 1 and November 1.
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Final Maturity Date |
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The Junior Subordinated Debentures will mature on August 1,
2069 (the Final Maturity Date and, together
with any earlier date on which the Junior Subordinated
Debentures become due and payable, whether pursuant to a notice
of redemption, acceleration or otherwise, the Maturity
Date). |
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Scheduled Redemption Date |
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The principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Debentures,
together with accrued and unpaid interest, will be repaid on the
Scheduled Redemption Date in the circumstances described
below. The Scheduled Redemption Date is
August 1, 2039. |
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The Junior Subordinated Debentures must be repaid on the
Scheduled Redemption Date only to the extent that MetLife,
Inc. has raised sufficient net proceeds during the
180-day
period ending on the Notice Date for the Scheduled
Redemption Date from the issuance of certain Qualifying
Capital Securities described under Description of the
Replacement Capital Covenant. MetLife, Inc. will covenant
to use Commercially Reasonable Efforts (as defined in this
prospectus supplement), subject to a Market Disruption Event as
described under Description of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures Alternative Payment Mechanism and
subject to its right to otherwise redeem the Junior Subordinated
Debentures as described under Optional |
S-9
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Redemption below, to raise sufficient net proceeds during
such 180-day
period from the issuance of Qualifying Capital Securities to
permit repayment of the Junior Subordinated Debentures in full
on the Scheduled Redemption Date. In this prospectus
supplement, this covenant is referred to as the
Replacement Capital Obligation. |
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If MetLife, Inc. has not raised sufficient net proceeds from the
issuance of Qualifying Capital Securities to permit repayment of
all principal and accrued and unpaid interest, including any
Compounded Interest (as defined in this prospectus supplement),
to the extent permitted by applicable law, on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures on the Scheduled Redemption Date,
MetLife, Inc.s Replacement Capital Obligation will
continue on the next Interest Payment Date, and on each Interest
Payment Date thereafter, until the Junior Subordinated
Debentures are paid in full. Until the Junior Subordinated
Debentures are so paid in full, they will remain outstanding
from quarter to quarter and bear interest at the floating rate
determined as specified herein, payable quarterly in arrears,
until repaid in accordance with their terms. |
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, if MetLife, Inc. redeems the
Junior Subordinated Debentures when any deferred interest
remains unpaid and at a time when the Alternative Payment
Mechanism is otherwise applicable, the unpaid deferred interest
(including Compounded Interest, to the extent permitted by law)
may only be paid pursuant to the Alternative Payment Mechanism
(other than any interest that has accrued during an Optional
Deferral Period of less than five years, which may be paid out
of any source of funds), except that on the Final Maturity Date
and on the Acceleration Date (as defined in this prospectus
supplement), MetLife, Inc. may pay any accrued and unpaid
interest without regard to the source of funds. |
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MetLife, Inc. has no obligation to holders of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures to use Commercially Reasonable Efforts
to issue any securities other than Qualifying Capital Securities
or to use the proceeds of the issuance of any other securities
to cause the repayment of the Junior Subordinated Debentures on
the Scheduled Redemption Date or at any time thereafter. |
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For more information, see Description of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures Repayment of Principal;
Replacement Capital Obligation. |
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Optional Redemption |
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Subject to the provisions described below under
Replacement Capital Covenant, MetLife,
Inc. may, at its option redeem the Junior Subordinated
Debentures: |
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in whole or in part, at any time on or after
August 1, 2034 at the Par Redemption Amount;
provided that if the Junior Subordinated Debentures are
not redeemed in whole, at least $50 million aggregate
principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Debentures
(excluding any Junior Subordinated Debentures held by MetLife,
Inc. or any of its affiliates) must remain outstanding after
giving effect to such redemption;
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S-10
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in whole or in part, at any time prior to
August 1, 2034, in cases not involving a Tax Event or
Rating Agency Event, at the Par Redemption Amount or,
if greater, the Make-Whole Redemption Amount; provided
that if the Junior Subordinated Debentures are not redeemed
in whole, at least $50 million aggregate principal amount
of the Junior Subordinated Debentures (excluding any Junior
Subordinated Debentures held by MetLife, Inc. or any of its
affiliates) must remain outstanding after giving effect to such
redemption; and
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in whole, but not in part, at any time prior to
August 1, 2034, after the occurrence of a Tax Event or
Rating Agency Event, at their principal amount plus accrued and
unpaid interest to the date of redemption or, if greater, the
Special Event Make-Whole Redemption Amount.
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For more information and the definitions of Tax Event, Rating
Agency Event, Par Redemption Amount, Make-Whole
Redemption Amount and Special
Redemption Make-Whole
Amount, see Description of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures Optional Redemption. |
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Replacement Capital Covenant |
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Around the time of the initial issuance of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures, MetLife, Inc. will enter into the
Replacement Capital Covenant in which MetLife, Inc. will
covenant for the benefit of holders of one or more designated
series of its indebtedness that ranks senior to the Junior
Subordinated Debentures (which will initially be MetLife,
Inc.s 5.70% Senior Notes due 2035), that MetLife,
Inc. will not repay, redeem or purchase and will cause its
subsidiaries not to repay, redeem or purchase, as applicable,
the Junior Subordinated Debentures prior to August 1, 2059
unless, subject to certain limitations, during the applicable
Measurement Period (as defined in this prospectus supplement),
MetLife, Inc. and its subsidiaries have received proceeds from
the sale of specified securities in the specified amounts
described therein. |
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The Replacement Capital Covenant will terminate upon the
occurrence of certain events, including the occurrence of an
Event of Default and a Change of Control Event resulting in
acceleration of the Junior Subordinated Debentures. The
Replacement Capital Covenant is not intended for the benefit of
holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures and may not be
enforced by them, except that MetLife, Inc. will agree in the
Junior Subordinated Indenture that it will not amend the
Replacement Capital Covenant to impose additional restrictions
on the type or amount of Qualifying Capital Securities that
MetLife, Inc. may include for purposes of determining when
repayment, redemption or purchase of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures is permitted, except with the consent of the holders
of a majority in principal amount of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures. |
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Optional Deferral |
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MetLife, Inc. may cause interest payments on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures to be deferred at any time and from time
to time for up to ten consecutive years, which we refer to in
this summary as an Optional Deferral Period,
without triggering an Event of Default. No Optional Deferral
Period may end on a date other than an Interest Payment Date or
extend beyond the Maturity Date. This deferral right is subject
to the limitations described under Description of the
Junior |
S-11
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Subordinated Debentures Optional Deferral,
which include that (i) no Event of Default has occurred and
is continuing and (ii) no Trigger Event has occurred and
the related Trigger Period is not continuing. Deferred interest
will continue to accrue and compound periodically, to the extent
permitted by applicable law, at the rate of interest applicable
to the Junior Subordinated Debentures. |
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During the first five years of an Optional Deferral Period,
MetLife, Inc. may pay deferred interest out of any source of
funds. If interest remains unpaid after five consecutive years
of Optional Deferral, the Alternative Payment Mechanism
described below in this summary under
Alternative Payment Mechanism will
apply, with the consequence, among others, that MetLife, Inc.
(i) must sell shares of its common stock to raise
sufficient proceeds to pay deferred interest (unless such
interest has been (or is being) paid from the sale of Qualifying
Warrants) and (ii) may pay deferred interest only out of
the net proceeds of Qualifying APM Securities, except that on or
after the Final Maturity Date or an Acceleration Date, MetLife,
Inc. may pay any accrued and unpaid interest without regard to
the source of funds. |
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Additionally, during any Optional Deferral Period the
restrictions on payment by MetLife, Inc. and its subsidiaries of
dividends and other distributions on capital stock and certain
other securities described below in this summary under
Payment Restrictions will apply. An
Event of Default will occur if non-payment of interest, whether
due to an Optional Deferral, the continuation of a Trigger
Period or otherwise, continues for ten consecutive years or
extends beyond the Final Maturity Date without all accrued and
unpaid interest (including Compounded Interest, to the extent
permitted by applicable law) having been paid in full. |
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Upon the termination of any Optional Deferral Period and the
payment of all amounts then due, MetLife, Inc. may commence a
new Optional Deferral Period, subject to the above requirements.
There is no limit to the number of such new Optional Deferral
Periods that MetLife, Inc. may begin. See Description of
the Junior Subordinated Debentures Optional
Deferral. |
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Trigger Event |
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A Trigger Event will have occurred if one or more of
the following conditions exists as of the date which is
30 days prior to any Interest Payment Date: |
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MetLife, Inc.s Covered Insurance Subsidiaries
fail to meet the capital adequacy level, or
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MetLife, Inc. fails to meet the net income and
stockholders equity levels,
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both as described under Description of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures Trigger Event. The
Junior Subordinated Indenture provides that, if a Trigger Event
has occurred and the related Trigger Period is continuing as of
the 30th day prior to an Interest Payment Date (and regardless
of whether a notice of an Optional Deferral has been delivered),
the Alternative Payment Mechanism described in this summary
under Alternative Payment Mechanism will
apply. |
S-12
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Any interest that has accrued and is unpaid during a period when
a Trigger Event has occurred and is continuing (a
Trigger Period) will continue to accrue and
compound semi-annually or quarterly, as applicable, to the
extent permitted by applicable law, at the rate of interest
applicable to the Junior Subordinated Debentures, and the
restriction on payment by MetLife, Inc. and its subsidiaries of
dividends and other distributions on capital stock and certain
other securities described below in this summary under
Payment Restrictions will apply. |
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For more information, see Description of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures Trigger Event and
Description of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures Consequences of a Trigger Event. |
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Alternative Payment Mechanism |
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The provisions described under this sub-caption are referred to
as the Alternative Payment Mechanism. |
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If MetLife, Inc. has optionally deferred interest payments
otherwise due on the Junior Subordinated Debentures for more
than five consecutive years, or if a Trigger Event has occurred
and the related Trigger Period is continuing as of the 30th day
prior to an Interest Payment Date (regardless of whether a
Notice of Optional Deferral has been delivered), MetLife, Inc.
may satisfy its obligation to pay interest on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures only to the extent of net proceeds from
the sale of Qualifying APM Securities received by MetLife, Inc.
during the 180 days prior to the relevant Interest Payment
Date. If MetLife, Inc. has optionally deferred interest payments
otherwise due on the Junior Subordinated Debentures for more
than five consecutive years, or if a Trigger Event has occurred,
MetLife, Inc. must sell shares of its common stock, the sale of
which will provide sufficient cash proceeds to pay any amount
due to the holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures in
satisfaction of all accrued and unpaid interest, together with
any Compounded Interest, to the extent permitted by law (unless
such interest has been paid (or is being paid) from the sale of
Qualifying Warrants). MetLife, Inc.s obligation to sell
common stock to satisfy its obligation to pay interest is
subject to Market Disruption Events, described under
Description of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures Market Disruption Events, does not
apply to interest that has accrued during an Optional Deferral
Period of less than five years, and does not apply on or after
the Final Maturity Date or an Acceleration Date. The obligations
described above will continue until all unpaid interest has been
paid in full or, if such obligations have arisen only because a
Trigger Event has occurred and the related Trigger Period is
continuing, until such Trigger Period is no longer continuing
and all interest that accrued during such Trigger Period has
been paid in full. The net proceeds received by MetLife, Inc.
from the issuance of common stock or Qualifying Warrants
(i) during the 180 days prior to any Interest Payment
Date on which it is required to use the Alternative Payment
Mechanism and (ii) designated by it at or before the time
of such issuance as available to pay interest on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures will, at the time such proceeds are
delivered to the Junior Subordinated Trustee to satisfy the
relevant interest payment, be deemed to satisfy MetLife,
Inc.s obligations to pay interest on the |
S-13
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Junior Subordinated Debentures pursuant to the Alternative
Payment Mechanism. |
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The sale of Qualifying Warrants to pay deferred interest,
subject to the restrictions and requirements set forth herein,
is an option that may be exercised at MetLife, Inc.s sole
discretion, subject to the restrictions and requirements
described under Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures Alternative Payment Mechanism, and
MetLife, Inc. will under no circumstances be obligated to sell
Qualifying Warrants or to apply the proceeds of any such sale to
pay deferred interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures. No
class of investors of MetLife, Inc.s securities, or any
other party, may require MetLife, Inc. to issue Qualifying
Warrants. |
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For more information, see Description of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures Alternative Payment
Mechanism. |
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Payment Restrictions |
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On any date on which accrued interest through the most recent
Interest Payment Date has not been paid in full, whether because
of an Optional Deferral or a Trigger Event and on any other date
that occurs after MetLife, Inc. gives notice of its election to
defer interest and continuing through the first day of the
related deferral period, MetLife, Inc., subject to certain
exceptions detailed under Description of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures Certain Restrictions During
Optional Deferral Periods or Following a Trigger Event,
will not, and will not permit any of its subsidiaries to: |
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declare or pay any dividends on, make any
distribution with respect to, or redeem, purchase, acquire or
make a liquidation payment with respect to, any shares of
MetLife, Inc.s capital stock; or
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make any payment of principal or premium, if any, or
interest on, or repay, purchase or redeem, any debt securities
issued by MetLife, Inc. or make any guarantee payments under any
guarantees given by MetLife, Inc., in each case that rank
equally with the Junior Subordinated Debentures upon MetLife,
Inc.s liquidation (Parity Securities)
or that rank junior to the Junior Subordinated Debentures upon
MetLife, Inc.s liquidation, other than certain permitted
payments described under Description of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures Certain Restrictions During
Optional Deferral Periods or Following a Trigger Event.
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Additionally, if a Trigger Event occurs, MetLife, Inc. will not,
and will not permit any of its subsidiaries, to purchase any
shares of MetLife, Inc.s common stock until at least one
year after all deferred interest on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures has been paid, other than the following:
(a) purchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of common
stock in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan
or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of
employees, officers, directors or consultants and
(b) purchases of common stock pursuant to a contractually
binding requirement to buy shares of common stock entered into
prior to the beginning of the related deferral period, including
under a contractually binding share repurchase plan. |
S-14
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Subordination |
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The payment by MetLife, Inc. of principal of and interest on the
Junior Subordinated Debentures, to the extent provided in the
Junior Subordinated Indenture, will be subordinated to the prior
payment in full of all of MetLife, Inc.s present and
future Senior Indebtedness, as defined in Description of
the Junior Subordinated Debentures
Subordination. Senior Indebtedness will not include
(1) indebtedness incurred for the purchase of goods or
materials or for services obtained in the ordinary course of
business (i.e., trade accounts payable), which will rank
equally in right of payment and upon liquidation with the Junior
Subordinated Debentures, (2) indebtedness which by its
terms ranks equally with or subordinated to the Junior
Subordinated Debentures in right of payment or upon liquidation,
(3) indebtedness owed by MetLife, Inc. to its subsidiaries,
which also will rank equally in right of payment and upon
liquidation with the Junior Subordinated Debentures, and
(4) any liability for federal, state, local or other taxes
owed or owing by MetLife, Inc. or by its subsidiaries. In
addition, the rights of the holders of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures will be structurally subordinated to all existing and
future obligations of MetLife, Inc.s subsidiaries. Each of
(i) MetLife, Inc.s obligations under the Financing
Agreement relating to the 9.250% Fixed-to-Floating-Rate
Exchangeable Surplus Trust Securities of MetLife Capital
Trust X (the 9.250% X-SURPS) and, upon
an exchange of the 9.250% X-SURPS, the related 9.250%
Fixed-to-Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2068
of MetLife, Inc., (ii) MetLife, Inc.s obligations
under the Financing Agreement relating to the 7.875%
Fixed-to-Floating-Rate Exchangeable Surplus
Trust Securities of MetLife Capital Trust IV (the
7.875% X-SURPS) and, upon an exchange of the
7.875% X-SURPS, the related 7.875% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Junior
Subordinated Debentures due 2067 of MetLife, Inc. and
(iii) MetLife, Inc.s 6.40% Fixed-to-Floating Rate
Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2066 shall rank equally with,
and shall not be senior in right of payment to, the Junior
Subordinated Debentures. |
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The Junior Subordinated Indenture places no limitation on the
amount of additional Senior Indebtedness that MetLife, Inc. may
incur. As of March 31, 2009, MetLife, Inc. had
$13.1 billion of Senior Indebtedness outstanding at the
parent company level and its subsidiaries had total liabilities
of $453.1 billion, which will be structurally senior to the
Junior Subordinated Debentures. |
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MetLife, Inc. expects from time to time to incur additional
Senior Indebtedness. |
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Limitation on Claims in the Event of
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MetLife, Inc.s Bankruptcy, Insolvency
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or Receivership |
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In certain events of MetLife, Inc.s bankruptcy, insolvency
or receivership (whether voluntary or involuntary) prior to the
maturity or redemption of any Junior Subordinated Debentures, a
holder of Junior Subordinated Debentures will have no claim for,
and thus no right to receive, interest that is unpaid as a
result of certain consequences of a Trigger Event (including
Compounded Interest thereon) and has not been settled through
the application of the Alternative Payment Mechanism to the
extent the amount of such interest exceeds 25% |
S-15
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of the then outstanding principal amount of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures. For the avoidance of doubt, this
limitation on claims for unpaid interest does not apply to
amounts of interest deferred on an optional basis, and holders
will have a full claim for, and right to receive, such amounts. |
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Events of Default |
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The Junior Subordinated Indenture will provide the following
Events of Default with respect to the Junior Subordinated
Debentures: |
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the failure to pay interest (including Compounded
Interest) in full, whether due to an Optional Deferral, during a
Trigger Period or otherwise, after the conclusion of a period of
ten consecutive years following the commencement of any deferral
period or on the Final Maturity Date;
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default in the payment of the principal of, and
premium, if any, on, the Junior Subordinated Debentures when
due; or
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certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency, or
receivership with respect to MetLife, Inc., whether voluntary or
not.
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The Junior Subordinated Indenture does not include as an Event
of Default failure to comply with covenants, including the
Alternative Payment Mechanism. |
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Use of Proceeds |
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We estimate that the net proceeds from the sale of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures will be approximately $494,470,000,
after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and
the estimated offering expenses payable by us. We expect to use
the net proceeds from the sale of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures for general corporate purposes. |
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Anticipated Ratings |
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Moodys Investors Service, Inc.
(Moodys): Baa1. |
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Standard & Poors Ratings Services, a
Standard & Poors Financial Services LLC business
(Standard & Poors): BBB. |
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Fitch Ratings, Inc. (Fitch): A- |
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An explanation of the significance of ratings may be obtained
from the rating agencies. Generally, rating agencies base their
ratings on such material and information, and such of their own
investigations, studies and assumptions, as they deem
appropriate. The rating of the Junior Subordinated Debentures
should be evaluated independently from similar ratings of other
securities. A credit rating of a security is not a
recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be
subject to review, revision, suspension, reduction or withdrawal
at any time by the assigning rating agency. |
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Material United States Federal Income
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Tax Considerations |
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There is no statutory, judicial or administrative authority that
directly addresses the U.S. federal income tax treatment of
securities similar to the Junior Subordinated Debentures. Based
on, among other things, certain assumptions and certain
representations made by MetLife, Inc., Debevoise &
Plimpton LLP, MetLife, Inc.s special tax counsel, will
render its opinion generally to the effect that, although the
matter is not free from doubt, under then applicable law the
Junior Subordinated Debentures will be treated as indebtedness
for U.S. federal |
S-16
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income tax purposes. Such opinion is not binding on the Internal
Revenue Service (IRS) or any court and there
can be no assurance that the IRS or a court will agree with such
opinion. MetLife, Inc. agrees, and by acquiring a beneficial
interest in the Junior Subordinated Debentures each beneficial
owner of the Junior Subordinated Debentures agrees, to treat the
Junior Subordinated Debentures as indebtedness for U.S. federal
income tax purposes. See Material United States Federal
Income Tax Considerations. |
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Form |
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The Junior Subordinated Debentures will be represented by one or
more Global Securities registered in the name of
Cede & Co., as nominee for The Depository
Trust Company (DTC). Beneficial
interests in the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be
represented through book-entry accounts of financial
institutions acting on behalf of beneficial owners as Direct and
Indirect Participants in DTC. Investors may elect to hold
interests in the global securities through either DTC (in the
United States), or Clearstream Luxembourg or Euroclear if they
are participants in those systems. |
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Risk Factors |
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Before investing in the Junior Subordinated Debentures you
should consider the risk factors included in or incorporated by
reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus. |
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Junior Subordinated Trustee |
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The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (as
successor to J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National
Association). |
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Listing |
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The Junior Subordinated Debentures will not be listed on any
securities exchange. Currently there is no trading market for
the Junior Subordinated Debentures. |
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Governing Law |
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The State of New York. |
S-17
RISK
FACTORS
Investment in the Junior Subordinated Debentures offered
hereby will involve certain risks. You should read the Risk
Factors set forth in the 2008 MetLife
Form 10-K,
which is incorporated by reference herein. Investors should
note, however, that MetLifes business, financial
condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed
since the date of the 2008 MetLife
Form 10-K.
Accordingly, you should review the information included in the
Risk Factors set forth in the 2008 MetLife
Form 10-K
as such information has been modified and supplemented in
documents subsequently filed by MetLife, Inc. with the SEC and
incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus, including the Risk Factors in the First
Quarter MetLife
Form 10-Q.
In consultation with your own financial and legal advisors,
you should carefully consider the information included in this
prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus together
with the other information incorporated by reference in this
prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, before
deciding whether an investment in the Junior Subordinated
Debentures offered hereby is suitable for you. The Junior
Subordinated Debentures offered hereby will not be an
appropriate investment for you if you are not knowledgeable
about significant features of the Junior Subordinated Debentures
offered hereby or financial matters in general. You should not
purchase any of the offered Junior Subordinated Debentures
unless you understand, and know that you can bear, these
investment risks.
Risks
Relating to the Junior Subordinated Debentures
MetLife,
Inc. may cause a deferral of interest payments on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures for up to ten years.
Subject to certain limitations described under Description
of the Junior Subordinated Debentures Optional
Deferral, which include that (i) no Event of Default
has occurred and is continuing and (ii) no Trigger Event
has occurred and the related Trigger Period is not continuing,
MetLife, Inc. may cause one or more interest payments on the
Junior Subordinated Debentures to be deferred at any time and
from time to time for up to ten years. During the first five
years of an Optional Deferral, MetLife, Inc. may pay deferred
interest out of any source of funds. If interest remains unpaid
after five consecutive years of Optional Deferral the
Alternative Payment Mechanism described under Description
of the Junior Subordinated Debentures Alternative
Payment Mechanism will apply, with the consequence, among
others, that MetLife, Inc. must (except on or after the Final
Maturity Date or an Acceleration Date) sell its common stock
(unless such deferred interest has been paid (or is being paid)
from the sale of Qualifying Warrants), except where a Market
Disruption Event has occurred and for so long as it continues,
as described under Description of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures Alternative Payment Mechanism and
may pay such optionally deferred interest only out of the net
proceeds from the issuance of common stock or Qualifying
Warrants. An Event of Default will occur if non-payment of
interest, due to an Optional Deferral, during a Trigger Period
or otherwise, continues for ten consecutive years or extends
beyond the Maturity Date, without all accrued and unpaid
interest (including Compounded Interest) having been paid in
full. Upon termination of any Optional Deferral Period and the
payment of all amounts then due, MetLife, Inc. may commence a
new Optional Deferral Period, subject to certain requirements.
There is no limit to the number of such new Optional Deferral
Periods that MetLife, Inc. may begin. See Description of
the Junior Subordinated Debentures Optional
Deferral. Holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures
will be subject to the risk that they will not receive payments
under the Junior Subordinated Debentures because MetLife, Inc.
will not be able to make its payment under the Junior
Subordinated Debentures following an Optional Deferral, or that
such payments, if made, will not adequately compensate such
holders for not having been paid on the scheduled Interest
Payment Dates.
If
MetLife, Inc. fails to achieve specified capital adequacy or net
income and stockholders equity levels or if an Optional
Deferral lasts for more than five years, MetLife, Inc. will be
permitted to pay interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures
only with proceeds from the issuance of Qualifying APM
Securities.
If MetLife, Inc. fails to achieve specified capital adequacy or
net income and stockholders equity levels, a Trigger Event
will occur. Following the occurrence of a Trigger Event or an
Optional Deferral of more than five
S-18
years, MetLife, Inc. will only be able to make interest payments
in respect of the Junior Subordinated Debentures in accordance
with the Alternative Payment Mechanism, as described under
Description of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures Alternative Payment Mechanism.
MetLife,
Inc. may not be able to sell its common stock or Qualifying
Warrants when and in the amount necessary to pay interest on the
Junior Subordinated Debentures.
MetLife, Inc.s ability to raise proceeds by issuing its
common stock or Qualifying Warrants after five years of Optional
Deferral or following the occurrence of a Trigger Event will
depend on, among other things, market conditions at the time,
the acceptability to prospective investors of the terms of the
securities issued, MetLife, Inc.s financial performance
and a variety of other factors beyond its control, including its
ability to obtain any required consents or approvals, such as
any corporate, stockholder, governmental or regulatory
authorization that may be required. Accordingly, there could be
circumstances in which MetLife, Inc. would wish to or be
required to pay interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures
and sufficient cash is available for that purpose, but MetLife,
Inc. cannot do so because it has not been able to obtain
proceeds from sales of its common stock or Qualifying Warrants
sufficient for that purpose. MetLife, Inc. will not be obligated
to satisfy its obligation to pay all unpaid interest on the
Junior Subordinated Debentures by selling common stock in excess
of its Shares Available for Issuance (as defined in this
prospectus supplement) when the Alternative Payment Mechanism
applies or if a Market Disruption Event has occurred and for so
long as it continues, as described under Description of
the Junior Subordinated Debentures Alternative
Payment Mechanism. Additionally, if the number of shares
of MetLife, Inc. common stock necessary to raise sufficient
proceeds to pay all unpaid interest would exceed its Shares
Available for Issuance and consent of MetLife, Inc. stockholders
to increase the amount of its authorized shares has not been
obtained (MetLife, Inc. having used commercially reasonable
efforts to obtain such consent) then no breach of MetLifes
obligations under the Alternative Payment Mechanism will occur
by reason of its failure to sell its common stock or to raise
sufficient proceeds to satisfy its obligation to pay unpaid
interest.
Holders
of the Junior Subordinated Debentures will have limited rights
to accelerate payments of the amounts due on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures.
Holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures may accelerate
payment of the Junior Subordinated Debentures only upon the
occurrence and continuation of the following events:
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the failure to pay interest (including Compounded Interest) in
full, whether due to an Optional Deferral, during a Trigger
Period or otherwise, after the conclusion of a period of ten
consecutive years following the commencement of any deferral
period or on the Maturity Date;
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default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any,
on, the Junior Subordinated Debentures when due; or
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certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or receivership with
respect to MetLife, Inc., whether voluntary or not.
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MetLife, Inc.s failure to comply with, or breach of, its
other covenants in the Junior Subordinated Indenture with
respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures (an Other
Covenant Default), including the covenants to sell
common stock through the Alternative Payment Mechanism to meet
certain interest payment obligations, and to use its
commercially reasonable efforts to seek consent of its
stockholders to increase the number of authorized shares of its
common stock if, at any date, MetLife, Inc.s Shares
Available for Issuance fall below the amount specified under
Description of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures Alternative Payment Mechanism, will
not result in the acceleration of payment of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures.
The
aftermarket price of the Junior Subordinated Debentures may be
discounted significantly if an Optional Deferral occurs or
MetLife, Inc. is unable to pay interest on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures.
If MetLife, Inc. defers interest payments on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures due to an Optional Deferral or a Trigger
Event, holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures may be
unable to sell the Junior Subordinated
S-19
Debentures at a price that reflects the value of deferred
amounts. To the extent a trading market develops for the Junior
Subordinated Debentures, that market may not continue during
such a deferral period or following a Trigger Event, or during
periods in which investors perceive that there is a likelihood
of a deferral or a Trigger Event, and holders may be unable to
sell Junior Subordinated Debentures at those times, either at a
price that reflects the value of required payments under the
Junior Subordinated Debentures or at all.
An
active aftermarket for the Junior Subordinated Debentures may
not develop.
The Junior Subordinated Debentures will constitute a new issue
of securities with no established trading market. MetLife, Inc.
cannot assure holders that an active aftermarket for the Junior
Subordinated Debentures will develop or be sustained or that
holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be able to
sell their Junior Subordinated Debentures at favorable prices or
at all. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of, or
trading markets for, the Junior Subordinated Debentures. The
Junior Subordinated Debentures will not be listed on any
securities exchange or quoted in an automated dealer quotation
system.
As a
holding company, MetLife, Inc. depends on the ability of its
subsidiaries to transfer funds to it to pay dividends and meet
its obligations.
MetLife, Inc. is a holding company for its insurance and other
subsidiaries and does not have any significant operations of its
own. Dividends from its subsidiaries and permitted payments to
it under its tax sharing arrangements with its subsidiaries are
its principal sources of cash to meet its obligations and to pay
preferred and common dividends. In the event that MetLife, Inc.
is not able to receive sufficient dividends from its
subsidiaries, it would make it more likely that the option to
defer interest payments on the Junior Subordinated Debentures
would be exercised
and/or that
a Trigger Event would occur.
The payment of dividends and other distributions to MetLife,
Inc. by its insurance subsidiaries is regulated by insurance
laws and regulations. In general, dividends in excess of
prescribed limits are deemed special and require
insurance regulatory approval. In addition, insurance regulators
may prohibit the payment of ordinary dividends or other payments
by its insurance subsidiaries to MetLife, Inc. if they determine
that the payment could be adverse to policyholders or
contractholders of such insurance subsidiaries.
Any payment of interest, dividends, distributions, loans or
advances by its foreign subsidiaries to MetLife, Inc. could be
subject to taxation or other restrictions on dividends or
repatriation of earnings under applicable law, monetary transfer
restrictions and foreign currency exchange regulations in the
jurisdiction in which such foreign subsidiaries operate.
MetLife,
Inc. may cause the redemption of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures prior to the Maturity Date and holders may not be
able to reinvest in a comparable security.
MetLife, Inc. will have the option to redeem the Junior
Subordinated Debentures for cash, in whole or in part, at any
time on or after August 1, 2034 at the redemption price
equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest,
together with any Compounded Interest, thereon, to the extent
permitted by law, to, but excluding, such Redemption Date
(the Par Redemption Amount);
provided that if the Junior Subordinated Debentures are
not redeemed in whole, at least $50 million aggregate
principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Debentures
(excluding any Junior Subordinated Debentures held by MetLife,
Inc. or its affiliates) must remain outstanding after giving
effect to such redemption.
Additionally, in cases not involving a Tax Event or Rating
Agency Event, MetLife, Inc. will have the option to redeem the
Junior Subordinated Debentures for cash, in whole or in part, at
any time prior to August 1, 2034 at a redemption price
equal to the greater of (i) the
Par Redemption Amount and (ii) the Make-Whole
Redemption Amount as described herein; provided that
if the Junior Subordinated Debentures are not redeemed in whole,
at least $50 million aggregate principal amount of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures (excluding any Junior
Subordinated Debentures held by MetLife, Inc. or any of its
affiliates) must remain outstanding after giving effect to such
redemption.
S-20
Finally, if a Tax Event or Rating Agency Event has occurred,
MetLife, Inc. has the option to redeem the Junior Subordinated
Debentures for cash, in whole, but not in part, at any time
prior to August 1, 2034 at a redemption price equal to the
greater of (i) the Par Redemption Amount of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures to be redeemed and (ii) the
Special Event Make-Whole Redemption Amount as described
herein. See Description of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures Optional Redemption.
In the event MetLife, Inc. chooses to cause redemption of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures, holders may not be able to
reinvest the redemption proceeds in a comparable security at an
effective interest rate as high as the interest rate on the
Junior Subordinated Debentures.
The
Junior Subordinated Debentures will be effectively subordinated
to almost all of MetLife, Inc.s other
indebtedness.
MetLife, Inc.s obligations under the Junior Subordinated
Debentures will be subordinated and junior in right of payment
to all of its Senior Indebtedness (including trust preferred
securities of statutory trusts and its related subordinated
debentures and guarantees issued under the Junior Subordinated
Indenture), except any indebtedness that by its terms is
subordinated to, or ranks on an equal basis with, the Junior
Subordinated Debentures and certain other indebtedness,
including indebtedness incurred in the ordinary course of
business. This means that MetLife, Inc. will not be able to make
any payments on the Junior Subordinated Debentures if it
defaults on a payment of Senior Indebtedness and does not cure
the default within the applicable grace period, if the holders
of the Senior Indebtedness have the right to accelerate the
maturity of the Senior Indebtedness and request that MetLife,
Inc. cease payments on the Junior Subordinated Debentures or if
the terms of its Senior Indebtedness otherwise restrict MetLife,
Inc. from making payments to junior creditors.
As of March 31, 2009, MetLife, Inc. had approximately
$13.1 billion of debt outstanding at the parent company
level and its subsidiaries had outstanding $453.1 billion
of total liabilities (including liabilities to policyholders and
contractholders, including $11.8 billion of debt (excluding
in each case, intercompany liabilities)), $464.9 billion of
which would be senior in priority to the Junior Subordinated
Debentures.
Due to the subordination provisions described under
Description of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures Subordination, in the event of
MetLife, Inc.s insolvency, funds which MetLife, Inc. would
otherwise use to pay the holders of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures would be used to pay the holders of Senior
Indebtedness to the extent necessary to pay the Senior
Indebtedness in full. As a result of those payments, MetLife,
Inc.s general creditors may recover less, ratably, than
the holders of its Senior Indebtedness and these general
creditors may recover more, ratably, than the holders of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures. In addition, the holders of
MetLife, Inc.s Senior Indebtedness may, under certain
circumstances, restrict or prohibit MetLife, Inc. from making
payments on the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
There will be no terms in the Junior Subordinated Indenture or
the Junior Subordinated Debentures that limit MetLife,
Inc.s ability to incur additional indebtedness, and
MetLife, Inc. expects from time to time to incur additional
indebtedness constituting Senior Indebtedness.
Upon
the occurrence of a bankruptcy, insolvency or receivership with
respect to MetLife, Inc., claims for payment may be
limited.
In certain events of MetLife, Inc.s bankruptcy, insolvency
or receivership prior to the maturity or redemption of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures, whether voluntary or not, a
holder of Junior Subordinated Debentures will have no claim for
interest that is unpaid as a result of certain consequences of a
Trigger Event (including Compounded Interest thereon, to the
extent permitted by law) and has not been settled through the
application of the Alternative Payment Mechanism to the extent
the amount of such interest exceeds 25% of the then outstanding
principal amount of such holders Junior Subordinated
Debentures. See Description of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures Limitation on Claims in the Event of
MetLife, Inc.s Bankruptcy, Insolvency or
Receivership. For the avoidance of doubt, this limitation
on claims for unpaid interest will not apply to amounts of
interest deferred on an optional basis, and holders will have a
full claim for, and right to receive, such amounts.
S-21
In the
event that the Junior Subordinated Debentures are not repaid or
otherwise redeemed on the Scheduled Redemption Date, the
Junior Subordinated Debentures will accrue interest at a
floating rate, which may decline below the fixed rate specified
herein from time to time.
If, at the conclusion of the fixed rate period, the Junior
Subordinated Debentures are not repaid or otherwise redeemed on
the Scheduled Redemption Date, the Junior Subordinated
Debentures will begin to accrue interest at a floating rate. The
floating rate may be volatile over time and could be
substantially less than the fixed rate, which could reduce the
value of the Junior Subordinated Debentures in any available
aftermarket, apart from the reduction in current interest income.
MetLife,
Inc.s Replacement Capital Obligation is subject to the
issuance of Qualifying Capital Securities.
MetLife, Inc.s obligation to repay the Junior Subordinated
Debentures on the Scheduled Redemption Date is limited.
MetLife, Inc. will be required to repay the Junior Subordinated
Debentures on the Scheduled Redemption Date only to the
extent that it has raised sufficient net proceeds during the
related QCS Proceeds Collection Period from the issuance of
Qualifying Capital Securities permitted to be issued pursuant to
the Replacement Capital Covenant as described under
Description of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures Repayment of Principal; Replacement
Capital Obligation and Description of the
Replacement Capital Covenant (the Replacement
Capital Obligation). If MetLife, Inc. has not raised
sufficient proceeds from the issuance of Qualifying Capital
Securities to permit repayment of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures on the Scheduled Redemption Date, the unpaid
amount will remain outstanding until (i) MetLife, Inc. has
redeemed the Junior Subordinated Debentures in full in
accordance with this requirement, (ii) the Junior
Subordinated Debentures are otherwise paid in full on the Final
Maturity Date, or (iii) upon the occurrence of an Event of
Default resulting in the acceleration of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures. MetLife, Inc.s ability to raise proceeds in
connection with the Replacement Capital Obligation to repay the
Junior Subordinated Debentures will depend on, among other
things, market conditions at the time the obligation arises, as
well as the acceptability to prospective investors of the terms
of the Qualifying Capital Securities. Although MetLife, Inc. has
agreed to use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to raise
sufficient net proceeds during the applicable QCS Proceeds
Collection Period from the issuance of Qualifying Capital
Securities to repay the Junior Subordinated Debentures on the
Scheduled Redemption Date (or, if MetLife, Inc. has not
raised sufficient net proceeds during such QCS Proceeds
Collection Period, on the next Interest Payment Date, and on
each Interest Payment Date thereafter, until the Junior
Subordinated Debentures are paid in full), its failure to do so
would not be an Event of Default giving rise to a right of
acceleration or similar remedy until August 1, 2069, and
MetLife, Inc. will be excused from raising such proceeds if
certain Market Disruption Events occur.
Moreover, MetLife, Inc. is entering into a Replacement Capital
Covenant for the benefit of holders of a designated series of
its indebtedness that ranks senior to the Junior Subordinated
Debentures (which will initially be MetLife, Inc.s
5.70% Senior Notes due 2035), pursuant to which it will
covenant that MetLife, Inc. will not repay, redeem or purchase,
and will cause its subsidiaries not to repay, redeem or
purchase, as applicable, the Junior Subordinated Debentures on
or before August 1, 2059, unless during the applicable
Measurement Period MetLife, Inc. or its subsidiaries have
received sufficient proceeds from the sale of certain
Replacement Capital Securities described herein. Although under
the Replacement Capital Covenant, the principal amount of Junior
Subordinated Debentures that MetLife, Inc. may repay may be
based on the net proceeds from certain issuances of Replacement
Capital Securities other than the Qualifying Capital Securities,
under the Junior Subordinated Indenture, MetLife, Inc. has no
obligation to issue any securities that may satisfy its
obligation under the Replacement Capital Obligation other than
Qualifying Capital Securities, nor does it have any obligation
to use the proceeds of the issuance of any securities other than
Qualifying Capital Securities, to repay the Junior Subordinated
Debentures on the Scheduled Redemption Date or at any time
thereafter pursuant to the Replacement Capital Obligation.
The Replacement Capital Covenant is not intended for the benefit
of holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures and may not be
enforced by them, except that MetLife, Inc. will agree in the
Junior Subordinated Indenture that it will not amend the
Replacement Capital Covenant to impose additional restrictions
on the type or amount of Qualifying Capital Securities that
MetLife, Inc. may include for purposes of determining when
repayment, redemption or purchase of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures is permitted, except with the consent of the holders
of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures.
S-22
General
market conditions and unpredictable factors could adversely
affect market prices for the Junior Subordinated
Debentures.
There can be no assurance about the market prices for the Junior
Subordinated Debentures. Several factors, many of which are
beyond MetLife, Inc.s control, will influence the market
value of the Junior Subordinated Debentures. Factors that might
influence the market value of the Junior Subordinated Debentures
include, but are not limited to:
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whether interest payments have been made and are likely to be
made on the Junior Subordinated Debentures from time to time;
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MetLife, Inc.s creditworthiness, financial condition,
performance and prospects;
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regulatory investment classifications of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures for purposes of certain types of investors and
whether those classifications have changed;
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the market for similar securities; and
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economic, financial, geopolitical, regulatory or judicial events
that affect MetLife, Inc. or the financial markets generally.
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If the
holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures waive MetLife,
Inc.s covenants to mandatorily defer interest under
certain circumstances or to pay certain deferred interest only
with proceeds from the sale of its Qualifying APM Securities,
MetLife, Inc.s credit ratings may be negatively
affected.
The Junior Subordinated Indenture contains covenants that
require MetLife, Inc. to defer interest payments on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures if a Trigger Event has occurred. The
Junior Subordinated Indenture also contains covenants that
require MetLife, Inc. to pay interest deferred as a result of a
Trigger Event only through the Alternative Payment Mechanism
with proceeds from the sale of its Qualifying APM Securities.
These covenants may be amended, and compliance with these
covenants may be waived, with the consent of the holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures, and no holder of MetLife, Inc.s
Senior Indebtedness will have the right to enforce these
covenants. Although, in the short term, holders of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures may have an economic incentive to waive
these covenants in order to receive current or Deferred
Interest, if such covenants are waived and MetLife, Inc. pays
interest during a period where it would otherwise be required to
defer interest following a Trigger Event or to pay any such
Deferred Interest, with funds received from any other source,
its credit ratings could be negatively affected, which in turn
may harm the market price for the Junior Subordinated Debentures
and have an adverse effect on MetLife, Inc.s business and
financial condition.
There
can be no assurance that the IRS or a court will agree with the
characterization of the Junior Subordinated Debentures as
indebtedness for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
There is no statutory, judicial or administrative authority that
directly addresses the U.S. federal income tax treatment of
securities similar to the Junior Subordinated Debentures. Thus,
no assurance can be given that the IRS or a court will agree
with the characterization of the Junior Subordinated Debentures
as indebtedness for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If,
contrary to the opinion of our special tax counsel, the Junior
Subordinated Debentures were treated as equity for
U.S. federal income tax purposes, payments of interest on
the Junior Subordinated Debentures to
Non-United
States Holders would generally be subject to U.S. federal
withholding tax imposed at a rate of 30% or such lower rate as
might be provided for by an applicable income tax treaty. See
Material United States Federal Income Tax
Considerations.
If
interest payments on the Junior Subordinated Debentures are
deferred, holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be
required to recognize income for U.S. federal income tax
purposes in advance of the receipt of cash attributable to such
income.
If interest payments on the Junior Subordinated Debentures are
deferred, the Junior Subordinated Debentures would be treated
for U.S. federal income tax purposes as issued with
original issue discount (OID) at the time of
S-23
such deferral, and all stated interest due after such deferral
would be treated as OID. In such case, a United States Holder
would be required to include such stated interest in income for
such purposes as it accrues, regardless of such United States
Holders regular method of accounting, using a constant
yield method of accrual described in section 1272 of the
U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, before such
United States Holder receives any payment attributable to such
income, and would not separately report the actual cash payments
of interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures as taxable
income. See Material United States Federal Income Tax
Considerations United States Holders
Interest Income and Original Issue Discount.
The
Ratings on the Junior Subordinated Debentures Could Be
Lowered.
MetLife, Inc. expects that Moodys will assign a rating to
the Junior Subordinated Debentures of Baa1, that
Standard & Poors will assign a rating to the
Junior Subordinated Debentures of BBB and that Fitch will assign
a rating to the Junior Subordinated Debentures of A-. In
addition, other rating agencies may assign credit ratings to the
Junior Subordinated Debentures with or without any solicitation
from MetLife, Inc. and without any provision of information from
MetLife, Inc. Generally, rating agencies base their ratings on
such material and information, and such of their own
investigative studies and assumptions, as they deem appropriate.
There is no assurance that any rating will apply for any given
period of time or that a rating may not be adjusted or
withdrawn. A downgrade or potential downgrade in these ratings,
the assignment of a new rating that is lower than existing
ratings, or a downgrade or potential downgrade in the ratings
assigned to MetLife, Inc., its subsidiaries or any of its
securities could adversely affect the price and liquidity of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures.
Moreover, the rating methodologies for securities with features
similar to the Junior Subordinated Debentures are still
developing and the rating agencies may change their
methodologies in the future. This may include, for example, the
relationship between ratings assigned to an issuers senior
securities and ratings assigned to securities with features
similar to the Junior Subordinated Debentures, sometimes called
notching. If the rating agencies were to change
their practices for rating such securities in the future and the
ratings of the Junior Subordinated Debentures were to be
subsequently lowered, this may have a negative impact on the
trading price of the Junior Subordinated Debentures. For
example, Moodys recently proposed changes to the ratings
methodology of bank subordinated capital securities with
features similar to the Junior Subordinated Debentures. It is
unclear whether such proposed changes would apply to securities
of MetLife, Inc. as a bank holding company or whether they may
be extended to securities of insurance companies. If such
ratings methodology change were to apply to the Junior
Subordinated Debentures, the ratings of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures could be negatively impacted.
S-24
SELECTED
HISTORICAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The following selected financial data has been derived from
MetLife, Inc.s audited consolidated financial statements
which have been updated due to the implementation of Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS)
No. 160, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated
Financial Statements An Amendment of ARB No. 51
(SFAS 160) as described in
Item 8.01 of the Current Report on
Form 8-K,
as filed with the SEC on June 12, 2009 (the
SFAS 160
Form 8-K),
as well as from the Consolidated Financial Statements and
Financial Statement Schedules included within Item 8 of
Part II of the 2008 MetLife
Form 10-K,
as updated by Exhibit 99.3 to the SFAS 160
Form 8-K,
incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement. The
statement of income data for the years ended December 31,
2008, 2007 and 2006 and the balance sheet data at
December 31, 2008 and 2007 have been derived from MetLife,
Inc.s audited financial statements included as
Exhibit 99.3 to the SFAS 160
Form 8-K.
The statement of income data for the years ended
December 31, 2005 and 2004 and the balance sheet data at
December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 have been derived from
MetLife, Inc.s audited financial statements not included
herein. The selected financial data set forth below should be
read in conjunction with and is qualified by reference to those
financial statements and the related notes. The selected
financial data set forth below should also be read in
conjunction with Managements Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations as
included in the 2008 MetLife
Form 10-K,
portions of which have been updated by Exhibit 99.2 to the
SFAS 160
Form 8-K.
The selected consolidated financial data at and for the three
months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 have been derived from
the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial
statements included in the First Quarter MetLife
Form 10-Q
incorporated by reference into this document. This selected
financial data should be read in conjunction with and is
qualified by reference to those financial statements and the
related notes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31,
|
|
|
Years Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
|
(In millions)
|
|
|
Statement of Income Data (1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues (2),(3):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Premiums
|
|
$
|
6,122
|
|
|
$
|
6,291
|
|
|
$
|
25,914
|
|
|
$
|
22,970
|
|
|
$
|
22,052
|
|
|
$
|
20,979
|
|
|
$
|
18,842
|
|
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees
|
|
|
1,183
|
|
|
|
1,397
|
|
|
|
5,381
|
|
|
|
5,238
|
|
|
|
4,711
|
|
|
|
3,775
|
|
|
|
2,819
|
|
Net investment income
|
|
|
3,263
|
|
|
|
4,297
|
|
|
|
16,297
|
|
|
|
18,063
|
|
|
|
16,247
|
|
|
|
14,064
|
|
|
|
11,627
|
|
Other revenues
|
|
|
554
|
|
|
|
369
|
|
|
|
1,586
|
|
|
|
1,465
|
|
|
|
1,301
|
|
|
|
1,221
|
|
|
|
1,152
|
|
Net investment gains (losses)
|
|
|
(906
|
)
|
|
|
(730
|
)
|
|
|
1,812
|
|
|
|
(578
|
)
|
|
|
(1,382
|
)
|
|
|
(112
|
)
|
|
|
114
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues
|
|
|
10,216
|
|
|
|
11,624
|
|
|
|
50,990
|
|
|
|
47,158
|
|
|
|
42,929
|
|
|
|
39,927
|
|
|
|
34,554
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenses (2),(3):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Policyholder benefits and claims
|
|
|
6,582
|
|
|
|
6,583
|
|
|
|
27,437
|
|
|
|
23,783
|
|
|
|
22,869
|
|
|
|
22,236
|
|
|
|
19,907
|
|
Interest credited to policyholder account balances
|
|
|
1,168
|
|
|
|
1,233
|
|
|
|
4,788
|
|
|
|
5,461
|
|
|
|
4,899
|
|
|
|
3,650
|
|
|
|
2,766
|
|
Policyholder dividends
|
|
|
424
|
|
|
|
429
|
|
|
|
1,751
|
|
|
|
1,723
|
|
|
|
1,698
|
|
|
|
1,678
|
|
|
|
1,664
|
|
Other expenses (8)
|
|
|
3,002
|
|
|
|
2,547
|
|
|
|
11,947
|
|
|
|
10,405
|
|
|
|
9,514
|
|
|
|
8,269
|
|
|
|
6,843
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total expenses
|
|
|
11,176
|
|
|
|
10,792
|
|
|
|
45,923
|
|
|
|
41,372
|
|
|
|
38,980
|
|
|
|
35,833
|
|
|
|
31,180
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from continuing operations before provision for income
tax (8)
|
|
|
(960
|
)
|
|
|
832
|
|
|
|
5,067
|
|
|
|
5,786
|
|
|
|
3,949
|
|
|
|
4,094
|
|
|
|
3,374
|
|
Provision for income tax (2),(8)
|
|
|
(376
|
)
|
|
|
207
|
|
|
|
1,582
|
|
|
|
1,677
|
|
|
|
1,029
|
|
|
|
1,158
|
|
|
|
930
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of income tax (8)
|
|
|
(584
|
)
|
|
|
625
|
|
|
|
3,485
|
|
|
|
4,109
|
|
|
|
2,920
|
|
|
|
2,936
|
|
|
|
2,444
|
|
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income
tax (2),(8)
|
|
|
36
|
|
|
|
35
|
|
|
|
(207
|
)
|
|
|
356
|
|
|
|
3,520
|
|
|
|
1,875
|
|
|
|
498
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before cumulative effect of a change in accounting, net
of income tax (8)
|
|
|
(548
|
)
|
|
|
660
|
|
|
|
3,278
|
|
|
|
4,465
|
|
|
|
6,440
|
|
|
|
4,811
|
|
|
|
2,942
|
|
Cumulative effect of a change in accounting, net of income
tax (3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(86
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (8)
|
|
|
(548
|
)
|
|
|
660
|
|
|
|
3,278
|
|
|
|
4,465
|
|
|
|
6,440
|
|
|
|
4,811
|
|
|
|
2,856
|
|
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling
interests (8)
|
|
|
(4
|
)
|
|
|
12
|
|
|
|
69
|
|
|
|
148
|
|
|
|
147
|
|
|
|
97
|
|
|
|
98
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income attributable to MetLife, Inc. (8)
|
|
|
(544
|
)
|
|
|
648
|
|
|
|
3,209
|
|
|
|
4,317
|
|
|
|
6,293
|
|
|
|
4,714
|
|
|
|
2,758
|
|
Less: Preferred stock dividends
|
|
|
30
|
|
|
|
33
|
|
|
|
125
|
|
|
|
137
|
|
|
|
134
|
|
|
|
63
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income available to MetLife, Inc.s common shareholders
|
|
$
|
(574
|
)
|
|
$
|
615
|
|
|
$
|
3,084
|
|
|
$
|
4,180
|
|
|
$
|
6,159
|
|
|
$
|
4,651
|
|
|
$
|
2,758
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S-25
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
|
(In millions)
|
|
|
Balance Sheet Data (1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General account assets
|
|
$
|
377,042
|
|
|
$
|
380,839
|
|
|
$
|
399,007
|
|
|
$
|
383,758
|
|
|
$
|
354,857
|
|
|
$
|
271,137
|
|
Separate account assets
|
|
|
114,366
|
|
|
|
120,839
|
|
|
|
160,142
|
|
|
|
144,349
|
|
|
|
127,855
|
|
|
|
86,755
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets (2)
|
|
$
|
491,408
|
|
|
$
|
501,678
|
|
|
$
|
559,149
|
|
|
$
|
528,107
|
|
|
$
|
482,712
|
|
|
$
|
357,892
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Life and health policyholder liabilities (4)
|
|
$
|
286,103
|
|
|
$
|
286,019
|
|
|
$
|
262,652
|
|
|
$
|
253,284
|
|
|
$
|
244,683
|
|
|
$
|
182,443
|
|
Property and casualty policyholder liabilities (4)
|
|
|
3,056
|
|
|
|
3,126
|
|
|
|
3,324
|
|
|
|
3,453
|
|
|
|
3,490
|
|
|
|
3,180
|
|
Short-term debt
|
|
|
5,878
|
|
|
|
2,659
|
|
|
|
667
|
|
|
|
1,449
|
|
|
|
1,414
|
|
|
|
1,445
|
|
Long-term debt
|
|
|
11,042
|
|
|
|
9,667
|
|
|
|
9,100
|
|
|
|
8,822
|
|
|
|
9,088
|
|
|
|
7,006
|
|
Collateral financing arrangements
|
|
|
5,242
|
|
|
|
5,192
|
|
|
|
4,882
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Junior subordinated debt securities
|
|
|
2,691
|
|
|
|
3,758
|
|
|
|
4,075
|
|
|
|
3,381
|
|
|
|
2,134
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payables for collateral under securities loaned and other
transactions
|
|
|
24,341
|
|
|
|
31,059
|
|
|
|
44,136
|
|
|
|
45,846
|
|
|
|
34,515
|
|
|
|
28,678
|
|
Other (8)
|
|
|
15,260
|
|
|
|
15,374
|
|
|
|
33,186
|
|
|
|
32,277
|
|
|
|
29,141
|
|
|
|
24,416
|
|
Separate account liabilities
|
|
|
114,366
|
|
|
|
120,839
|
|
|
|
160,142
|
|
|
|
144,349
|
|
|
|
127,855
|
|
|
|
86,755
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities (2),(8)
|
|
|
467,979
|
|
|
|
477,693
|
|
|
|
522,164
|
|
|
|
492,861
|
|
|
|
452,320
|
|
|
|
333,923
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders Equity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MetLife, Inc.s stockholders equity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock, at par value
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock, at par value
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
|
8
|
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
|
|
16,860
|
|
|
|
15,811
|
|
|
|
17,098
|
|
|
|
17,454
|
|
|
|
17,274
|
|
|
|
15,037
|
|
Retained earnings (5)
|
|
|
21,829
|
|
|
|
22,403
|
|
|
|
19,884
|
|
|
|
16,574
|
|
|
|
10,865
|
|
|
|
6,608
|
|
Treasury stock, at cost
|
|
|
(230
|
)
|
|
|
(236
|
)
|
|
|
(2,890
|
)
|
|
|
(1,357
|
)
|
|
|
(959
|
)
|
|
|
(1,785
|
)
|
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (6)
|
|
|
(15,358
|
)
|
|
|
(14,253
|
)
|
|
|
1,078
|
|
|
|
1,118
|
|
|
|
1,912
|
|
|
|
2,956
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total MetLife, Inc.s stockholders equity
|
|
|
23,110
|
|
|
|
23,734
|
|
|
|
35,179
|
|
|
|
33,798
|
|
|
|
29,101
|
|
|
|
22,824
|
|
Noncontrolling interests (8)
|
|
|
319
|
|
|
|
251
|
|
|
|
1,806
|
|
|
|
1,448
|
|
|
|
1,291
|
|
|
|
1,145
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total equity (8)
|
|
|
23,429
|
|
|
|
23,985
|
|
|
|
36,985
|
|
|
|
35,246
|
|
|
|
30,392
|
|
|
|
23,969
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities and stockholders equity
|
|
$
|
491,408
|
|
|
$
|
501,678
|
|
|
$
|
559,149
|
|
|
$
|
528,107
|
|
|
$
|
482,712
|
|
|
$
|
357,892
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S-26
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31,
|
|
|
Years Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
|
(In millions, except per share data)
|
|
|
Other Data (1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income available to MetLife, Inc.s common shareholders
|
|
$
|
(574
|
)
|
|
$
|
615
|
|
|
$
|
3,084
|
|
|
$
|
4,180
|
|
|
$
|
6,159
|
|
|
$
|
4,651
|
|
|
$
|
2,758
|
|
Return on MetLife, Inc.s common equity (7)
|
|
|
7.3
|
%
|
|
|
12.1
|
%
|
|
|
11.2
|
%
|
|
|
12.9
|
%
|
|
|
20.9
|
%
|
|
|
18.6
|
%
|
|
|
12.5
|
%
|
Return on MetLife, Inc.s common equity, excluding
accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
|
|
|
5.5
|
%
|
|
|
12.2
|
%
|
|
|
9.1
|
%
|
|
|
13.3
|
%
|
|
|
22.1
|
%
|
|
|
20.7
|
%
|
|
|
14.4
|
%
|
EPS Data (1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from Continuing Operations Available to MetLife,
Inc.s Common Shareholders Per Common Share
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$
|
(0.75
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.82
|
|
|
$
|
4.60
|
|
|
$
|
5.33
|
|
|
$
|
3.65
|
|
|
$
|
3.85
|
|
|
$
|
3.26
|
|
Diluted
|
|
$
|
(0.75
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.81
|
|
|
$
|
4.54
|
|
|
$
|
5.20
|
|
|
$
|
3.60
|
|
|
$
|
3.82
|
|
|
$
|
3.24
|
|
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations Per Common Share
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$
|
0.04
|
|
|
$
|
0.03
|
|
|
$
|
(0.41
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.29
|
|
|
$
|
4.44
|
|
|
$
|
2.36
|
|
|
$
|
0.52
|
|
Diluted
|
|
$
|
0.04
|
|
|
$
|
0.03
|
|
|
$
|
(0.40
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.28
|
|
|
$
|
4.39
|
|
|
$
|
2.34
|
|
|
$
|
0.52
|
|
Cumulative Effect of a Change in Accounting Per Common Share (3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
(0.11
|
)
|
Diluted
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
(0.11
|
)
|
Net Income Available to MetLife, Inc.s Common Shareholders
Per Common Share
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$
|
(0.71
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.85
|
|
|
$
|
4.19
|
|
|
$
|
5.62
|
|
|
$
|
8.09
|
|
|
$
|
6.21
|
|
|
$
|
3.67
|
|
Diluted
|
|
$
|
(0.71
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.84
|
|
|
$
|
4.14
|
|
|
$
|
5.48
|
|
|
$
|
7.99
|
|
|
$
|
6.16
|
|
|
$
|
3.65
|
|
Dividends Declared Per Common Share
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
0.74
|
|
|
$
|
0.74
|
|
|
$
|
0.59
|
|
|
$
|
0.52
|
|
|
$
|
0.46
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
On July 1, 2005, MetLife, Inc. completed the acquisition of
The Travelers Insurance Company, excluding certain assets, most
significantly, Primerica, from Citigroup Inc.
(Citigroup), and substantially all of
Citigroups international insurance businesses. The 2005
selected financial data includes total revenues and total
expenses of $966 million and $577 million,
respectively, from the date of the acquisition. |
|
(2) |
|
Discontinued Operations: |
S-27
Real
Estate
Income related to real estate sold or classified as
held-for-sale
is presented as discontinued operations. The following
information presents the components of income from discontinued
real estate operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months
|
|
|
|
|
Ended March 31,
|
|
Years Ended December 31,
|
|
|
2008
|
|
2008
|
|
2007
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
2004
|
|
|
(In millions)
|
|
Investment income
|
|
$
|
1
|
|
|
$
|
6
|
|
|
$
|
21
|
|
|
$
|
243
|
|
|
$
|
405
|
|
|
$
|
658
|
|
Investment expense
|
|
|
(2
|
)
|
|
|
(3
|
)
|
|
|
(9
|
)
|
|
|
(151
|
)
|
|
|
(246
|
)
|
|
|
(392
|
)
|
Net investment gains (losses)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
|
13
|
|
|
|
4,795
|
|
|
|
2,125
|
|
|
|
146
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues
|
|
|
(1
|
)
|
|
|
11
|
|
|
|
25
|
|
|
|
4,887
|
|
|
|
2,284
|
|
|
|
412
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13
|
|
Provision for income tax
|
|
|
(1
|
)
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
11
|
|
|
|
1,725
|
|
|
|
812
|
|
|
|
140
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from discontinued operations, net of income tax
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
7
|
|
|
$
|
14
|
|
|
$
|
3,162
|
|
|
$
|
1,472
|
|
|
$
|
259
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operations
In the fourth quarter of 2008, MetLife, Inc. entered into an
agreement to sell its wholly-owned subsidiary, Cova Corporation
(Cova), the parent of Texas Life Insurance
Company, to a third party to be completed in early 2009. In
September 2008, MetLife, Inc. completed a tax-free split-off of
its majority-owned subsidiary, Reinsurance Group of America,
Incorporated (RGA). In September 2007,
September 2005 and January 2005, MetLife, Inc. sold its MetLife
Insurance Limited (MetLife Australia)
annuities and pension businesses, P.T. Sejahtera
(MetLife Indonesia) and SSRM Holdings, Inc.
(SSRM), respectively. The assets, liabilities
and operations of Cova, RGA, MetLife Australia, MetLife
Indonesia and SSRM have been reclassified into discontinued
operations for all years presented. The following tables present
these discontinued operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31,
|
|
|
Years Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2009
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
|
(In millions)
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$
|
25
|
|
|
$
|
1,402
|
|
|
$
|
4,086
|
|
|
$
|
5,932
|
|
|
$
|
5,467
|
|
|
$
|
4,776
|
|
|
$
|
4,492
|
|
Expenses
|
|
|
19
|
|
|
|
1,371
|
|
|
|
3,915
|
|
|
|
5,640
|
|
|
|
5,179
|
|
|
|
4,609
|
|
|
|
4,286
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before provision for income tax
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
31
|
|
|
|
171
|
|
|
|
292
|
|
|
|
288
|
|
|
|
167
|
|
|
|
206
|
|
Provision for income tax
|
|
|
2
|
|
|
|
11
|
|
|
|
57
|
|
|
|
101
|
|
|
|
99
|
|
|
|
60
|
|
|
|
74
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from discontinued operations, net of income tax
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
20
|
|
|
|
114
|
|
|
|
191
|
|
|
|
189
|
|
|
|
107
|
|
|
|
132
|
|
Income from discontinued operations, net of income tax
attributable to noncontrolling interests
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15
|
|
|
|
94
|
|
|
|
141
|
|
|
|
137
|
|
|
|
109
|
|
|
|
107
|
|
Gain (loss) on sale of subsidiaries, net of income tax
|
|
|
32
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(422
|
)
|
|
|
10
|
|
|
|
32
|
|
|
|
187
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income tax
available to MetLife, Inc.s common shareholders
|
|
$
|
36
|
|
|
$
|
35
|
|
|
$
|
(214
|
)
|
|
$
|
342
|
|
|
$
|
358
|
|
|
$
|
403
|
|
|
$
|
239
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S-28
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
|
(In millions)
|
|
|
General account assets
|
|
$
|
946
|
|
|
$
|
22,866
|
|
|
$
|
21,918
|
|
|
$
|
20,150
|
|
|
$
|
16,852
|
|
Separate account assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17
|
|
|
|
16
|
|
|
|
14
|
|
|
|
14
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
$
|
946
|
|
|
$
|
22,883
|
|
|
$
|
21,934
|
|
|
$
|
20,164
|
|
|
$
|
16,866
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Life and health policyholder liabilities (4)
|
|
|
721
|
|
|
|
15,780
|
|
|
|
15,557
|
|
|
|
15,109
|
|
|
|
12,210
|
|
Debt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
528
|
|
|
|
307
|
|
|
|
401
|
|
|
|
425
|
|
Collateral financing arrangements
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
850
|
|
|
|
850
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Junior subordinated debt securities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
399
|
|
|
|
399
|
|
|
|
399
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares subject to mandatory redemption
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
159
|
|
|
|
159
|
|
|
|
159
|
|
|
|
158
|
|
Other
|
|
|
27
|
|
|
|
1,411
|
|
|
|
1,329
|
|
|
|
995
|
|
|
|
1,083
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
$
|
748
|
|
|
$
|
19,127
|
|
|
$
|
18,601
|
|
|
$
|
17,063
|
|
|
$
|
13,876
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(3) |
|
The cumulative effect of a change in accounting, net of income
tax, of $86 million for the year ended December 31,
2004, resulted from the adoption of Statement of Position
(SOP)
03-1,
Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises for Certain
Nontraditional Long-Duration Contracts and for Separate
Account. |
|
(4) |
|
Policyholder liabilities include future policy benefits, other
policyholder funds and bank deposits. The life and health
policyholder liabilities also include policyholder account
balances, policyholder dividends payable and the policyholder
dividend obligation. |
|
(5) |
|
The cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles, net
of income tax, of $329 million, which decreased retained
earnings at January 1, 2007, resulted from
$292 million related to the adoption of
SOP 05-1,
Accounting by Insurance Enterprises for Deferred Acquisition
Costs in Connection with Modifications or Exchanges of Insurance
Contracts, and $37 million related to the adoption of
Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 48,
Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes An
Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109. The
cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles, net of
income tax, of $27 million, which increased retained
earnings at January 1, 2008, resulted from the adoption of
SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets
and Financial Liabilities (SFAS 159). |
|
(6) |
|
The cumulative effect of a change in accounting, net of income
tax, of $744 million resulted from the adoption of
SFAS No. 158, Employers Accounting for
Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans,
which decreased accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at
December 31, 2006. The cumulative effect of a change in
accounting principle, net of income tax, of $10 million
resulted from the adoption of SFAS 159, which decreased
accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) at January 1,
2008. |
|
(7) |
|
Return on common equity is defined as net income available to
common shareholders divided by average common stockholders
equity. |
|
(8) |
|
As a result of the implementation of SFAS 160, which
required retrospective application of presentation requirements,
total equity at December 31, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005 and
2004 increased by $251 million, $1,806 million,
$1,448 million, $1,291 million and
$1,145 million, respectively, representing noncontrolling
interests, and other liabilities and total liabilities at
December 31, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005 and 2004 decreased by
$251 million, $1,806 million, $1,448 million,
$1,291 million and $1,145 million, respectively, as a
result of the elimination of noncontrolling interests. Also as a
result of the adoption of SFAS 160, income from continuing
operations for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007,
2006, 2005 and 2004 increased by $69 million,
$148 million, $147 million, $97 million and
$98 million, respectively, and net income attributable to
noncontrolling interests for the years ended December 31,
2008, 2007, 2006, 2005 and 2004 increased by $69 million,
$148 million, $147 million, $97 million and
$98 million, respectively. Also as a result of the
implementation of SFAS 160, income from continuing
operations for the three months ended March 31, 2008
increased by $12 million and net income attributable to
noncontrolling interests for three months ended March 31,
2008 increased by $12 million. |
S-29
RATIO OF
EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table sets forth MetLifes historical ratio
of earnings to fixed charges for the:
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31,
|
|
|
Years Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2009 (2)
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1.54
|
|
|
|
1.92
|
|
|
|
1.74
|
|
|
|
1.60
|
|
|
|
1.87
|
|
|
|
2.00
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
For purposes of this computation, earnings are defined as income
before provision for income tax and discontinued operations and
excluding undistributed income and losses from equity method
investments, minority interest and fixed charges, excluding
capitalized interest. Fixed charges are the sum of interest and
debt issue costs, interest credited to policyholder account
balances, and an estimated interest component of rent expense. |
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(2) |
|
Earnings before income taxes and fixed charges for the three
months ended March 31, 2009 were inadequate to cover fixed
charges by $112 million. |
S-30
USE OF
PROCEEDS
We estimate that the net proceeds from the sale of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures will be approximately $494,470,000,
after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and
the estimated offering expenses payable by us. We expect to use
the net proceeds from the sale of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures for general corporate purposes.
S-31
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth our consolidated capitalization
at March 31, 2009, on an actual basis and as adjusted to
give effect to this offering of Junior Subordinated Debentures:
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|
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2009
|
|
|
|
Actual
|
|
|
As Adjusted
|
|
|
|
(In millions)
|
|
|
Short-term debt
|
|
$
|
5,878
|
|
|
$
|
5,878
|
|
Long-term debt
|
|
|
11,042
|
|
|
|
11,042
|
|
Collateral financing arrangements
|
|
|
5,242
|
|
|
|
5,242
|
|
Junior subordinated debt securities (1)
|
|
|
2,691
|
|
|
|
3,191
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total debt (2)
|
|
|
24,853
|
|
|
|
25,353
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
MetLife, Inc.s stockholders equity:
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock, at par value
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
Common stock, at par value
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
|
8
|
|
Additional paid-in capital stock
|
|
|
16,860
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|
|
|
16,860
|
|
Retained earnings
|
|
|
21,829
|
|
|
|
21,829
|
|
Treasury stock, at cost
|
|
|
(230
|
)
|
|
|
(230
|
)
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Accumulated other comprehensive loss
|
|
|
(15,358
|
)
|
|
|
(15,358
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
Total MetLife, Inc.s stockholders equity
|
|
|
23,110
|
|
|
|
23,110
|
|
Noncontrolling interests
|
|
|
319
|
|
|
|
319
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total capitalization (2)
|
|
$
|
48,282
|
|
|
$
|
48,782
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
(1) |
|
Adjusted for $499.905 million of gross proceeds from the
offering of $500 million aggregate principal amount of
10.750% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Debentures
due 2069. The related amount of $5 million to be paid as
underwriting discount and $0.435 million of other expenses
including legal, accounting and printing fees will be
capitalized and amortized to August 2039. |
|
(2) |
|
The capitalization table above does not reflect the offering of
6.75% Senior Notes due 2016, which occurred during May
2009. The net effect of this transaction was an increase in each
of long-term debt and total capitalization of
$1,247 million, which is not reflected in the
capitalization table above. |
S-32
DESCRIPTION
OF THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
The following summary describes the material terms and
provisions of the Junior Subordinated Debentures. This
description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
terms and provisions of the Junior Subordinated Indenture. The
Junior Subordinated Indenture has been qualified as an indenture
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the
Trust Indenture Act). The terms of the Junior
Subordinated Indenture are those provided in the Junior
Subordinated Indenture and those made part of the Junior
Subordinated Indenture by the Trust Indenture Act.
The following description of certain terms of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures and certain provisions of the Junior
Subordinated Indenture in this prospectus supplement supplements
the description under Description of Debt Securities
in the accompanying prospectus and, to the extent it is
inconsistent with that description, replaces the description in
the accompanying prospectus. This description is only a summary
of the material terms and does not purport to be complete. We
urge you to read the Junior Subordinated Indenture in its
entirety because it, and not this description, will define your
rights as a beneficial holder of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures. We will file the Eighth Supplemental Indenture (as
defined below) and the form of Junior Subordinated Debentures as
exhibits to a Current Report on
Form 8-K,
which will be incorporated by reference in this prospectus
supplement and the accompanying prospectus. You may also request
copies of these documents from us at our address set forth under
Where You Can Find More Information in this
prospectus supplement. In this section, any references to
we, us or our shall refer to
MetLife, Inc. and not any of its subsidiaries.
General
The Junior Subordinated Debentures will be a series of
subordinated debt securities described in the accompanying
prospectus. MetLife, Inc. will initially issue $500,000,000
aggregate principal amount of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures. MetLife, Inc. may from time to time, without the
consent of the holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures,
create further securities having the same terms and conditions
as the previously issued Junior Subordinated Debentures in all
respects (or in all respects except for the issue date, the date
of the first payment of interest thereon, the initial interest
accrual date
and/or the
issue price), so that such further issue shall be consolidated
and form a single series with the outstanding Junior
Subordinated Debentures, provided that such further securities
are fungible with the outstanding Junior Subordinated Debentures
for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
MetLife, Inc. will issue the Junior Subordinated Debentures
under the Subordinated Indenture dated as of June 21, 2005
(the Junior Subordinated Base Indenture)
between MetLife, Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon
Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (as successor to
J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association) (the
Junior Subordinated Trustee), as supplemented
by the Eighth Supplemental Indenture to be entered into between
MetLife, Inc. and the Junior Subordinated Trustee at or before
the issuance of the Junior Subordinated Debentures (as so
supplemented, the Junior Subordinated
Indenture).
The Junior Subordinated Debentures will be issued in
denominations of $2,000 principal amount and integral multiples
of $1,000.
The Junior Subordinated Debentures will not be subject to a
sinking fund provision. The entire principal amount of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures will mature and become due and
payable, together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon,
including Compounded Interest (as defined under
Optional Deferral), if any, on
August 1, 2069 (the Final Maturity Date
and together with any earlier date on which the Junior
Subordinated Debentures become due and payable, whether pursuant
to a notice of redemption, acceleration or otherwise, the
Maturity Date). However, MetLife, Inc. has
agreed to repay the principal amount of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures, together with accrued and unpaid interest, including
Compounded Interest, if any, on August 1, 2039, or if that
day is not a Business Day, on the next Business Day (the
Scheduled Redemption Date), in the
circumstances described below under Repayment
of Principal; Replacement Capital Obligation. The Junior
Subordinated Trustee will act as paying agent for the Junior
Subordinated Debentures.
S-33
Interest
Subject to the provisions relating to Optional Deferral and
Trigger Events, as described below, interest on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures will accrue:
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from and including the date of initial issuance to but excluding
August 1, 2039, or earlier redemption (the Fixed
Rate Period) at an annual rate equal to 10.750%,
payable semi-annually in arrears on February 1 and
August 1 of each year, beginning on February 1,
2010; and
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|
solely in the event that the Junior Subordinated Debentures are
not repaid or otherwise redeemed on or prior to August 1,
2039, from and including August 1, 2039, to but excluding
August 1, 2069, or earlier Maturity Date (the
Floating Rate Period), at an annual rate
equal to Three-Month LIBOR plus a margin equal to 7.548%,
payable quarterly in arrears on February 1, May 1,
August 1 and November 1 of each year.
|
The dates on which interest on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures is payable are referred to in this prospectus
supplement as Interest Payment Dates;
provided, that the final Interest Payment Date in respect
of the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be the Maturity Date.
The period beginning on and including the issue date of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures and ending on but excluding the
first Interest Payment Date and each successive period beginning
on and including an Interest Payment Date and ending on but
excluding the immediately succeeding Interest Payment Date is
referred to as an Interest Period.
Interest payments will include accrued interest from and
including the later of the issue date and the last date in
respect of which interest has been paid or duly provided for to,
but excluding, the immediately succeeding Interest Payment Date
or the Maturity Date, as the case may be. The amount of interest
payable for any full Interest Period during the Fixed Rate
Period will be computed on the basis of a
360-day year
comprised of twelve
30-day
months and during the Floating Rate Period on the basis of a
360-day year
and the actual number of days elapsed. The amount of interest
payable for any period shorter than a full Interest Period for
which interest is computed will be computed on the basis of
30-day
months and, for periods of less than a
30-day
month, the actual number of days elapsed per
30-day
month. In the event that any date on which interest is payable
on the Junior Subordinated Debentures is not a Business Day,
payment of the interest payable on such date will be made
(i) with respect to Interest Payment Dates during the Fixed
Rate Period, on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day
without any interest or other payment in respect of any such
delay, and (ii) with respect to Interest Payment Dates
during the Floating Rate Period, on the next succeeding day that
is a Business Day, unless such date falls in the next calendar
month, in which case the preceding Business Day, except that if
any of the Interest Payment Dates during the Floating Rate
Period falls on a date fixed for redemption or repayment, and
such day is not a Business Day, the interest payment due on that
date will be postponed to the next day that is a Business Day
without any interest or other payment in respect of any such
delay in connection with such redemption or repayment. Subject
to applicable law, interest not paid on any payment date will
accrue and compound on each Interest Payment Date, at a rate per
year equal to the then applicable rate of interest on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures until paid.
For the purposes of calculating interest due on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures after August 1, 2039 and on or
prior to the Maturity Date:
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|
|
|
|
Three-Month LIBOR means, with respect to any
Interest Period during the Floating Rate Period, the rate
(expressed as a percentage per annum) for deposits in
U.S. dollars for a three-month period commencing on the
first day of that Interest Period and ending on the next
Interest Payment Date (the Relevant Period)
that appears on Reuters Page LIBOR01 as of 11:00 a.m.
(London time) on the LIBOR Determination Date for that Interest
Period. If such rate does not appear on Reuters
Page LIBOR01, LIBOR will be determined on the basis of the
rates at which deposits in U.S. dollars for the Relevant
Period and in a principal amount of not less than $1,000,000 are
offered to prime banks in the London interbank market by four
major banks in the London interbank market selected by the
Calculation Agent (after consultation with MetLife, Inc.), at
approximately 11:00 a.m., London time, on the LIBOR
Determination Date for that Interest Period. The Calculation
Agent will request the principal London office of each such bank
to provide a quotation of its rate. If at least two such
quotations are provided, Three-Month LIBOR with respect to that
Interest Period will be the arithmetic mean (rounded upward if
necessary to the nearest whole multiple of 0.00001%) of such
quotations. If fewer than two quotations are provided,
Three-Month LIBOR with respect to that Interest
|
S-34
|
|
|
|
|
Period will be the arithmetic mean (rounded upward if necessary
to the nearest whole multiple of 0.00001%) of the rates quoted
by three major banks in New York City selected by the
Calculation Agent (after consultation with MetLife, Inc.), at
approximately 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the first
day of that Interest Period for loans in U.S. dollars to
leading European banks for the Relevant Period and in a
principal amount of not less than $1,000,000. However, if fewer
than three banks selected by the Calculation Agent to provide
quotations are quoting as described above, Three-Month LIBOR for
that Interest Period will be the same as Three-Month LIBOR as
determined for the previous Interest Period or, in the case of
the Interest Period beginning on August 1, 2039, 3.202%.
The establishment of Three-Month LIBOR for each three-month
Interest Period beginning on or after August 1, 2039, by
the Calculation Agent shall (in the absence of manifest error)
be final and binding.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Calculation Agent means The Bank of New York
Mellon Trust Company, N.A., or any other firm appointed by
MetLife, Inc., acting as calculation agent.
|
|
|
|
London Banking Day means any day on which
commercial banks are open for general business (including
dealings in deposits in U.S. dollars) in London, England.
|
|
|
|
LIBOR Determination Date means the second
London Banking Day immediately preceding the first day of the
relevant Interest Period.
|
|
|
|
Reuters Page LIBOR01 means the display
so designated on the Reuters 3000 Xtra (or such other page as
may replace that page on that service, or such other service as
may be nominated as the information vendor, for the purpose of
displaying rates or prices comparable to the London Interbank
Offered rate for U.S. dollar deposits).
|
Record
Dates
For so long as the Junior Subordinated Debentures are
represented by one or more Global Security certificates,
interest in respect of each Junior Subordinated Debenture will
be payable on each Interest Payment Date to the person in whose
name the Junior Subordinated Debenture is registered at the
close of business on the Business Day next preceding the
Interest Payment Date, which shall be the Record
Date for such Interest Payment Date; provided
that interest payable on a Maturity Date will be paid to the
person to whom principal is payable. In the event the Junior
Subordinated Debentures at any time are not represented solely
by one or more Global Security (as defined herein) certificates,
MetLife, Inc. will have the right to select different Record
Dates, which will be at least one Business Day before an
Interest Payment Date. See Book-Entry System. Any
interest installment not punctually paid or duly provided for
shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered holders of
Junior Subordinated Debentures on such Record Date, and may be
paid to the person in whose name the Junior Subordinated
Debentures are registered at the close of business on a special
record date to be fixed by the Junior Subordinated Trustee for
the payment of such defaulted interest after MetLife, Inc. has
deposited with the Junior Subordinated Trustee an amount of
money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in
respect of such defaulted interest, notice whereof shall be
given to the registered holders of Junior Subordinated
Debentures not less than ten days prior to such special record
date, or may be paid at any time in any other lawful manner.
Optional
Deferral
So long as (i) no Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing and (ii) no Trigger Event has occurred and the
related Trigger Period is not continuing, MetLife, Inc. may
elect to defer one or more interest payments on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures at any time and from time to time for up
to ten years (which may include a combination of semi-annual and
quarterly Interest Payment Dates), each of which is referred to
in this prospectus supplement as an Optional Deferral
Period, without giving rise to an Event of Default and
acceleration under the Junior Subordinated Indenture;
provided that no such Optional Deferral Period may end on
a date other than an Interest Payment Date or extend beyond the
Maturity Date. During the first five years of an Optional
Deferral Period, MetLife, Inc. may pay deferred interest out of
any source of funds. Interest deferred during an Optional
Deferral Period will continue to accrue and compound on each
Interest Payment Date, to the extent permitted by applicable
law, at the then applicable interest rate on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures. If interest remains unpaid after five
years of an Optional Deferral Period, the Alternative Payment
Mechanism described below under
S-35
Alternative Payment Mechanism will
apply, with the consequence, among others, that MetLife, Inc.
must (except on the Final Maturity Date or upon the acceleration
of the Junior Subordinated Debentures following an Event of
Default (the Acceleration Date)) sell shares
of its common stock (unless such interest has been (or is being)
paid from the proceeds of Qualifying Warrants) to satisfy its
obligation to pay interest on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures. If such efforts are successful, MetLife, Inc. must
pay optionally deferred interest out of the net proceeds from
the sale of its common stock on the next succeeding Interest
Payment Date following such five-year period. Following the
fifth anniversary of any Optional Deferral Period MetLife, Inc.
cannot pay such optionally deferred interest from sources other
than the net proceeds from the sale of Qualifying APM
Securities, except that on or after the Final Maturity Date or
an Acceleration Date, MetLife, Inc. may pay any accrued and
unpaid interest without regard to the source of funds. Any
accrued and unpaid interest will in all events be due and
payable on the Maturity Date, except for Foregone Interest (as
defined herein) if certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or
receivership, whether voluntary or not, occur prior to the
maturity or redemption of the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
See Limitation on Claims in the Event of
Bankruptcy, Insolvency or Receivership of MetLife, Inc.
MetLife, Inc.s use of sources other than the net proceeds
from the sale of Qualifying APM Securities to fund interest
payments after the fifth year of an Optional Deferral Period
would (except as otherwise provided above) be a breach of its
obligations under the Junior Subordinated Debentures but would
not be an Event of Default or result in acceleration under the
Junior Subordinated Indenture. Additionally, during any Optional
Deferral Period the restrictions on payment by MetLife, Inc. and
its subsidiaries of dividends and other distributions on capital
stock described below under Certain
Restrictions During Optional Deferral Periods or Following a
Trigger Event will apply. An Event of Default will occur
if non-payment of interest, due to an Optional Deferral, the
continuation of a Trigger Period or otherwise, continues for ten
consecutive years or extends beyond the Final Maturity Date,
without all accrued and unpaid interest (including Compounded
Interest) having been paid in full. Deferred interest will
continue to accrue during deferral periods at the
then-applicable interest rate on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures, compounded on each Interest Payment Date, subject to
applicable law.
If a Trigger Event occurs after commencement of an Optional
Deferral Period, the Optional Deferral Period will be deemed
suspended for so long as the related Trigger Period is
continuing. Once the Trigger Period is no longer continuing,
MetLife, Inc.s right to optionally defer payment of
interest will resume, subject to the limitations and
consequences described herein. For example, if MetLife, Inc. has
elected to defer interest payments on Interest Payment Dates for
three years, and then a Trigger Event occurs and a Trigger
Period caused thereby continues for an additional three years,
the next Interest Payment Date after the Trigger Period is no
longer continuing will be treated as an Interest Payment Date
that is three years into an Optional Deferral Period.
MetLife, Inc. must provide a notice to the holders of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures of its election to defer interest not
more than 25 and not less than ten days prior to the relevant
Interest Payment Date. However, MetLife, Inc.s failure to
pay interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures on any
Interest Payment Date will itself constitute the commencement
of, and the election to commence, a deferral period unless
MetLife, Inc. pays such interest within five Business Days after
such Interest Payment Date, regardless of whether MetLife, Inc.
provides a notice of deferral. A notice of Optional Deferral,
once given, will be irrevocable and the deferral of payments on
the related Interest Payment Date will be considered an Optional
Deferral, unless a Trigger Event has occurred and the related
Trigger Period is continuing as of the 30th day prior to
such Interest Payment Date, in which case the provisions under
the heading Consequences of a Trigger
Event will be applicable for all purposes. When an
Optional Deferral Period ends and MetLife, Inc. has paid all
accrued and unpaid interest on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures, together with interest thereon, to the extent
permitted by applicable law compounded on each Interest Payment
Date, which is referred to in this prospectus supplement as
Compounded Interest, MetLife, Inc. may begin
a new Optional Deferral Period, subject to the terms described
above. There is no limit on the number of Optional Deferral
Periods that MetLife, Inc. may begin. Any deferral of interest
on the Junior Subordinated Debentures by MetLife, Inc.s
election under this provision is referred to as an
Optional Deferral. MetLife, Inc. has no
present intent to exercise its right to optionally defer
payments of interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
Trigger
Event
If a Trigger Event has occurred and the related Trigger Period
is continuing as of the 30th day prior to an Interest
Payment Date, and regardless of any notice of Optional Deferral
that has been previously delivered,
S-36
MetLife, Inc. may pay interest on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures (other than any interest that had accrued during an
Optional Deferral Period of less than five years, which may
continue to be deferred to the extent provided herein or be paid
out of any source of funds) only to the extent that such
interest is paid through the Alternative Payment Mechanism, as
described below under Alternative Payment
Mechanism except that on or after the Final Maturity Date
or an Acceleration Date, MetLife, Inc. may pay any accrued and
unpaid interest without regard to the source of funds.
A Trigger Event will have occurred if one of
the following conditions exists as of the date which is
30 days prior to any Interest Payment Date:
(i) the Covered Insurance Subsidiaries Risk-Based
Capital Ratio is less than 175% of the company action
level for such subsidiaries, in the case of each Covered
Insurance Subsidiary based on the most recent annual financial
statements for the year ended prior to such Interest Payment
Date for which such subsidiary has filed its annual statement
with the applicable state insurance commissioners (annual
statements for a year are generally required to be filed on or
before March 1st of the following year); or
(ii) (x) the Trailing Four Quarters Consolidated Net
Income Amount, for the period ending on the last day of the
quarter that is two quarters prior to the most recently
completed quarter is zero or a negative amount, and (y) the
Adjusted Stockholders Equity Amount, as of the last day of
the most recently completed quarter and as of the end of the
quarter that is two quarters before the most recently completed
quarter, has declined by 10% or more as compared to the Adjusted
Stockholders Equity Amount at the end of the quarter that
is ten quarters prior to the most recently completed quarter
(the Benchmark Quarter).
Trigger Period means a period commencing upon
the occurrence of a Trigger Event and continuing until neither
of the conditions in clauses (i) and (ii) above exists
for an Interest Payment Date.
In addition, in the case of a Trigger Event described in
clause (ii) above, such Trigger Period will continue until
neither of the conditions in clauses (i) and
(ii) above exists for an Interest Payment Date and its
Adjusted Stockholders Equity Amount has increased, or has
declined by less than 10%, in either case as compared to the
Adjusted Stockholders Equity Amount at the end of the
Benchmark Quarter for each Interest Payment Date as to which a
Trigger Event had occurred under clause (ii) above.
For example, if the condition existed in clause (ii) above
for three consecutive Interest Payment Dates, MetLife, Inc.
would be able to make interest payments on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures on the fourth Interest Payment Date only
if, as of such Interest Payment Date: (1) the conditions in
each of clauses (i) and (ii) above did not exist for
that fourth Interest Payment Date and (2) its Adjusted
Stockholders Equity Amount as of the last completed
quarter for that Interest Payment Date had increased from, or
was less than 10% below, its level at the end of the Benchmark
Quarter for each of the prior three Interest Payment Dates for
which a Trigger Event had occurred under clause (ii) above.
In effect, MetLife, Inc.s Adjusted Stockholders
Equity Amount as of the most recently completed quarter for that
Interest Payment Date would have to be greater than, or less
than 10% below, its level as of the end of not only the tenth
quarter, but also each of the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth
quarters, preceding the most recently completed quarter.
As used in this section:
Adjusted Stockholders Equity Amount
means, as of any quarter end and subject to certain adjustments,
MetLife, Inc.s stockholders equity as reflected on
its consolidated GAAP balance sheet as of such quarter end,
minus accumulated other comprehensive income as reflected on
such consolidated balance sheet.
Covered Insurance Subsidiaries means MetLife,
Inc.s largest U.S. Life Insurance Subsidiaries (in
terms of general admitted assets) that collectively account for
80% or more of the general account admitted assets of all of its
U.S. Life Insurance Subsidiaries.
GAAP means, at any date or for any period,
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States as
in effect on such date or for such period.
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U.S. Life Insurance Subsidiary means any
of MetLife, Inc.s subsidiaries that is organized under the
laws of any state in the United States and is licensed as a life
insurance company in any state in the United States but does not
include any subsidiary of a life insurance subsidiary.
Risk-Based Capital Ratio means the ratio that
insurance companies are required to calculate and report to
their regulators as of the end of each year in accordance with
prescribed procedures. The ratio measures the relationship of
the insurance companies total adjusted capital
calculated in accordance with those prescribed procedures,
relative to a standard that is determined based on the magnitude
of various risks present in the insurers operations. For
all Covered Insurance Subsidiaries, calculated on a combined
basis, this ratio equals the sum of total adjusted capital
amounts for Covered Insurance Subsidiaries divided by the sum of
company action level amounts for those same subsidiaries. The
NAICs model risk-based capital, or RBC,
law sets forth the RBC levels, ranging from the company
action level to the mandatory control level,
at which certain corrective actions are required and at which a
state insurance regulator is authorized and expected to take
regulatory action.
The highest RBC level is known as the company action
level. If an insurance companys total adjusted
capital is higher than the company action level, no corrective
action is required to be taken. At progressively lower levels of
total adjusted capital, an insurance company faces increasingly
rigorous levels of corrective action, including the submission
of a comprehensive financial plan to the insurance regulator in
its state of domicile, a mandatory examination or analysis of
the insurers business and operations by the regulator and
the issuance of appropriate corrective orders to address the
insurance companys financial problems, and, at the lowest
levels, either voluntary or mandatory action by the regulator to
place the insurer under regulatory control. The company action
level is twice the level (known as the authorized control
level) below which the regulator is authorized (but not
yet required) to place the insurance company under regulatory
control.
Trailing Four Quarters Consolidated Net Income
Amount means, for any fiscal quarter, the sum of
MetLife, Inc.s consolidated GAAP net income for the four
fiscal quarters ending as of the last day of such fiscal quarter.
For purposes of these tests as determined as of March 31,
2009:
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for the quarter ended on September 30, 2008, MetLife,
Inc.s Trailing Four Quarters Consolidated Net Income
Amount was $3.3 billion;
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the Adjusted Stockholders Equity Amount as of
March 31, 2009, and as of September 30, 2008, as
compared to such amount as of September 30, 2006 had
increased by 29% and 19% respectively; and
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the Risk-Based Capital Ratio for MetLife, Inc.s Covered
Insurance Subsidiaries, calculated on a combined basis, as of
December 31, 2008 was above the level specified in
clause (i) above.
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With the exception of statutory accounting terms such as
general account admitted assets and terms that have
specific insurance regulatory meanings such as risk-based
capital, all financial terms used in this caption
Trigger Event will be determined in
accordance with GAAP as applied to and reflected in the related
financial statements of MetLife, Inc. as of the relevant dates,
except as provided in the next sentence. If because of a change
in GAAP that results in a cumulative effect of a change in
accounting principle or a restatement, either:
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consolidated net income of MetLife, Inc. is higher or lower than
it would have been absent such change, then, for purposes of
making the calculations described in clause (ii) of the
second paragraph of this section, Trigger
Event, commencing with the fiscal quarter for which such
changes in GAAP become effective, such consolidated net income
will be calculated on a pro forma basis as if such change had
not occurred; or
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the Adjusted Stockholders Equity Amount as of a quarter
end is higher or lower than it would have been absent such
change, then, for purposes of the calculations described in
clause (ii) of the second paragraph of this section,
Trigger Event, the Adjusted
Stockholders Equity Amount will be calculated on a pro
forma basis as if such change had not occurred, subject to
certain limitations described in the Junior Subordinated
Indenture.
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If after the end of the Benchmark Quarter for an Interest
Payment Date and before the end of the next quarter MetLife,
Inc. issues a Material Amount of Equity Securities to fund an
acquisition of a business or assets, with the
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consequence that the Adjusted Stockholders Equity Amount
as of the end of subsequent quarters is higher than otherwise
would have been the case, then for purposes of making the
calculation described in clause (ii)(y) in the definition of the
term Trigger Event above, commencing with the
quarter end after such issuance of a Material Amount of Equity
Securities, the Adjusted Stockholders Equity Amount will
be calculated on a pro forma basis without giving effect to the
issuance of such a Material Amount of Equity Securities until
the later of (x) the first quarter end that is more than
ten quarters after the end of the Benchmark Quarter and
(y) if a Trigger Event occurs before the quarter end
determined pursuant to clause (x), the first quarter end as of
which a Trigger Period is no longer continuing.
A Material Amount of Equity Securities means
equity securities that result in an increase in the Adjusted
Stockholders Equity Amount equal to or exceeding the
greater of (i) 1.5% of MetLife, Inc.s
stockholders equity as of the end of the relevant
Benchmark Quarter and (ii) $100 million, in each case
calculated without giving effect to this paragraph.
If at any relevant time or any relevant period we are not a
reporting company under the Exchange Act then for any such
relevant dates and period we will prepare and post on our
website the financial statement that we would have been required
to file with the SEC had we continued to be a reporting company
under the Exchange Act, in each case, on or before the dates
that we would have been required to file such financial
statements had we continued to be a large accelerated
filer within the meaning of
Rule 12b-2
under the Exchange Act.
Consequences
of a Trigger Event
On any Interest Payment Date during the period commencing upon
the occurrence of a Trigger Event and continuing until the
related Trigger Period is no longer continuing (regardless of
whether notice of an Optional Deferral has been delivered),
MetLife, Inc. may satisfy its obligation to pay interest on the
Junior Subordinated Debentures only to the extent of net
proceeds from the sale of Qualifying APM Securities received by
it during the 180 days prior to such Interest Payment Date,
and MetLife, Inc. may not pay interest on any such Interest
Payment Date (other than any interest that had accrued during an
Optional Deferral Period of less than five years, which may
continue to be deferred to the extent provided herein or be paid
out of any source of funds) except to the extent of such net
proceeds from the sale of Qualifying APM Securities, provided
that on the Final Maturity Date and on the Acceleration
Date, MetLife, Inc. may pay any accrued and unpaid interest
without regard to the source of funds.
With respect to any Interest Payment Date, if a Trigger Event
has occurred and the related Trigger Period is continuing as of
the 30th day prior to such Interest Payment Date
(regardless of whether a notice of Optional Deferral has been
delivered), MetLife, Inc. will be required to satisfy its
obligation to pay interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures
on such Interest Payment Date using the Alternative Payment
Mechanism. MetLife, Inc.s obligation to sell its common
stock to satisfy its obligation to pay interest is subject to
Market Disruption Events, does not apply to interest that has
accrued during an Optional Deferral Period of less than five
years, and does not apply on or after the Final Maturity Date or
an Acceleration Date. See Alternative Payment
Mechanism. MetLife, Inc.s use of other sources to
fund interest payments during a Trigger Period would be a breach
of its obligations under the Junior Subordinated Debentures but
would not be an Event of Default or result in acceleration under
the Junior Subordinated Indenture. Any interest that is accrued
and unpaid during a Trigger Period will be deferred and will
continue to accrue and compound on each Interest Payment Date,
to the extent permitted by applicable law. An Event of Default
will occur if non-payment of interest, due to a Trigger Event or
otherwise, continues for ten consecutive years or extends beyond
the Maturity Date, without all accrued and unpaid interest
(including Compounded Interest) having been paid in full.
In the event that a Trigger Period is no longer continuing and
at the termination of the Trigger Period there is no unpaid
interest from an Optional Deferral Period that had continued for
more than five consecutive years, MetLife, Inc. may pay
subsequent interest in cash from any source of funds. However,
any unpaid interest that accrued during the continuance of a
Trigger Period, or an Optional Deferral Period that extended for
more than five consecutive years, may only be satisfied using
the Alternative Payment Mechanism, except that on or after the
Final Maturity Date or an Acceleration Date, MetLife, Inc. may
pay any accrued and unpaid interest without regard to the source
of funds. Any accrued and unpaid interest will in all events be
due and payable upon the Maturity Date, except for Foregone
Interest if certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or
receivership with respect to MetLife, Inc., whether
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voluntary or not, occur prior to the maturity or redemption of
the Junior Subordinated Debentures. See
Limitation on Claims in the Event of
Bankruptcy, Insolvency or Receivership of MetLife, Inc.
Not earlier than the 30th day nor later than the
15th day prior to each Interest Payment Date during a
Trigger Period, MetLife, Inc. will give notice of the
continuance of such Trigger Period to the Junior Subordinated
Trustee and the holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
Such notice will, depending on which condition is relied upon in
determining that a Trigger Event has occurred, set forth either
(x) the Covered Insurance Subsidiaries Risk-Based
Capital Ratio, or (y) the Trailing Four Quarters
Consolidated Net Income Amounts and the Adjusted
Stockholders Equity Amounts, as applicable, and the extent
to which these amounts must increase in order for payments of
interest from sources other than the Alternative Payment
Mechanism to resume.
Certain
Restrictions During Optional Deferral Periods or Following a
Trigger Event
On any date on which accrued interest through the most recent
Interest Payment Date has not been paid in full, whether because
of an Optional Deferral or a Trigger Event and on any other date
that occurs after MetLife, Inc. gives notice of its election to
defer interest and continuing through the first day of the
related deferral period, MetLife, Inc., subject to certain
exceptions described below, will not, and will not permit any of
its subsidiaries to:
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declare or pay any dividends on, make any distribution with
respect to, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation
payment with respect to, any shares of MetLife, Inc.s
capital stock, other than:
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any purchase, redemption or other acquisition of shares of
MetLife, Inc.s capital stock in connection with
(a) any employment contract, employee or benefit plan or
other similar arrangement, (b) a dividend reinvestment or
stockholder purchase plan, or (c) the issuance of MetLife,
Inc.s capital stock, or securities convertible into or
exercisable for such capital stock, as consideration in an
acquisition transaction entered into prior to the applicable
Optional Deferral or Trigger Event, as the case may be;
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any exchange, redemption or conversion of any class or series of
MetLife, Inc.s capital stock, or the capital stock of one
of its subsidiaries, for any other class or series of MetLife,
Inc.s capital stock, or of any class or series of its
indebtedness for any class or series of MetLife, Inc.s
capital stock;
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any purchase of, or payment of cash in lieu of, fractional
interests in shares of MetLife, Inc.s capital stock
pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such
capital stock or the securities being converted or exchanged;
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any declaration of a dividend in connection with any rights
plan, or the issuance of rights, stock or other property under
any rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of rights
pursuant thereto; or
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any dividend in the form of stock, warrants, options or other
rights where the dividend stock or stock issuable upon exercise
of such warrants, options or other rights is the same stock as
that on which the dividend is being paid or ranks junior to such
stock; or
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make any payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on,
or repay, purchase or redeem, any debt securities issued by
MetLife, Inc. or make any guarantee payments under any
guarantees given by MetLife, Inc., in each case that rank
equally with the Junior Subordinated Debentures upon MetLife,
Inc.s liquidation (Parity Securities)
or that rank junior to the Junior Subordinated Debentures upon
MetLife, Inc.s liquidation, other than any payment
(including guarantee payments), permitted by the immediately
following sentence.
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The restrictions described above shall not apply to:
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any payment of current interest in respect of Parity Securities
that is made ratably and in proportion to the respective amounts
of (1) accrued and unpaid interest on Parity Securities
then outstanding, on the one hand, and (2) accrued and
unpaid interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures, on the
other hand;
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any payment of principal on, or purchase or redemption price in
respect of, Parity Securities (including guarantee payments with
respect to principal) then outstanding made ratably and in
proportion to the respective amounts of (1) the principal
amount of Parity Securities then outstanding, on the one hand,
and (2) the principal amount of Junior Subordinated
Debentures then outstanding, on the other hand;
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any payment of deferred interest on Parity Securities that, if
not made, would cause MetLife, Inc. to breach the terms of the
instrument governing such Parity Securities;
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any payment of principal in respect of Parity Securities that,
if not made, would cause MetLife, Inc. to breach the terms of
the instrument governing such Parity Securities; or
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any purchase or acquisition of MetLife, Inc.s capital
stock by any of MetLife, Inc.s separate accounts.
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Additionally, if a Trigger Event occurs, MetLife, Inc. will not,
and will not permit any of its subsidiaries, to purchase any
shares of MetLife, Inc.s common stock until at least one
year after all deferred interest on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures has been paid, other than the following:
(a) purchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of common
stock in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan
or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of
employees, officers, directors or consultants; and
(b) purchases of common stock pursuant to a contractually
binding requirement to buy shares of common stock entered into
prior to the beginning of the related deferral period, including
under a contractually binding share repurchase plan.
Alternative
Payment Mechanism
The method of funding the payment of accrued and unpaid interest
described in this section is referred to in this prospectus
supplement as the Alternative Payment
Mechanism.
Subject to certain conditions and exceptions described below, if:
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MetLife, Inc. has optionally deferred interest payments
otherwise due on the Junior Subordinated Debentures for a period
of more than five consecutive years, or
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a Trigger Event has occurred and the related Trigger Period is
continuing as of the 30th day prior to an Interest Payment
Date (regardless of whether a notice of an Optional Deferral has
been delivered),
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then MetLife, Inc. may satisfy its obligation to pay interest on
the Junior Subordinated Debentures (i) in the case of an
event described in the first bullet point above, on any
subsequent Interest Payment Date and (ii) in the case of an
event described in the second bullet point above, on such
Interest Payment Date (in the case of clause (ii), other than
any interest that has accrued during an Optional Deferral Period
of less than five years, which may continue to be deferred to
the extent provided herein or be paid out of any source of
funds), only to the extent of net proceeds from the sale of
Qualifying APM Securities received by MetLife, Inc. during the
180 days prior to such Interest Payment Date.
If a Trigger Period is no longer continuing and at the
termination of the Trigger Period there is no unpaid interest
from an Optional Deferral Period that had continued for more
than five consecutive years, subsequent interest payments may be
paid in cash from any source. However, any unpaid interest that
accrued during the continuance of a Trigger Period, or an
Optional Deferral Period that extended for more than five
consecutive years, may only be satisfied using the Alternative
Payment Mechanism except that on the Final Maturity Date and on
the Acceleration Date, MetLife, Inc. may pay any accrued and
unpaid interest without regard to the source of funds. Any
accrued and unpaid interest will in all events be due and
payable on the Maturity Date, except for Foregone Interest if
certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or receivership with
respect to MetLife, Inc., whether voluntary or not, occur prior
to the maturity or redemption of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures. See Limitation on Claims in the
Event of Bankruptcy, Insolvency or Receivership of MetLife,
Inc.
Additionally, subject to certain conditions and exceptions
described below, if:
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MetLife, Inc. has optionally deferred interest payments
otherwise due on the Junior Subordinated Debentures for a period
of more than five consecutive years, or
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a Trigger Event has occurred,
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commencing immediately, MetLife, Inc. must sell shares of its
common stock, the sale of which will provide sufficient cash
proceeds to pay any amount due to the holders of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures in satisfaction of all accrued and
unpaid interest, together with any Compounded Interest, to the
extent permitted by law (unless such interest has been paid (or
is being paid) from the sale of Qualifying Warrants). MetLife,
Inc.s obligation to sell
S-41
its common stock to satisfy its obligation to pay interest is
subject to Market Disruption Events, does not apply to interest
that has accrued during an Optional Deferral Period of less than
five years, and does not apply on or after the Final Maturity
Date or an Acceleration Date.
The obligations described above will continue until all unpaid
interest has been paid in full or, if such obligations have
arisen only because a Trigger Event has occurred and the related
Trigger Period is continuing, until such Trigger Period is no
longer continuing and all interest that accrued during such
Trigger Period has been paid in full.
The sale of Qualifying Warrants to pay deferred interest,
subject to the restrictions and requirements set forth herein,
is an option that may be exercised at MetLife, Inc.s sole
discretion, subject to such restrictions and requirements, and
MetLife, Inc. will under no circumstances be obligated to sell
Qualifying Warrants or to apply the proceeds of any such sale to
pay deferred interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures. No
class of investors of MetLife, Inc.s securities, or any
other party, may require MetLife, Inc. to issue Qualifying
Warrants.
The net proceeds (i) received by MetLife, Inc. from the
sale of Qualifying APM Securities during the 180 days prior
to any Interest Payment Date on which MetLife, Inc. is required
to use the Alternative Payment Mechanism, and
(ii) designated by MetLife, Inc. at or before the time of
such sale as available to pay interest on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures will, at the time such proceeds are
delivered to the Junior Subordinated Trustee to satisfy the
relevant interest payment, be deemed to satisfy its obligations
to pay interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures pursuant
to the Alternative Payment Mechanism.
MetLife, Inc. is not required to sell shares of its common stock
to the extent the number of shares of common stock to be sold
would exceed MetLife, Inc.s Shares Available for
Issuance.
As used in this section:
Qualifying APM Securities means:
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shares of MetLife, Inc.s common stock; and
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net share settled warrants to purchase MetLife, Inc.s
common stock that MetLife, Inc. can sell at its sole discretion
and that have an exercise price greater than the Current Market
Price of MetLife, Inc.s common stock as of their date of
issuance, that MetLife, Inc. is not entitled to redeem for cash
and the holders of which are not entitled to require MetLife,
Inc. to repurchase for cash in any circumstance, which are
referred to as Qualifying Warrants.
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The Current Market Price of MetLife,
Inc.s common stock on any date will be the closing sale
price per share (or if no closing sale price is reported, the
average of the bid and ask prices or, if more than one in either
case, the average of the average bid and the average ask prices)
on that date as reported in composite transactions by the New
York Stock Exchange or, if MetLife, Inc.s common stock is
not then listed on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported by
the principal U.S. securities exchange on which MetLife,
Inc.s common stock is traded or quoted. If MetLife,
Inc.s common stock is not either listed or quoted on any
U.S. securities exchange on the relevant date, the Current
Market Price will be the last quoted bid price for MetLife,
Inc.s common stock in the
over-the-counter
market on the relevant date as reported by the National
Quotation Bureau or similar organization. If MetLife,
Inc.s common stock is not so quoted, the Current Market
Price will be the average of the mid-point of the last bid and
ask prices for MetLife, Inc.s common stock on the relevant
date from each of at least three nationally recognized
independent investment banking firms selected by MetLife, Inc.
for this purpose.
A Market Disruption Event means the
occurrence or existence of any of the following events or sets
of circumstances:
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trading in securities generally on any national securities
exchange or
over-the-counter
market, on which MetLife, Inc.s common stock is then
listed or traded (as of the date of this prospectus supplement,
the New York Stock Exchange), is suspended or the settlement of
such trading generally is materially disrupted or minimum prices
are established on any such exchange or such market by the SEC,
by such exchange or by any other regulatory body or governmental
authority having jurisdiction, and the establishment of such
minimum prices materially disrupts trading in, and the issuance
and sale of, MetLife, Inc.s common stock;
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MetLife, Inc. was required to obtain the consent or approval of
its stockholders, a regulatory body or governmental authority to
issue or sell its common stock pursuant to the Alternative
Payment Mechanism or to issue or sell Qualifying Capital
Securities pursuant to the Replacement Capital Obligation and,
after using its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such
consent or approval, MetLife, Inc. fails to obtain such consent
or approval;
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a material disruption shall have occurred in commercial banking
or securities settlement or clearance services in the United
States and such disruption materially disrupts trading in, or
the issuance of, MetLife, Inc.s common stock pursuant to
the Alternative Payment Mechanism or the issuance and sale of
Qualifying Capital Securities pursuant to the Replacement
Capital Obligation;
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a banking moratorium shall have been declared by the federal or
state authorities of the United States and such moratorium
materially disrupts trading in, or the issuance and sale of,
MetLife, Incs common stock pursuant to the Alternative
Payment Mechanism or the issuance and sale of Qualifying Capital
Securities pursuant to the Replacement Capital Obligation;
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there shall have occurred such a material adverse change in
general domestic or international economic, political or
financial conditions, including without limitation as a result
of terrorist activities, or the effect of international
conditions on the financial markets in the United States is
such, as to make it, in MetLife, Inc.s judgment,
impracticable to proceed with the issuance and sale of its
common stock pursuant to the Alternative Payment Mechanism or
the issuance and sale of Qualifying Capital Securities pursuant
to the Replacement Capital Obligation;
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an event occurs and is continuing as a result of which the
offering document for MetLife, Inc.s common stock pursuant
to the Alternative Payment Mechanism or the offer and sale of
Qualifying Capital Securities pursuant to the Replacement
Capital Obligation would, in MetLife, Inc.s reasonable
judgment, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and
either (1) the disclosure of that event at such time, in
MetLife, Inc.s reasonable judgment, would have a material
adverse effect on its business and is not otherwise required by
law, or (2) the disclosure relates to a previously
undisclosed proposed or pending material business transaction,
and MetLife, Inc. has a bona fide reason for keeping the
same confidential or its disclosure would impede MetLife,
Inc.s ability to consummate such transaction; provided
that no single suspension period contemplated by this bullet
point may exceed 90 consecutive days and multiple suspension
periods contemplated by this bullet point may not exceed an
aggregate of 180 days in any
360-day
period; or
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MetLife, Inc. reasonably believes that the offering document for
the offer and the sale of its common stock pursuant to the
Alternative Payment Mechanism or the offer and sale of
Qualifying Capital Securities pursuant to the Replacement
Capital Obligation would not be in compliance with a rule or
regulation of the SEC (for reasons other than those referred to
in the bullet point directly above) and MetLife, Inc. is unable
to comply with such rule or regulation or such compliance is
impracticable; provided that no single suspension period
contemplated by this bullet point may exceed 90 consecutive days
and multiple suspension periods contemplated by this bullet
point may not exceed an aggregate of 180 days in any
360-day
period.
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Any interest payment made pursuant to the Alternative Payment
Mechanism will first be allocated to payment of the interest due
on that Interest Payment Date for the current Interest Period.
Any payment of interest in excess of the amount of interest due
on that Interest Payment Date for the current Interest Period
will be applied first against any then existing accrued and
unpaid interest with respect to prior Interest Periods for which
interest must be paid pursuant to the Alternative Payment
Mechanism, in chronological order beginning with the earliest
Interest Period for which interest has not been paid in full and
for which such interest must be paid pursuant to the Alternative
Payment Mechanism, including Compounded Interest.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a partial payment will be applied
first to interest that accrued during a Trigger Period and
second as described in the immediately preceding sentence.
In the event that MetLife, Inc. defers an interest payment on
the Junior Subordinated Debentures and on other securities that
rank equally with the Junior Subordinated Debentures and contain
similar requirements to pay
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interest pursuant to the Alternative Payment Mechanism, MetLife,
Inc. will apply any net proceeds so raised on a pro rata
basis towards its obligations to pay interest on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures and such equally ranking securities in
proportion to the total amounts that are due on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures and such securities, or on such other
basis as any regulatory authority may instruct (taking into
account the availability of proceeds of preferred shares or
other securities to settle deferred interest under any such
other securities).
Under the Junior Subordinated Indenture, MetLife, Inc. will be
required to use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain
stockholder consent to increase the number of authorized shares
of its common stock if, at any date, MetLife, Inc.s
Shares Available for Issuance fall below the greater of:
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310 million shares (as adjusted for any stock split, stock
dividend, reclassification, recapitalization,
split-up,
combination, exchange of shares or similar transaction); and
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three times the number of shares that MetLife, Inc. would need
to issue to raise sufficient proceeds to pay (assuming a price
per share equal to the average trading price of shares of
MetLife, Inc.s common stock over the ten-trading day
period preceding such date) any then outstanding deferred
interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures (including
Compounded Interest thereon), plus 12 additional months of
interest (including Compounded Interest) on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures, up to a total of ten years of interest
(including Compounded Interest). For purposes of determining the
amounts, if any, accruing during a Floating Rate Period, the
interest will be computed by reference to spot Three-Month LIBOR
on the calculation date plus a margin equal to 7.548%.
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If we issue additional Junior Subordinated Debentures, the
number of shares referred to in the first bullet above will be
increased proportionately.
An Other Covenant Default (as defined under
Events of Default) will occur if
MetLife, Inc. does not use its commercially reasonable efforts
to obtain consent of MetLife, Inc.s stockholders to
increase the number of authorized shares of its common stock if,
at any date, MetLife, Inc.s Shares Available for
Issuance fall below the amount specified above. Although an
Other Covenant Default will not constitute an Event of Default
or result in acceleration, it will constitute a default under
the Junior Subordinated Indenture and could give rise to a claim
against MetLife, Inc. relating to the specific breach; however,
the remedy of holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures may
be limited to direct monetary damages (if any). See
Events of Default.
MetLife, Inc.s Shares Available for
Issuance will be calculated in two steps. First,
MetLife, Inc. will deduct from the number of authorized and
unissued shares of its common stock, the maximum number of
shares of its common stock that can be issued under existing
options, warrants, convertible securities, equity-linked
contracts and other agreements which require MetLife, Inc. to
issue a maximum determinable number of shares of its common
stock. After MetLife, Inc. deducts that number of shares of its
common stock from the number of authorized and unissued shares
of its common stock, MetLife, Inc. will allocate on a pro
rata basis, or such other basis as MetLife, Inc. determines
is appropriate, the remaining authorized and unissued shares to
the Alternative Payment Mechanism for the Junior Subordinated
Debentures (such number of shares of common stock allocated to
the Alternative Payment Mechanism, the
Shares Available for Issuance) and to
any other commitment under which the maximum number of shares of
its common stock that MetLife, Inc. could be required to issue
is not determinable. The definition of Shares Available for
Issuance has the effect of giving absolute priority for issuance
to commitments under which MetLife, Inc. is able to determine
the maximum number of shares of its common stock that could be
issued in connection therewith, irrespective of the dates on
which such commitments were entered into.
MetLife, Inc. will be permitted to modify the definition of
Shares Available for Issuance and the related provisions of
the Junior Subordinated Indenture without the consent of holders
of the Junior Subordinated Debentures provided that
(i) MetLife, Inc. has determined, in good faith, that such
modification is not materially adverse to such holders,
(ii) the rating agencies then rating the Junior
Subordinated Debentures confirm the then current ratings of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures and (iii) the number of
Shares Available for Issuance after giving effect to such
modification will not fall below the then applicable threshold
set forth in the third preceding paragraph.
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If MetLife, Inc. elects to satisfy its obligation to pay
deferred interest pursuant to the Alternative Payment Mechanism
by issuing Qualifying Warrants, MetLife, Inc. will only do so if
the total number of shares of its common stock underlying such
Qualifying Warrants applied to pay interest on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures pursuant to the Alternative Payment
Mechanism, together with the total number of shares of its
common stock underlying all prior issuances of Qualifying
Warrants so applied, does not exceed an amount equal to 15% of
the total number of MetLife, Inc.s issued and outstanding
shares of common stock as of the date of any proposed issuance.
Limitation
on Claims in the Event of Bankruptcy, Insolvency or Receivership
of MetLife, Inc.
The Junior Subordinated Indenture provides that a holder of
Junior Subordinated Debentures, by such holders acceptance
of the Junior Subordinated Debentures, agrees that in certain
events of bankruptcy, insolvency or receivership of MetLife,
Inc. prior to the maturity or redemption of any Junior
Subordinated Debentures, whether voluntary or not, such holder
of Junior Subordinated Debentures will have no claim for, and
thus no right to receive, interest that is unpaid as a result of
certain consequences of a Trigger Event (including any
Compounded Interest thereon, to the extent permitted by law) and
has not been settled through the application of the Alternative
Payment Mechanism to the extent the amount of such interest
exceeds 25% of the then outstanding principal amount of such
holders Junior Subordinated Debentures. The unpaid
interest for which the holder has no claim pursuant to the
limitations described in this paragraph is referred to in this
prospectus supplement as Foregone Interest.
For the avoidance of doubt, this limitation on claims for unpaid
interest does not apply to amounts of interest deferred on an
optional basis, and holders will have a full claim for, and
right to receive, such amounts.
Consolidation,
Merger, Conveyance, Sale of Assets and Other Transfers
The provisions of the Junior Subordinated Indenture relating to
our possible consolidation, merger, conveyance, sale of assets
and other transfers will apply to the Junior Subordinated
Debentures. You should refer to the description of these
provisions under Description of Debt
Securities Restrictive Covenants and
Description of Debt Securities Consolidation,
Merger, Sale of Assets and Other Transactions in the
accompanying prospectus.
Subordination
The payment of principal of and interest on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures, to the extent provided in the Junior
Subordinated Indenture, will be subordinated to the prior
payment in full of all of MetLife, Inc.s present and
future Senior Indebtedness.
Subject to the qualifications described below, the term
Senior Indebtedness includes principal of,
and interest and premium, if any, on, and any other amounts
payable in respect of, the following:
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all of MetLife, Inc.s indebtedness, whether outstanding on
the issue date of the Junior Subordinated Debentures or
thereafter created, incurred or assumed, which is for money
borrowed (including, without limitation, trust preferred
securities of statutory trusts and MetLife, Inc.s related
subordinated debentures and guarantees issued under the Junior
Subordinated Base Indenture, but excluding each of:
(i) MetLife, Inc.s obligations under the Financing
Agreement relating to the 9.250% Fixed-to-Floating-Rate
Exchangeable Surplus Trust Securities of MetLife Capital
Trust X (the 9.250% X-SURPS) and, upon
an exchange of the 9.250% X-SURPS, the related 9.250%
Fixed-to-Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2068
of MetLife, Inc., (ii) MetLife, Inc.s obligations
under the Financing Agreement relating to the 7.875%
Fixed-to-Floating-Rate Exchangeable Surplus
Trust Securities of MetLife Capital Trust IV (the
7.875%
X-SURPS)
and, upon an exchange of the 7.875% X-SURPS, the related 7.875%
Fixed-to-Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2067
of MetLife, Inc. and (iii) MetLife, Inc.s 6.40%
Fixed-to-Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2066,
which shall rank equally with, and shall not be senior in right
of payment to, the Junior Subordinated Debentures) or which is
evidenced by a note or similar instrument given in connection
with the acquisition of any business, properties or assets,
including securities;
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all of MetLife, Inc.s obligations under leases required or
permitted to be capitalized under GAAP;
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any indebtedness of others of the kinds described in the first
bullet point above for the payment of which MetLife, Inc. is
responsible or liable as guarantor or otherwise; and
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amendments, modifications, renewals, extensions, deferrals and
refundings of any of the above types of indebtedness.
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The Senior Indebtedness will continue to be Senior Indebtedness
and entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions
irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any
term of the Senior Indebtedness or extension or renewal of the
Senior Indebtedness. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in
the foregoing, Senior Indebtedness will not
include (1) indebtedness incurred for the purchase of goods
or materials or for services obtained in the ordinary course of
business (i.e., trade accounts payable), which will rank
equally in right of payment and upon liquidation with the Junior
Subordinated Debentures, (2) indebtedness which by its
terms ranks equally with or subordinated to the Junior
Subordinated Debentures in right of payment or upon liquidation,
(3) indebtedness owed by MetLife, Inc. to its subsidiaries,
which also will rank equally in right of payment and upon
liquidation to the Junior Subordinated Debentures, and
(4) any liability for federal, state, local or other taxes
owed or owing by MetLife, Inc. or by its subsidiaries. Each of
(i) MetLife, Inc.s obligations under the Financing
Agreement relating to the 9.250% X-SURPS and, upon an exchange
of the 9.250% X-SURPS, the related 9.250% Fixed-to-Floating Rate
Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2068 of MetLife, Inc.,
(ii) MetLife, Inc.s obligations under the Financing
Agreement relating to the 7.875% X-SURPS and, upon an exchange
of the 7.875% X-SURPS, the related 7.875% Fixed-to-Floating Rate
Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2067 of MetLife, Inc. and
(iii) MetLife, Inc.s 6.40% Fixed-to-Floating Rate
Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2066 shall rank equally with,
and shall not be senior in right of payment to, the Junior
Subordinated Debentures.
No direct or indirect payment, in cash, property or securities,
by set-off or otherwise, may be made or agreed to be made on
account of the Junior Subordinated Debentures including in
respect of any repayment, redemption, retirement, purchase or
other acquisition of the Junior Subordinated Debentures, if:
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MetLife, Inc. defaults in the payment of any principal, or
premium, if any, or interest on any Senior Indebtedness, whether
at maturity or at a date fixed for prepayment or declaration or
otherwise; or
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an event of default occurs with respect to any Senior
Indebtedness permitting the holders thereof to accelerate the
maturity and written notice of such event of default, requesting
that payments on the Junior Subordinated Debentures cease, is
given to MetLife, Inc. by any holder of Senior Indebtedness,
unless and until such event of default has been cured or waived
or ceases to exist.
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All present and future Senior Indebtedness, which will include
interest accruing after the commencement of any proceeding,
assignment or marshaling of assets described below, will first
be paid in full before any payment, whether in cash, securities
or other property, will be made by MetLife, Inc. on account of
the Junior Subordinated Debentures in the event of:
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any insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation,
reorganization, readjustment, composition or other similar
proceeding relating to MetLife, Inc., its creditors or its
property;
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any proceeding for MetLife, Inc.s liquidation, dissolution
or other
winding-up,
voluntary or involuntary, whether or not involving insolvency or
bankruptcy proceedings;
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any general assignment by MetLife, Inc. for the benefit of
creditors; or
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any other marshaling of MetLife, Inc.s assets.
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In any such event, payments that would otherwise be made on the
Junior Subordinated Debentures will generally be paid to the
holders of Senior Indebtedness, or their representatives, in
accordance with the priorities existing among these creditors at
that time until the Senior Indebtedness is paid in full. If the
payments on the Junior Subordinated Debentures are in the form
of MetLife, Inc.s securities or those of any other
corporation under a plan of reorganization or readjustment and
are subordinated to outstanding Senior Indebtedness and to any
securities issued with respect to such Senior Indebtedness under
a plan of reorganization or readjustment, they will be made
first to the holders of Senior Indebtedness and then, if any
amounts remain, to the holders of the Junior Subordinated
S-46
Debentures. No present or future holder of any Senior
Indebtedness will be prejudiced in the right to enforce the
subordination of the Junior Subordinated Debentures by any act
or failure to act on MetLife, Inc.s part.
In the event that, notwithstanding any of the foregoing
prohibitions, the Junior Subordinated Trustee or the holders of
the Junior Subordinated Debentures receive or hold any payment
on account of or in respect of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures at a time when a responsible officer of the Junior
Subordinated Trustee or such holder has actual knowledge that
such payment should not have been made to it, the Junior
Subordinated Trustee or such holder, as the case may be, will
hold such payment in trust for the benefit of, and, upon written
request, will pay it over to, the holders of the Senior
Indebtedness or their agents or representatives, for application
to the payment of all principal, premium, if any, and interest
or any other amounts then payable with respect to any Senior
Indebtedness.
Senior Indebtedness will only be deemed to have been paid in
full if the holders of such Senior Indebtedness have received
cash, securities or other property which is equal to the amount
of the outstanding Senior Indebtedness.
After payment in full of all present and future Senior
Indebtedness, holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures will
be subrogated to the rights of any holders of Senior
Indebtedness to receive any further payments that are applicable
to the Senior Indebtedness until all the Junior Subordinated
Debentures are paid in full. In matters between holders of
Junior Subordinated Debentures and any other type of MetLife,
Inc.s creditors, any payments that would otherwise be paid
to holders of Senior Indebtedness and that are made to holders
of the Junior Subordinated Debentures because of this
subrogation will be deemed a payment by MetLife, Inc. on account
of Senior Indebtedness and not on account of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures.
The Junior Subordinated Indenture places no limitation on the
amount of additional Senior Indebtedness that MetLife, Inc. may
incur. MetLife, Inc. expects to incur from time to time
additional Senior Indebtedness.
In addition to the contractual subordination provisions
described above, the rights of the holders of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures will be structurally subordinated to all
existing and future obligations of MetLife, Inc.s
subsidiaries, as MetLife, Inc. is a holding company. As a
result, MetLife, Inc. relies primarily on dividends or other
payments from its direct and indirect operating subsidiaries,
which generally are regulated insurance companies, to pay
principal and interest on its outstanding debt obligations, and
to make dividend distributions on MetLife, Inc.s capital
stock. Regulatory rules will, and certain covenants contained in
various debt agreements may, restrict MetLife, Inc.s
ability to withdraw capital from its subsidiaries by dividends,
loans or other payments.
Due to the subordination provisions described above, in the
event of MetLife, Inc.s insolvency, funds which MetLife,
Inc. would otherwise use to pay the holders of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures would be used to pay the holders of
Senior Indebtedness to the extent necessary to pay the Senior
Indebtedness in full. As a result of these payments, MetLife,
Inc.s general creditors may recover less, ratably, than
the holders of its Senior Indebtedness and these general
creditors may recover more, ratably, than the holders of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures.
As of March 31, 2009, MetLife, Inc. had approximately
$13.1 billion of debt outstanding at the parent company
level and the subsidiaries had outstanding, $453.1 billion
of total liabilities (including liabilities to policyholders and
contractholders including $11.8 billion of debt (excluding
in each case, intercompany liabilities)), $464.9 billion of
which will be senior in priority to the Junior Subordinated
Debentures.
Optional
Redemption
Subject to the provisions described under Description of
the Replacement Capital Covenant, MetLife, Inc. may, at
its option, redeem the outstanding Junior Subordinated
Debentures:
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in whole or in part, at any time on or after August 1,
2034, at a cash redemption price equal to the
Par Redemption Amount; provided that if the
Junior Subordinated Debentures are not redeemed in whole, at
least $50 million aggregate principal amount of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures (excluding any Junior Subordinated
Debentures held by MetLife, Inc. or any of its affiliates) must
remain outstanding after giving effect to such redemption;
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in whole or in part, at any time prior to August 1, 2034,
in cases not involving a Tax Event or Rating Agency Event, at a
cash redemption price equal to the greater of (i) the
Par Redemption Amount and (ii) the Make-Whole
Redemption Amount; provided that if the Junior
Subordinated Debentures are not redeemed in
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whole, at least $50 million aggregate principal amount of
the Junior Subordinated Debentures (excluding any Junior
Subordinated Debentures held by MetLife, Inc. or any of its
affiliates) must remain outstanding after giving effect to such
redemption; and
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in whole, but not in part, at any time prior to August 1,
2034, after the occurrence of a Tax Event or Rating Agency
Event, at a cash redemption price equal to the greater of
(i) the Par Redemption Amount and (ii) the
Special Event Make-Whole Redemption Amount.
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As used in this section:
Par Redemption Amount means a cash
redemption price of 100% of the principal amount of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid
interest, together with any Compounded Interest, thereon, to the
extent permitted by law, to, but excluding, such
Redemption Date.
Make-Whole Redemption Amount means the
sum, as calculated by the Premium Calculation Agent, of the
present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal
and interest that would have been payable on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures to be redeemed to and including
August 1, 2034 (not including any portion of those payments
of interest accrued as of such Redemption Date), discounted
from their respective scheduled payment dates to such
Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a
360-day year
consisting of twelve
30-day
months) at the Treasury Rate plus 70 basis points; plus
accrued and unpaid interest, together with any Compounded
Interest, thereon, to the extent permitted by law, to, but
excluding, such Redemption Date.
Special Event Make-Whole
Redemption Amount means the sum, as calculated by
the Premium Calculation Agent, of the present values of the
remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest that
would have been payable on the Junior Subordinated Debentures to
be redeemed to and including August 1, 2034 (not including
any portion of those payments of interest accrued as of such
Redemption Date), discounted from their respective
scheduled payment dates to such Redemption Date on a
semi-annual basis (assuming a
360-day year
consisting of twelve
30-day
months) at the Treasury Rate plus 80 basis points; plus
accrued and unpaid interest, together with any Compounded
Interest, thereon, to the extent permitted by law, to, but
excluding, such Redemption Date.
For purposes of the preceding definitions:
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Treasury Rate means, with respect to any
Redemption Date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual
equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue,
calculated using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue
(expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the
Comparable Treasury Price for such Redemption Date. The Treasury
Rate will be calculated on the third Business Day preceding such
Redemption Date.
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Premium Calculation Agent means an investment
banking institution of national standing appointed by MetLife,
Inc.
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Comparable Treasury Issue means the
U.S. Treasury security selected by the Premium Calculation
Agent as having a maturity comparable to the term remaining from
such Redemption Date to August 1, 2034 (the
Remaining Life) that would be utilized, at
the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial
practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of
comparable maturity to the Remaining Life.
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Comparable Treasury Price means, with respect
to such Redemption Date (1) the average of five Reference
Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption Date, after
excluding the highest and lowest Reference Treasury Dealer
Quotations, or (2) if the Premium Calculation Agent obtains
fewer than five such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the
average of all such quotations.
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Reference Treasury Dealer means (1) J.P.
Morgan Securities Inc. and Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated and their successors, provided,
however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a
primary U.S. government securities dealer in New York City
(a Primary Treasury Dealer) MetLife, Inc.
will substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer, and
(2) any other Primary Treasury Dealers selected by the
Premium Calculation Agent after consultation with MetLife, Inc.
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Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations means,
with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any
Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the Premium
Calculation Agent of the bid and ask prices for the Comparable
Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its
principal amount) quoted in writing to the Premium Calculation
Agent at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third
Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.
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Tax Event means the receipt by MetLife, Inc.
of an opinion of counsel, rendered by a law firm with experience
in such matters, to the effect that, as a result of (a) any
amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective
change) in, the laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the
United States or any political subdivision or taxing authority
thereof or therein, (b) any official administrative
pronouncement (including a private letter ruling, technical
advice memorandum or similar pronouncement) or judicial decision
interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, or (c) a
threatened challenge asserted in connection with an audit of
MetLife, Inc. or any of its subsidiaries, or a threatened
challenge asserted in writing against any other taxpayer that
has raised capital through the issuance of securities that are
substantially similar to the Junior Subordinated Debentures,
which amendment or change is enacted or effective or which
pronouncement or decision is announced or which challenge is
asserted against MetLife, Inc. or its subsidiaries or becomes
publicly known on or after June 30, 2009, there is more
than an insubstantial increase in the risk that interest
accruing or payable by MetLife, Inc. on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures is not or, at any time subsequent to MetLife,
Inc.s receipt of such opinion, will not be, wholly
deductible by MetLife, Inc. for U.S. federal income tax
purposes.
Rating Agency Event means a change by any
NRSRO that rates the Junior Subordinated Debentures, in the
equity rating criteria for securities such as the Junior
Subordinated Debentures as is in effect on the date of this
prospectus supplement, which change results in lower equity
credit being given to the Junior Subordinated Debentures than
the equity credit that would have been given to the Junior
Subordinated Debentures in the absence of such change.
MetLife, Inc. will mail, or cause the Junior Subordinated
Trustee to mail, notice of every redemption of Junior
Subordinated Debentures by first class mail, postage prepaid,
addressed to the holders of record of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures to be redeemed at their respective last addresses
appearing on the register. Such mailing will be not less than
ten days and not more than 25 days before the date fixed
for redemption (the Redemption Date, and
such date of notice, the Notice Date). Any
notice mailed as provided in this paragraph will be conclusively
presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the holder
receives such notice, but failure duly to give such notice by
mail, or any defect in such notice or in the mailing of such
notice, to any holder of Junior Subordinated Debentures
designated for redemption will not affect the redemption of any
other Junior Subordinated Debentures. Each notice will state
(i) the Redemption Date; (ii) the redemption
price (or if not then ascertainable, the manner of calculation
thereof); (iii) that the Junior Subordinated Debentures are
being redeemed pursuant to the Junior Subordinated Indenture or
the terms of the Junior Subordinated Debentures together with
the facts permitting such redemption; (iv) if less than all
outstanding Junior Subordinated Debentures are to be redeemed,
the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the
principal amounts) of the particular Junior Subordinated
Debentures to be redeemed; (v) the place or places where
the Junior Subordinated Debentures are to be redeemed; and
(vi) that interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures to
be redeemed will cease to accrue on the Redemption Date.
Any Junior Subordinated Debentures to be redeemed pursuant to
the aforementioned notice will, on the applicable
Redemption Date, become due and payable at the redemption
price. From and after such date such Junior Subordinated
Debentures will cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any
such Junior Subordinated Debentures for redemption in accordance
with said notice, such Junior Subordinated Debentures will be
paid by MetLife, Inc. at the redemption price, subject to
certain conditions. If any Junior Subordinated Debentures called
for redemption are not so paid upon surrender thereof for
redemption, the redemption price will, until paid, bear interest
from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in
the security certificates representing Junior Subordinated
Debentures. Security certificates representing any Junior
Subordinated Debentures redeemed only in part will be
surrendered in accordance with the provisions of the Junior
Subordinated Indenture. In exchange for the unredeemed portion
of Junior Subordinated Debentures, new security certificates
representing Junior Subordinated Debentures in an aggregate
principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion will be
executed and delivered.
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Repayment
of Principal; Replacement Capital Obligation
The Junior Subordinated Debentures mature on August 1,
2069, which is the Final Maturity Date for
the Junior Subordinated Debentures. However, MetLife, Inc. has
agreed to repay the principal amount of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures, together with accrued and unpaid interest, on the
Scheduled Redemption Date, subject to the limitations
described below.
The Scheduled Redemption Date is August 1, 2039.
MetLife, Inc.s obligation to repay the Junior Subordinated
Debentures on the Scheduled Redemption Date is limited.
MetLife, Inc. is required to repay the Junior Subordinated
Debentures on the Scheduled Redemption Date only to the
extent that it has raised sufficient net proceeds during the
180-day
period ending on the Notice Date for the Scheduled
Redemption Date from the issuance of certain Qualifying
Capital Securities permitted to be issued pursuant to the
Replacement Capital Covenant described under Description
of the Replacement Capital Covenant. MetLife, Inc. will
covenant to use Commercially Reasonable Efforts, subject to a
Market Disruption Event and subject to its right to otherwise
redeem the Junior Subordinated Debentures as described under
Optional Redemption, to raise sufficient
net proceeds during such
180-day
period from the issuance of Qualifying Capital Securities to
permit repayment of the Junior Subordinated Debentures in full
on the Scheduled Redemption Date, which is referred to
herein as the Replacement Capital Obligation.
If MetLife, Inc. has not raised sufficient net proceeds during
such 180-day
period to permit repayment of all principal and accrued and
unpaid interest, including any Compounded Interest, to the
extent permitted by law, on the Junior Subordinated Debentures
on the Scheduled Redemption Date, MetLife, Inc. will
continue to use Commercially Reasonable Efforts, subject to the
limitations described in the immediately preceding sentence, to
raise sufficient net proceeds during the
90-day
period ending on the Notice Date for each subsequent Interest
Payment Date from the issuance of Qualifying Capital Securities
to permit repayment of the Junior Subordinated Debentures on the
next Interest Payment Date, and on each Interest Payment Date
thereafter, until the Junior Subordinated Debentures are paid in
full. We refer to each such
180-day and
90-day
period as a QCS Proceeds Collection Period.
Until the Junior Subordinated Debentures are so paid in full,
they will remain outstanding from quarter to quarter and bear
interest at a floating rate specified herein, payable quarterly
in arrears until repaid in accordance with their terms.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if MetLife, Inc. redeems the
Junior Subordinated Debentures when any deferred interest
remains unpaid and at a time when the Alternative Payment
Mechanism is otherwise applicable, the unpaid deferred interest
(including Compounded Interest, to the extent permitted by law)
may only be paid pursuant to the Alternative Payment Mechanism
(other than any interest that has accrued during an Optional
Deferral Period of less than five years, which may be paid out
of any source of funds), except that on the Final Maturity Date
and on the Acceleration Date, MetLife, Inc. may pay any accrued
and unpaid interest without regard to the source of funds.
The Replacement Capital Obligation will continue to apply until
(i) MetLife, Inc. has redeemed the Junior Subordinated
Debentures in full in accordance with the Replacement Capital
Obligation, (ii) the Junior Subordinated Debentures are
otherwise paid in full on the Final Maturity Date or
(iii) upon the occurrence of an Event of Default resulting
in acceleration of the Junior Subordinated Debentures. MetLife,
Inc.s failure to use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to
raise sufficient proceeds from the issuance and sale of
Qualifying Capital Securities, subject to a Market Disruption
Event and subject to MetLife, Inc.s right to otherwise
redeem the Junior Subordinated Debentures as described under
Optional Redemption, would be a breach
of covenant under the Junior Subordinated Indenture, for which
the Junior Subordinated Trustee and holders of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures, subject to certain conditions, may
bring suit for enforcement. However, in no event will such
failure be an Event of Default or result in acceleration
thereunder.
If any date fixed for redemption or repayment is not a Business
Day, then payment of the redemption price or repayment of the
principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be
made on the next day that is a Business Day, without any
interest or other payment as a result of such delay.
MetLife, Inc. generally may amend or supplement the Replacement
Capital Covenant without the consent of the holders of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures. With respect to the Qualifying
Capital Securities, on the other hand, MetLife, Inc. has agreed
in the Junior Subordinated Indenture that it will not amend the
Replacement Capital
S-50
Covenant to impose additional restrictions on the type or amount
of Qualifying Capital Securities that it may include for
purposes of determining when repayment, redemption or purchase
of the Junior Subordinated Debentures is permitted, except with
the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of
the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
Any principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Debentures,
together with accrued and unpaid interest, will be due and
payable on the Final Maturity Date, regardless of the amount of
Qualifying Capital Securities MetLife, Inc. has issued and sold
by that time.
Although under the Replacement Capital Covenant the principal
amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures that MetLife, Inc. may
repay, redeem or purchase at any time may be based on the net
cash proceeds from certain issuances of its common stock, rights
to acquire its common stock, Debt Exchangeable for Common
Equity, Debt Exchangeable for Preferred Equity and Mandatorily
Convertible Preferred Stock in addition to Qualifying Capital
Securities, MetLife, Inc. has no obligation under the Junior
Subordinated Indenture to use Commercially Reasonable Efforts to
issue any securities other than Qualifying Capital Securities or
to use the proceeds of the issuance of any other securities to
repay the Junior Subordinated Debentures on the Scheduled
Redemption Date or at any time thereafter.
Commercially Reasonable Efforts means
commercially reasonable efforts to complete the offer and sale
of Qualifying Capital Securities to third parties that are not
subsidiaries of MetLife, Inc. in public offerings or private
placements. For the avoidance of doubt, MetLife, Inc. will not
be considered to have used Commercially Reasonable Efforts if
MetLife, Inc. determines to not pursue or complete such sale due
to pricing, coupon, dividend rate or dilution considerations.
MetLife, Inc. will not be required to redeem the Junior
Subordinated Debentures on the Scheduled Redemption Date or
any Interest Payment Date following the Scheduled
Redemption Date (and prior to the Final Maturity Date), as
the case may be (each, a Required Repayment
Date), to the extent MetLife, Inc. provides written
certification to the Junior Subordinated Trustee (which the
Junior Subordinated Trustee will promptly forward upon receipt
to each holder of record of Junior Subordinated Debentures) on
the Notice Date for such Required Repayment Date certifying that
either:
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a Market Disruption Event was existing and continued during the
entire applicable QCS Proceeds Collection Period;
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a Market Disruption Event was existing and continued during a
part of the applicable QCS Proceeds Collection Period and
MetLife, Inc. was unable (after using Commercially Reasonable
Efforts) to raise sufficient net proceeds during such QCS
Proceeds Collection Period to permit repayment of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures in full on the applicable Required
Repayment Date; or
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no Market Disruption Event was existing during the applicable
QCS Proceeds Collection Period, but MetLife, Inc. was unable
(after using Commercially Reasonable Efforts) to raise
sufficient net proceeds during such QCS Proceeds Collection
Period to permit repayment of the Junior Subordinated Debentures
in full on the applicable Required Repayment Date.
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Net proceeds from the sale of Qualifying Capital Securities that
MetLife, Inc. is permitted to apply to repayment of Junior
Subordinated Debentures on and after the Scheduled
Redemption Date will be applied, first, to pay interest
that MetLife, Inc. is not paying from other sources (other than
interest required to be paid pursuant to the Alternative Payment
Mechanism) and, second, to repay the principal of Junior
Subordinated Debentures; provided that if MetLife, Inc.
raises less than $5 million of net proceeds from the sale
of Qualifying Capital Securities during the applicable QCS
Proceeds Collection Period, MetLife, Inc. will not be required
to repay any Junior Subordinated Debentures on the Scheduled
Redemption Date or the applicable quarterly Interest
Payment Date, as applicable, but it will use those net proceeds
to repay the Junior Subordinated Debentures on the next
quarterly Interest Payment Date as of which MetLife, Inc. has
raised at least $5 million of net proceeds;
provided, further, that if MetLife, Inc. is
obligated to sell Qualifying Capital Securities and apply the
net proceeds to payments of principal of or interest on any
outstanding securities in addition to the Junior Subordinated
Debentures, then on any date and for any period the amount of
net proceeds received by MetLife, Inc. from those sales and
available for such payments shall be applied to the Junior
Subordinated Debentures and those other securities having the
same
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Required Repayment Date or Scheduled Redemption Date as the
Junior Subordinated Debentures pro rata in accordance
with their respective outstanding principal amounts and none of
such net proceeds shall be applied to any other securities
having a later Required Repayment Date or Scheduled
Redemption Date until the principal of and all accrued and
unpaid interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures has been
paid in full.
Events of
Default
An Event of Default means:
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the failure to pay interest (including Compounded Interest) in
full, whether due to an Optional Deferral, during a Trigger
Period or otherwise, after the conclusion of a period of ten
consecutive years following the commencement of any deferral
period or on the Final Maturity Date;
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default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any,
on, the Junior Subordinated Debentures when due; or
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certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or receivership with
respect to MetLife, Inc., whether voluntary or not.
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Events of Default do not include failure to comply with or
breach of MetLife, Inc.s other covenants in the Junior
Subordinated Indenture with respect to the Junior Subordinated
Debentures (an Other Covenant Default),
including the covenant to sell MetLife, Inc.s common stock
through the Alternative Payment Mechanism as described herein.
Accordingly, an Other Covenant Default will not result in the
acceleration of payment of the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
Although an Other Covenant Default will not constitute an Event
of Default, it will otherwise constitute a default under the
Junior Subordinated Indenture and could give rise to a claim
against MetLife, Inc. relating to the specific breach; however,
the remedy of holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures may
be limited to direct monetary damages (if any). An Other
Covenant Default will only give rise to possible remedies if it
continues for 90 days after delivery of specified notice.
Holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures may not themselves
institute a proceeding against MetLife, Inc. on account of an
Other Covenant Default unless, among other things, the Junior
Subordinated Trustee fails to institute such a proceeding,
subject to the terms of the Junior Subordinated Indenture.
However, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures may direct the Junior
Subordinated Trustee to bring such a proceeding if an Other
Covenant Default continues for a period of 90 days after
delivery of specified notice to MetLife, Inc. from the Junior
Subordinated Trustee or to MetLife, Inc. and the Junior
Subordinated Trustee from the holders of a majority in principal
amount of the Junior Subordinated Debentures, subject to the
terms of the Junior Subordinated Indenture. Except with respect
to covenants relating to MetLife, Inc.s obligation to file
periodic or other reports and an annual statement with respect
to defaults under the Junior Subordinated Indenture, the Junior
Subordinated Indenture will not require the Junior Subordinated
Trustee to take any action in case of an Other Covenant Default
(other than to give notice of such Other Covenant Default to the
holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures under certain
circumstances, as described below) unless so directed by the
holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures. In the case of an
Other Covenant Default resulting from MetLife, Inc.s
failure or breach in regard to its obligation under the Junior
Subordinated Indenture to file periodic or other reports or the
annual statement with respect to defaults, such Other Covenant
Default, after its continuance for 90 days after delivery
of such specified notice, will be treated under the Junior
Subordinated Indenture as if it were an Event of Default and the
Junior Subordinated Trustee will have all of the rights, duties
and obligations, and the holders of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures will have all of the rights, in respect of such Other
Covenant Default as if such Other Covenant Default were such an
Event of Default, except that there will be no right to
accelerate the payment of the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
The Junior Subordinated Indenture provides, as to both Events of
Default and Other Covenant Defaults, that holders of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures only have the right to institute a
direct action against MetLife, Inc. upon compliance with certain
conditions specified in the Junior Subordinated Indenture. These
conditions include, among other things, prior notice by the
requisite percentage of holders of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures, offer of indemnification to the Junior Subordinated
Trustee, and failure of the Junior Subordinated Trustee to act
for 60 days.
Within 90 days after a default, the Junior Subordinated
Trustee must give to the holders of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures notice of all uncured and unwaived defaults by
MetLife, Inc. known to it. However,
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except in the case of default in payment, the Junior
Subordinated Trustee may withhold such notice if it determines
that such withholding is in the interest of such holders.
If an Event of Default occurs in respect of any outstanding
Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Junior Subordinated Trustee
or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the
outstanding Junior Subordinated Debentures may declare the
principal amount, premium, if any, and all unpaid and accrued
interest (other than Foregone Interest in case of certain events
of bankruptcy, insolvency or receivership, whether voluntary or
not) to be due and payable immediately by written notice thereof
to MetLife, Inc., and to the Junior Subordinated Trustee if
given by the holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures,
subject to the terms of the Junior Subordinated Indenture;
provided that, in the case of an Event of Default
involving certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization, acceleration will be automatic. However, the
payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the
Junior Subordinated Debentures will remain subordinated to the
extent provided in the Junior Subordinated Indenture. In
addition, at any time after such a declaration of acceleration
but before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has
been obtained, the holders of a majority in principal amount of
the Junior Subordinated Debentures may, subject to specified
conditions, rescind and annul such acceleration if all Events of
Default, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal, or
premium, if any, or interest on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures have been cured or waived as provided in the Junior
Subordinated Indenture.
Discharge,
Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
The discharge, defeasance and covenant defeasance provisions of
the Junior Subordinated Indenture will apply to the Junior
Subordinated Debentures. You should refer to the description of
these provisions under Description of Debt
Securities Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant
Defeasance in the accompanying prospectus;
provided, that any defeasance of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures will be subject to the Replacement Capital Covenant
described under Description of the Replacement Capital
Covenant in this prospectus supplement.
Modification
of Junior Subordinated Indenture
The modification provisions of the Junior Subordinated Indenture
will apply to the Junior Subordinated Debentures. You should
refer to the description of these provisions under
Description of Debt Securities Modification
and Waiver in the accompanying prospectus.
In addition, we will be permitted to modify, without consent of
holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures, the definition of
Shares Available for Issuance and the related
provisions of the Junior Subordinated Indenture; provided
that (i) we have determined, in good faith, that such
modification is not materially adverse to such holders,
(ii) the Rating Agencies then rating the Junior
Subordinated Debentures confirm the then current ratings of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures and (iii) the number of
Shares Available for Issuance after giving effect to such
modification will not fall below the then applicable threshold.
Governing
Law
The Junior Subordinated Indenture and the Junior Subordinated
Debentures will be governed by, and construed in accordance
with, the internal laws of the State of New York.
About the
Junior Subordinated Trustee
The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (as
successor to J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National
Association) is the Junior Subordinated Trustee and will be the
principal paying agent, calculation agent and registrar for the
Junior Subordinated Debentures. MetLife, Inc. has entered, and
from time to time may continue to enter, into banking or other
relationships with The Bank of New York Mellon
Trust Company, N.A. or its affiliates.
The Junior Subordinated Trustee may resign or be removed with
respect to one or more series of debt securities under the
Junior Subordinated Indenture, and a successor Junior
Subordinated Trustee may be appointed to act with respect to
such series.
S-53
DESCRIPTION
OF THE REPLACEMENT CAPITAL COVENANT
The following summary describes the material terms and
conditions of the Replacement Capital Covenant. This description
is qualified in its entirety by reference to the terms and
provisions of the Replacement Capital Covenant. A copy of the
Replacement Capital Covenant may be obtained upon request to
MetLife, Inc. at its address set forth under Where You Can
Find More Information, and a copy will also be filed with
the SEC as an exhibit to a Current Report on
Form 8-K.
MetLife, Inc. will covenant in the Replacement Capital Covenant
for the benefit of Covered Debtholders that MetLife, Inc. will
not repay, redeem or purchase, and will cause its subsidiaries
not to repay, redeem or purchase, as applicable, the Junior
Subordinated Debentures prior to August 1, 2059, except to
the extent that the principal amount repaid or the applicable
redemption, repayment or purchase price does not exceed the
Applicable Percentage of the aggregate amount of net cash
proceeds received by MetLife, Inc. and its subsidiaries since
the most recent Measurement Date (without double counting
proceeds received in any prior Measurement Period) from the sale
of MetLife, Inc.s common stock, rights to acquire common
stock, Mandatorily Convertible Preferred Stock, Debt
Exchangeable for Common Equity, Debt Exchangeable for Preferred
Equity and Qualifying Capital Securities (collectively,
Replacement Capital Securities).
MetLife, Inc.s covenants in the Replacement Capital
Covenant run only to the benefit of Covered Debtholders. The
Replacement Capital Covenant is not intended for the benefit of
holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures and may not be
enforced by them, and the Replacement Capital Covenant is not a
term of the Junior Subordinated Indenture or the Junior
Subordinated Debentures, except that MetLife, Inc. will agree in
the Junior Subordinated Indenture that MetLife, Inc. will not
amend the Replacement Capital Covenant to impose additional
restrictions on the type or amount of Qualifying Capital
Securities that MetLife, Inc. may include for purposes of
determining when repayment, redemption or purchase of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures is permitted, except with the consent of
the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures. The initial series of Covered Debt is
MetLife, Inc.s 5.70% Senior Notes due 2035 (the
Initial Covered Debt). The Replacement
Capital Covenant includes provisions requiring MetLife, Inc. to
redesignate a new series of indebtedness if the Covered Debt
approaches maturity, becomes subject to a redemption notice or
is reduced to less than $100 million in outstanding
principal amount, subject to additional procedures. MetLife,
Inc. expects that, at all times prior to August 1, 2059,
MetLife, Inc. will be subject to the Replacement Capital
Covenant and, accordingly, will be restricted in its ability to
repay, redeem or purchase the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
MetLife, Inc.s ability to raise proceeds from the
Replacement Capital Securities during the applicable Measurement
Period with respect to any proposed repayment, redemption or
purchase of the Junior Subordinated Debentures will depend on,
among other things, market conditions at that time as well as
the acceptability to prospective investors of the terms of those
Replacement Capital Securities.
MetLife, Inc. may amend or supplement the Replacement Capital
Covenant from time to time with the consent of the holders of at
least a majority in principal amount of the then-effective
series of indebtedness benefiting from the Replacement Capital
Covenant, which is defined in the Replacement Capital Covenant
as Covered Debt. MetLife, Inc. may, acting
alone and without the consent of such holders, amend or
supplement the Replacement Capital Covenant if (i) the
effect of such amendment or supplement is solely to impose
additional restrictions on the types of securities qualifying as
Replacement Capital Securities, and one of MetLife, Inc.s
officers has delivered to such holders in the manner provided
for in the indenture, fiscal agency agreement or other
instrument with respect to such Covered Debt a written
certificate to that effect, (ii) such amendment or
supplement is not adverse to such holders and one of MetLife,
Inc.s officers has delivered to such holders in the manner
provided for in the indenture, fiscal agency agreement or other
instrument with respect to such Covered Debt a written
certificate stating that, in his or her determination, such
amendment or supplement is not adverse to such holders, or
(iii) such amendment or supplement eliminates common stock,
rights to acquire common stock, Debt Exchangeable for Common
Equity
and/or
Mandatorily Convertible Preferred Stock as Replacement Capital
Securities if, after the date of the Replacement Capital
Covenant, an accounting standard or interpretive guidance of an
existing accounting standard issued by an organization or
regulator that has responsibility for establishing or
interpreting accounting standards in the United States becomes
effective such that there is more than an insubstantial risk
that failure to eliminate common stock, rights to acquire common
stock, Debt Exchangeable for Common Stock
and/or
Mandatorily
S-54
Convertible Preferred Stock as a Replacement Capital Security
would result in a reduction in MetLife, Inc.s earnings per
share, as calculated in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles in the United States.
The Replacement Capital Covenant will terminate upon the
earliest to occur of (i) August 1, 2059, or, if
earlier, the date on which the Junior Subordinated Debentures
are otherwise repaid, redeemed or purchased in full in
compliance with the Replacement Capital Covenant, (ii) the
date, if any, on which the holders of a majority in principal
amount of the then-effective specified series of Covered Debt
consent or agree to the termination of the Replacement Capital
Covenant and MetLife, Inc.s obligations thereunder,
(iii) the date on which MetLife, Inc. ceases to have any
series of outstanding eligible senior debt or eligible
subordinated debt (in each case, without giving effect to the
rating requirement in clause (b) of the definition of each
such term), (iv) the date on which an Event of Default
under the Junior Subordinated Indenture resulting in an
acceleration of the Junior Subordinated Debentures occurs and
(v) a Change of Control Event.
For the avoidance of doubt, any reference in this section
Description of the Replacement Capital Covenant to
any repayment of MetLife, Inc.s securities will be deemed
to include a reference to defeasance of its obligations under
such securities.
Applicable Percentage means:
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in the case of any common stock or Qualifying Warrants,
(a) 133.33% with respect to any repayment, redemption or
purchase prior to August 1, 2039, (b) 200% with
respect to any repayment, redemption or purchase on or after
August 1, 2039 and prior to August 1, 2049 and
(c) 400% with respect to any repayment, redemption or
purchase on or after August 1, 2049;
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in the case of any Mandatorily Convertible Preferred Stock, Debt
Exchangeable for Common Equity or Debt Exchangeable for
Preferred Equity, (a) 100% with respect to any repayment,
redemption or purchase prior to August 1, 2039,
(b) 150% with respect to any repayment, redemption or
purchase on or after August 1, 2039 and prior to
August 1, 2049 and (c) 300% with respect to any
repayment, redemption or purchase on or after August 1,
2049;
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in the case of any Qualifying Capital Securities described in
clause (a) of the definition of that term, (i) 100%
with respect to any repayment, redemption or purchase prior to
August 1, 2039, (ii) 150% with respect to any
repayment, redemption or purchase on or after August 1,
2039 and prior to August 1, 2049 and (iii) 300% with
respect to any repayment, redemption or purchase on or after
August 1, 2049;
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in the case of any Qualifying Capital Securities described in
clauses (b)(ii) through (b)(ix) of the definition of that term,
(i) 100% with respect to any repayment, redemption or
purchase on or after August 1, 2039 and prior to
August 1, 2049 and (ii) 200% with respect to any
repayment, redemption or purchase on or after August 1,
2049; and
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in the case of any Qualifying Capital Securities described in
clauses (c)(ii) through (c)(vii) of the definition of that term,
100%.
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Below Investment Grade Rating Event means
MetLife, Inc.s senior unsecured credit rating from each of
the Rating Agencies is below Investment Grade on any date from
the date of the public notice of an arrangement that could
result in a Change of Control until the end of the
60-day
period following public notice of the occurrence of a Change of
Control (which period shall be extended so long as the senior
unsecured credit rating of MetLife, Inc. is under publicly
announced consideration for possible downgrade by any of the
Rating Agencies); provided that a Below Investment Grade
Rating Event otherwise arising by virtue of a particular
reduction in rating shall not be deemed to have occurred in
respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus shall not be
deemed a Below Investment Grade Rating Event for purposes of the
definition of Change of Control Event hereunder) if the Rating
Agencies making the reduction in rating to which this definition
would otherwise apply do not announce or publicly confirm or
inform MetLife, Inc. in writing at its request that the
reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or
circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in
respect of, the applicable Change of Control (whether or not the
applicable Change of Control shall have occurred at the time of
the Below Investment Grade Rating Event).
S-55
Change of Control means the occurrence of any
of the following:
(a) the consummation of any direct or indirect sale,
transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of
amalgamation, merger, consolidation or scheme of arrangement),
in one or a series of related transactions, of all or
substantially all of the properties or assets of MetLife, Inc.
and those of its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any
person (as that term is used in
Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), other than the
Issuer or another wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife, Inc.;
(b) the consummation of any transaction (including, without
limitation, any amalgamation, merger, consolidation or scheme of
arrangement) the result of which is that any person
(as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange
Act), other than MetLife, Inc. or another wholly-owned
subsidiary of MetLife, Inc., becomes the beneficial owner,
directly or indirectly, of more than or equal to 50% of the
Voting Shares of MetLife, Inc., measured by voting power rather
than number of shares; or
(c) the first day on which a majority of the members of
MetLife, Inc.s board of directors are not Continuing
Directors.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction effected to create
a holding company for MetLife, Inc. will not be deemed to
involve a change of control if (1) pursuant to such
transaction MetLife, Inc. becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of
such holding company and (2) the holders of the Voting
Shares of such holding company immediately following such
transaction are the same as the holders of the Voting Shares of
MetLife, Inc. immediately prior to such transaction.
Change of Control Event means the occurrence
of a Change of Control and a Below Investment Grade Rating Event.
Debt Exchangeable for Common Equity means a
security or combination of securities (together in this
definition, such securities) that:
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gives the holder a beneficial interest in (x) a fractional
interest in a stock purchase contract for MetLife, Inc. common
stock that will be settled in three years or less, with the
number of shares of common stock purchasable pursuant to such
stock purchase contract to be within a range established at the
time of issuance of such subordinated debt securities, subject
to customary anti-dilution adjustments and (y) subordinated
debt securities of MetLife, Inc. or any of its subsidiaries that
are non-callable prior to the settlement date of the stock
purchase contracts;
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provides that the holders directly or indirectly grant MetLife,
Inc. a security interest in such subordinated debt securities
and their proceeds (including any substitute collateral
permitted under the transaction documents) to secure the
holders direct or indirect obligation to purchase shares
of MetLife, Inc. common stock pursuant to such stock purchase
contracts;
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includes a remarketing feature pursuant to which the
subordinated debt securities are remarketed to new investors
commencing not later than the last Distribution Date that is at
least one month prior to the settlement date of the stock
purchase contract; and
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provides for the proceeds raised in the remarketing to be used
to purchase shares of MetLife common stock under the stock
purchase contracts and, if there has not been a successful
remarketing by the settlement date of the stock purchase
contract, provides that the stock purchase contracts will be
settled by MetLife, Inc. exercising its remedies as a secured
party with respect to the subordinated debt securities or other
collateral directly or indirectly pledged by holders in the Debt
Exchangeable for Common Equity.
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Debt Exchangeable for Preferred Equity means
a security or combination of securities (together in this
definition, such securities) that:
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gives the holder a beneficial interest in (a) subordinated
debt securities of MetLife, Inc. or one of its subsidiaries (in
this definition, the issuer) that include a
provision permitting the issuer to defer Distributions in whole
or in part on such securities for one or more Distribution
Periods of up to at least seven years without any remedies other
than Permitted Remedies and that are the most junior
subordinated debt of the issuer (or rank pari passu with
the most junior subordinated debt of the issuer) and (b) an
interest
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S-56
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in a stock purchase contract that obligates the holder to
acquire a beneficial interest in Qualifying Non-Cumulative
Perpetual Preferred Stock;
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provides that the holders directly or indirectly grant to
MetLife, Inc. a security interest in such subordinated debt
securities and their proceeds (including any substitute
collateral permitted under the transaction documents) to secure
the investors direct or indirect obligation to purchase
Qualifying Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock pursuant to
such stock purchase contracts;
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includes a remarketing feature pursuant to which the
subordinated debt of the issuer is remarketed to new investors
commencing not later than the first Distribution Date that is at
least five years after the date of issuance of such securities
or earlier in the event of an early settlement event based on
(a) one or more financial tests set forth in the terms of
the instrument governing the terms of such Debt Exchangeable for
Preferred Equity or (b) the dissolution of the issuer of
such Debt Exchangeable for Preferred Equity;
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provides for the proceeds raised in the remarketing to be used
to purchase Qualifying Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock
under the stock purchase contracts and, if there has not been a
successful remarketing by the first Distribution Date that is
six years after the date of issuance of such securities,
provides that the stock purchase contracts will be settled by
MetLife, Inc. exercising its rights as a secured creditor with
respect to the subordinated debt securities or other collateral
directly or indirectly pledged by investors in the Debt
Exchangeable for Preferred Equity;
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includes a Qualifying Replacement Capital Covenant that will
apply to such securities and to any Qualifying Non-Cumulative
Perpetual Preferred Stock issued pursuant to the stock purchase
contracts; provided that such Qualifying Replacement
Capital Covenant may not include Debt Exchangeable for Common
Equity or Debt Exchangeable for Preferred Equity as a
replacement security; and
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after the issuance of such Qualifying Non-Cumulative Perpetual
Preferred Stock, provides the holder with a beneficial interest
in such Qualifying Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock.
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Mandatorily Convertible Preferred Stock means
cumulative preferred stock with (a) no prepayment
obligation on the part of the issuer thereof, whether at the
election of the holders or otherwise, and (b) a requirement
that such cumulative preferred stock convert into common stock
within three years from the date of its issuance at a conversion
ratio within a range established at the time of issuance of such
cumulative preferred stock, subject to customary anti-dilution
adjustments.
Measurement Date means: (a) with respect
to any repayment, redemption or purchase of Junior Subordinated
Debentures on or prior to the Scheduled Redemption Date,
the date that is 180 days, and (b) with respect to any
repayment, redemption or purchase of Junior Subordinated
Debentures after the Scheduled Redemption Date, the date
that is 90 days, in each case prior to delivery of notice
of such repayment or redemption or prior to the date of such
purchase.
Measurement Period means the period from a
Measurement Date to the related notice date or repurchase date.
Measurement periods cannot run concurrently.
Qualifying Capital Securities means
securities (other than common stock, rights to acquire common
stock, Mandatorily Convertible Preferred Stock, Debt
Exchangeable for Common Equity and Debt Exchangeable for
Preferred Equity) that, in the determination of MetLife,
Inc.s board of directors reasonably construing the
definitions and other terms of the Replacement Capital Covenant,
meet one of the following criteria:
(a) in connection with any repayment, redemption or
purchase of Junior Subordinated Debentures on or prior to
August 1, 2039:
(i) securities issued by MetLife, Inc. or its subsidiaries
that (a) rank pari passu with or junior to the
Junior Subordinated Debentures (or would rank pari passu
with or junior to the Junior Subordinated Debentures upon
the issuance thereof) upon MetLife, Inc.s liquidation,
dissolution or winding up, (b) have no maturity or a
maturity of at least 60 years and (c) either
(x) are subject to a Qualifying Replacement Capital
Covenant and have either a No Payment Provision or are
Non-Cumulative or
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(y) have a Mandatory Trigger Provision and are subject to
Intent-Based Replacement Disclosure and have either an Optional
Deferral Provision or a No Payment Provision;
(ii) preferred stock issued by MetLife, Inc. or its
subsidiaries that (a) is Non-Cumulative, (b) has no
prepayment obligation on the part of the issuer thereof, whether
at the election of the holders or otherwise, (c) has no
maturity or a maturity of at least 60 years and
(d) either (x) is subject to a Qualifying Replacement
Capital Covenant or (y) has a Mandatory Trigger Provision
and is subject to Intent-Based Replacement Disclosure; or
(iii) securities issued by MetLife, Inc. or its
subsidiaries that (a) rank pari passu or junior to
other preferred stock of the issuer, (b) have no maturity
or a maturity of at least 40 years, (c) are subject to
a Qualifying Replacement Capital Covenant, (d) have an
Optional Deferral Provision and (e) have a Mandatory
Trigger Provision;
(b) in connection with any repayment, redemption or
purchase of Junior Subordinated Debentures at any time after
August 1, 2039 but on or prior to August 1, 2049:
(i) all securities that would be Qualifying Capital
Securities on or prior to August 1, 2039;
(ii) securities issued by MetLife, Inc. or its subsidiaries
that (a) rank pari passu with or junior to the
Junior Subordinated Debentures (or would rank pari passu
with or junior to the Junior Subordinated Debentures upon
the issuance thereof) upon MetLife, Inc.s liquidation,
dissolution or winding up, (b) have no maturity or a
maturity of at least 60 years, (c) are subject to a
Qualifying Replacement Capital Covenant and (d) have an
Optional Deferral Provision;
(iii) securities issued by MetLife, Inc. or its
subsidiaries that (a) rank pari passu with or junior
to the Junior Subordinated Debentures (or would rank pari
passu with or junior to the Junior Subordinated Debentures
upon the issuance thereof) upon MetLife, Inc.s
liquidation, dissolution or winding up, (b) are
Non-Cumulative or have a No Payment Provision and (c)
(x) have no maturity or a maturity of at least
60 years and (y) are subject to Intent-Based
Replacement Disclosure;
(iv) securities issued by MetLife, Inc. or its subsidiaries
that (a) rank pari passu with or junior to the
Junior Subordinated Debentures (or would rank pari passu
with or junior to the Junior Subordinated Debentures upon
the issuance thereof) upon MetLife, Inc.s liquidation,
dissolution or winding up, (b) are Non-Cumulative or have a
No Payment Provision, (c) have no maturity or a maturity of
at least 40 years and (d) are subject to a Qualifying
Replacement Capital Covenant;
(v) securities issued by MetLife, Inc. or its subsidiaries
that (a) rank pari passu with or junior to the
Junior Subordinated Debentures (or would rank pari passu
with or junior to the Junior Subordinated Debentures upon
the issuance thereof) upon MetLife, Inc.s liquidation,
dissolution or winding up, (b) have an Optional Deferral
Provision, (c) have no maturity or a maturity of at least
40 years, (d) are subject to Intent-Based Replacement
Disclosure and (e) have a Mandatory Trigger Provision;
(vi) securities issued by MetLife, Inc. or its subsidiaries
that (a) rank pari passu with or junior to the
Junior Subordinated Debentures (or would rank pari passu
with or junior to the Junior Subordinated Debentures upon
the issuance thereof) upon MetLife, Inc.s liquidation,
dissolution or winding up, (b) have an Optional Deferral
Provision, (c) have no maturity or a maturity of at least
25 years, (d) have a Qualifying Replacement Capital
Covenant and (e) have a Mandatory Trigger Provision;
(vii) securities issued by MetLife, Inc. or its
subsidiaries that (a) rank pari passu with or junior
to the Junior Subordinated Debentures (or would rank pari
passu with or junior to the Junior Subordinated Debentures
upon the issuance thereof) upon MetLife, Inc.s
liquidation, dissolution or winding up, (b) have an
Optional Deferral Provision, (c) have a Mandatory Trigger
Provision and (d) have no maturity or a maturity of at
least 60 years;
(viii) cumulative preferred stock issued by MetLife, Inc.
or its subsidiaries that (a) has no prepayment obligation
on the part of the issuer thereof, whether at the election of
the holders or
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otherwise, and (b) (x) has no maturity or a maturity of at
least 60 years and (y) is subject to a Qualifying
Replacement Capital Covenant; or
(ix) other securities issued by MetLife, Inc. or its
subsidiaries that (a) rank upon MetLife, Inc.s
liquidation, dissolution or
winding-up
either (x) pari passu with or junior to the Junior
Subordinated Debentures (or would rank pari passu with or
junior to the Junior Subordinated Debentures upon the issuance
thereof) or (y) pari passu with the claims of
MetLife, Inc.s trade creditors and junior to all of
MetLife, Inc.s long-term indebtedness for money borrowed
(other than MetLife, Inc.s long-term indebtedness for
money borrowed from time to time outstanding that by its terms
ranks pari passu with such securities on its liquidation,
dissolution or
winding-up),
(b) have an Optional Deferral Provision or a No Payment
Provision, (c) have a Mandatory Trigger Provision and
(d) either (x) have no maturity or a maturity of at
least 40 years and Intent-Based Replacement Disclosure or
(y) have no maturity or a maturity of at least
25 years and are subject to a Qualifying Replacement
Capital Covenant;
(c) in connection with any repayment, redemption or
purchase of Junior Subordinated Debentures at any time after
August 1, 2049:
(i) all securities that would be Qualifying Capital
Securities after August 1, 2039 but on or prior to
August 1, 2049;
(ii) preferred stock issued by MetLife, Inc. that (a)
(x) has no maturity or a maturity of at least 50 years
and (y) is subject to Intent-Based Replacement Disclosure
and (b) is Non-Cumulative;
(iii) securities issued by MetLife, Inc. or its
subsidiaries that (a) rank pari passu with or junior
to the Junior Subordinated Debentures (or would rank pari
passu with or junior to the Junior Subordinated Debentures
upon the issuance thereof) upon MetLife, Inc.s
liquidation, dissolution or winding up, (b) either
(x) have no maturity or a maturity of at least
60 years and are subject to Intent-Based Replacement
Disclosure or (y) have no maturity or a maturity at least
30 years and are subject to a Qualifying Replacement
Capital Covenant and (c) are Non-Cumulative;
(iv) securities issued by MetLife, Inc. or its subsidiaries
that (a) rank pari passu with or junior to the
Junior Subordinated Debentures (or would rank pari passu
with or junior to the Junior Subordinated Debentures upon
the issuance thereof) upon MetLife, Inc.s liquidation,
dissolution or winding up, (b) have an Optional Deferral
Provision, (c) have a Mandatory Trigger Provision and (d)
(x) have no maturity or a maturity of at least
30 years and (y) are subject to Intent-Based
Replacement Disclosure;
(v) securities issued by MetLife, Inc. or its subsidiaries
that rank senior to the Junior Subordinated Debentures upon
MetLife, Inc.s liquidation, dissolution or winding up, and
(a) have no maturity or a maturity of at least
60 years and either (x) have an Optional Deferral
Provision and are subject to a Qualifying Replacement Capital
Covenant or (y) (i) have either a No Payment Provision or
are Non-Cumulative and (ii) are subject to Intent-Based
Replacement Disclosure;
(vi) securities issued by MetLife, Inc. or its subsidiaries
that rank senior to the Junior Subordinated Debentures upon
MetLife, Inc.s liquidation, dissolution or winding up, and
(a) have no maturity or a maturity of at least
40 years and either (x) (i) have either a No Payment
Provision or are Non-Cumulative and (ii) are subject to a
Qualifying Replacement Capital Covenant or (y) have a
Mandatory Trigger Provision and an Optional Deferral Provision
and are subject to Intent-Based Replacement Disclosure; or
(vii) cumulative preferred stock issued by MetLife, Inc. or
its subsidiaries that either (a) (x) has no maturity or a
maturity of at least 60 years and (y) is subject to
Intent-Based Replacement Disclosure or (b) has a maturity
of at least 40 years and is subject to a Qualifying
Replacement Capital Covenant.
Notwithstanding (and as a qualification to) the foregoing, in
the case of each Qualifying Capital Security that includes a
Significant Distribution Rate
Step-Up,
each reference in this definition to Intent-Based
Replacement Disclosure shall instead be deemed to read
a Qualifying Replacement Capital Covenant.
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For purposes of the definitions provided above, the following
terms shall have the following meanings:
Alternative Payment Mechanism means, with
respect to any securities or combination of securities (together
in this definition, such securities),
provisions in the related transaction documents requiring
MetLife, Inc. to issue (or use APM Commercially Reasonable
Efforts to issue) one or more types of APM Qualifying Securities
raising eligible proceeds at least equal to the deferred
Distributions on such securities and apply the proceeds to pay
unpaid Distributions on such securities, commencing on the
earlier of (x) the first Distribution Date after
commencement of a deferral period on which MetLife, Inc. pays
current Distributions on such securities and (y) the fifth
anniversary of the commencement of such deferral period, and
that:
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define eligible proceeds to mean, for purposes of
such Alternative Payment Mechanism, the net proceeds (after
underwriters or placement agents fees, commissions
or discounts and other expenses relating to the issuance or sale
of the relevant securities, where applicable, and including the
fair market value of property received by MetLife, Inc. or any
of its subsidiaries as consideration for such securities) that
MetLife, Inc. has received during the 180 days prior to the
related Distribution Date from the issuance of APM Qualifying
Securities, up to the preferred cap in the case of APM
Qualifying Securities that are Qualifying Non-Cumulative
Perpetual Preferred Stock and Mandatorily Convertible Preferred
Stock;
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permit MetLife, Inc. to pay current Distributions on any
Distribution Date out of any source of funds but
(x) require MetLife, Inc. to pay deferred Distributions
only out of eligible proceeds and (y) prohibit MetLife,
Inc. from paying deferred Distributions out of any source of
funds other than eligible proceeds, unless (if MetLife, Inc.
elects to so provide in the terms of such securities) an
Applicable Governmental Authority directs otherwise or an event
of default has occurred that results in the acceleration of such
securities;
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include a Repurchase Restriction that applies if deferral of
Distributions continues for more than one year;
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notwithstanding the foregoing bullet point, if an Applicable
Governmental Authority disapproves the issuers sale of APM
Qualifying Securities, may (if MetLife, Inc. elects to so
provide in the terms of such securities) permit MetLife, Inc. to
pay deferred Distributions from any source without a breach of
MetLife, Inc.s obligations under the transaction documents;
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if an Applicable Governmental Authority does not disapprove
MetLife, Inc.s issuance and sale of APM Qualifying
Securities but disapproves the use of the proceeds thereof to
pay deferred Distributions, may (if MetLife, Inc. elects to so
provide in the terms of such securities) permit MetLife, Inc. to
use such proceeds for other purposes and to continue to defer
Distributions without a breach of its obligations under the
transaction documents; and
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limit MetLife, Inc.s obligation to issue (or use APM
Commercially Reasonable Efforts to issue) APM Qualifying
Securities up to:
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in the case of APM Qualifying Securities that are common stock
or Qualifying Warrants, an amount from the issuance thereof
pursuant to the Alternative Payment Mechanism (including at any
point in time from all prior issuances thereof pursuant to the
Alternative Payment Mechanism) with respect to deferred
Distributions attributable to the first five years of any
deferral period equal (a) to 2% of the product of the
average of the current stock market prices of the common stock
on the ten consecutive trading days ending on the fourth trading
day immediately preceding the date of issuance multiplied by the
total number of issued and outstanding shares of common stock as
of the date of MetLife, Inc.s most recent publicly
available consolidated financial statements or (b) to a
number of shares of common stock and shares purchasable upon
exercise of Qualifying Warrants, in the aggregate, not in excess
of 2% of the outstanding number of shares of common stock (the
common cap), provided (and it being
understood) that the common cap shall cease to apply to such
deferral period by a date (as specified in the related
transaction documents) which shall be not later than the ninth
anniversary of the commencement of such deferral period;
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in the case of APM Qualifying Securities that are Qualifying
Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock or Mandatorily
Convertible Preferred Stock, an amount from the issuance thereof
pursuant to the related Alternative Payment Mechanism (including
at any point in time from all prior issuances thereof pursuant
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to such Alternative Payment Mechanism) equal to 25% of the
initial principal or stated amount of the securities that are
the subject of the related Alternative Payment Mechanism (the
preferred cap);
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in the case of Qualifying Capital Securities other than
Qualifying Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, include a
Bankruptcy Claim Limitation Provision;
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may include a provision that limits MetLife, Inc.s ability
to sell its common stock, Qualifying Warrants or Mandatorily
Convertible Preferred Stock above an aggregate cap specified in
the transaction documents (a share cap),
subject to MetLife, Inc.s agreement to use commercially
reasonable efforts to increase the share cap amount
(i) only to the extent that it can do so and simultaneously
satisfy its future fixed or contingent obligations under other
securities and derivative instruments that provide for
settlement or payment in common stock or (ii) if MetLife,
Inc. cannot increase the share cap amount as contemplated in
clause (i) above, by requesting MetLife, Inc.s board
of directors to adopt a resolution for a stockholder vote at the
next occurring annual stockholders meeting to increase the
number of authorized common stock for purposes of satisfying the
issuers obligations to pay deferred Distributions; and
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permit MetLife, Inc., at its option, to provide that if it is
involved in an amalgamation, merger, consolidation,
amalgamation, binding share exchange or conveyance, transfer or
lease of assets substantially as an entirety to any other person
or a similar transaction (a Business
Combination) where immediately after the consummation
of the Business Combination more than 50% of the surviving or
resulting entitys voting shares are owned by the
stockholders of the other party to the Business Combination,
then the first three bullet points of this definition will not
apply to any deferral period that is terminated on the next
Distribution Date following the date of consummation of the
Business Combination;
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provided (and it being understood) that:
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MetLife, Inc. shall not be obligated to issue (or use APM
Commercially Reasonable Efforts to issue) APM Qualifying
Securities for so long as a Market Disruption Event has occurred
and is continuing;
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if, due to a Market Disruption Event or otherwise, MetLife, Inc.
is able to raise and apply some, but not all, of the eligible
proceeds necessary to pay all deferred Distributions on any
Distribution Date, MetLife, Inc. will apply any available
eligible proceeds to pay accrued and unpaid Distributions on the
applicable Distribution Date in chronological order subject to
the common cap, the share cap and the preferred cap, as
applicable; and
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if MetLife, Inc. has outstanding more than one class or series
of securities under which MetLife, Inc. is obligated to sell a
type of APM Qualifying Securities and apply some part of the
proceeds to the payment of deferred Distributions, then on any
date and for any period the amount of net proceeds received by
MetLife, Inc. from those sales and available for payment of
deferred Distributions on such securities shall be applied to
such securities on a pro rata basis up to the common cap,
the share cap and the preferred cap, as applicable, in
proportion to the total amounts that are due on such securities,
or on such other basis as an Applicable Governmental Authority
may approve.
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APM Commercially Reasonable Efforts means
commercially reasonable efforts to complete the offer and sale
of APM Qualifying Securities to third parties that are not
subsidiaries of MetLife, Inc. in public offerings or private
placements. For the avoidance of doubt, MetLife, Inc. will not
be considered to have used APM Commercially Reasonable Efforts
if MetLife, Inc. determines to not pursue or complete such sale
due to pricing, coupon, dividend rate or dilution considerations.
APM Qualifying Securities means, with respect
to an Alternative Payment Mechanism or a Mandatory Trigger
Provision, one or more of the following (as designated in the
transaction documents for the Qualifying Capital Securities that
include an Alternative Payment Mechanism or a Mandatory Trigger
Provision, as applicable):
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common stock;
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Qualifying Warrants;
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S-61
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Qualifying Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock; or
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Mandatorily Convertible Preferred Stock;
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provided (and it being understood) that:
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if the APM Qualifying Securities for any Alternative Payment
Mechanism or Mandatory Trigger Provision include both common
stock and Qualifying Warrants,
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such Alternative Payment Mechanism or Mandatory Trigger
Provision may permit, but need not require, MetLife, Inc. to
issue Qualifying Warrants; and
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MetLife, Inc. may, without the consent of the holders of the
Qualifying Capital Securities, amend the definition of APM
Qualifying Securities to eliminate common stock or Qualifying
Warrants (but not both) from the definition if, after the issue
date, an accounting standard or interpretive guidance of an
existing accounting standard issued by an organization or
regulator that has responsibility for establishing or
interpreting accounting standards in the United States becomes
effective so that there is more than an insubstantial risk that
the failure to do so would result in a reduction in MetLife,
Inc.s earnings per share as calculated for financial
reporting purposes; and
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if the APM Qualifying Securities for any Alternative Payment
Mechanism or Mandatory Trigger Provision include Mandatorily
Convertible Preferred Stock,
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such Alternative Payment Mechanism or Mandatory Trigger
Provision may permit, but need not require, MetLife, Inc. to
issue Mandatorily Convertible Preferred Stock; and
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MetLife, Inc. may, without the consent of the holders of the
Qualifying Capital Securities, amend the definition of APM
Qualifying Securities to eliminate Mandatorily Convertible
Preferred Stock from the definition if, after the issue date, an
accounting standard or interpretive guidance of an existing
accounting standard issued by an organization or regulator that
has responsibility for establishing or interpreting accounting
standards in the United States becomes effective so that there
is more than an insubstantial risk that the failure to do so
would result in a reduction in MetLife, Inc.s earnings per
share as calculated for financial reporting purposes.
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Applicable Governmental Authority means any
regulatory body, administrative agency, or governmental body
having jurisdiction over MetLife, Inc. or any subsidiary
thereof, including, without limitation, any insurance regulatory
authority and the Federal Reserve Board.
Bankruptcy Claim Limitation Provision means,
with respect to any Qualifying Capital Securities that have an
Alternative Payment Mechanism or a Mandatory Trigger Provision,
provisions that, upon any liquidation, dissolution, winding up
or reorganization or in connection with any insolvency,
receivership or proceeding under any bankruptcy law with respect
to the issuer or MetLife, Inc., limit the claim of the holders
of such securities to Distributions that accumulate during
(a) any deferral period, in the case of securities that
have an Alternative Payment Mechanism or (b) any period in
which MetLife, Inc. fails to satisfy one or more financial tests
set forth in the terms of such securities or related transaction
agreements, in the case of securities that have a Mandatory
Trigger Provision, to:
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in the case of Qualifying Capital Securities that have an
Alternative Payment Mechanism or Mandatory Trigger Provision
with respect to which the APM Qualifying Securities do not
include Qualifying Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock or
Mandatorily Convertible Preferred Stock, 25% of the stated or
principal amount of such Qualifying Capital Securities then
outstanding; and
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in the case of any other Qualifying Capital Securities, an
amount not in excess of the sum of (x) the earliest two
years of accumulated and unpaid Distributions (including
compounded amounts thereon) and (y) an amount equal to the
excess, if any, of the preferred cap over the aggregate amount
of net proceeds from the sale of Qualifying Non-Cumulative
Perpetual Preferred Stock and Mandatorily Convertible Preferred
Stock that are still outstanding that the issuer has applied to
pay such Distributions pursuant to the Alternative Payment
Mechanism or the Mandatory Trigger Provision; provided
that the holders of such Qualifying Capital Securities are
deemed to agree that, to the extent the claim for deferred
Distributions exceeds the
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S-62
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amount set forth in clause (x), the amount they receive in
respect of such excess shall not exceed the amount they would
have received had the claim for such excess ranked pari passu
with the interests of the holders, if any, of Qualifying
Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock.
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Continuing Director means, as of any date of
determination, any member of MetLife, Inc.s board of
directors who:
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was a member of such board of directors on the first date that
any of the Junior Subordinated Debentures were issued; or
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was nominated for election or elected to MetLife, Inc.s
board of directors with the approval of a majority of the
Continuing Directors who were members of MetLife, Inc.s
board at the time of such nomination or election.
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Distribution Date means, as to any securities
or combination of securities, the dates on which periodic
Distributions on such securities are scheduled to be made.
Distribution Period means, as to any
securities or combination of securities, each period from and
including the later of the issue date and a Distribution Date
for such securities to but excluding the next succeeding
Distribution Date for such securities.
Distributions means, as to a security or
combination of securities, dividends, interest payments or other
income Distributions to the holders thereof that are not
MetLife, Inc.s subsidiaries.
Intent-Based Replacement Disclosure means, as
to any security or combination of securities (together in this
definition, securities), that the issuer has
publicly stated its intention, either in the prospectus or other
offering document under which such securities were initially
offered for sale or in filings with the SEC made by the issuer
under the Exchange Act prior to or contemporaneously with the
issuance of such securities, that the issuer and any subsidiary,
to the extent the securities provide the issuer with rating
agency equity credit, will repay, redeem, purchase or defease
such securities only with the proceeds of Replacement Capital
Securities that have terms and provisions at the time of
repayment, redemption, purchase or defeasance that are as or
more equity-like than the securities then being repaid,
redeemed, purchased or defeased, raised within 180 days
prior to the applicable repayment, redemption, purchase or
defeasance date.
Investment Grade means a rating of Baa3 or
better by Moodys (or its equivalent under any successor
rating categories of Moodys) and BBB- or better by
Standard & Poors (or its equivalent under any
successor rating categories of Standard & Poors)
(or, in each case, if such rating agency ceases to publish a
senior unsecured credit rating for MetLife, Inc. for reasons
outside of MetLife, Inc.s control, the equivalent
investment grade credit rating from any Rating Agency selected
by MetLife, Inc. as a replacement Rating Agency).
Mandatory Trigger Provision means, as to any
Qualifying Capital Securities, provisions in the terms thereof
or of the related transaction agreements that:
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if the issuer of such securities fails to satisfy one or more
financial tests set forth in the terms of such securities or
related transaction agreements, for so long as such failure
continues:
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(x) permit such issuer to make payment of Distributions on
such securities only pursuant to the issue and sale of APM
Qualifying Securities and
(y) in the case of any such securities other than
Qualifying Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, require
such issuer to issue and sell APM Qualifying Securities (or use
APM Commercially Reasonable Efforts to issue and sell)
within two years of such failure, in an amount such that the net
proceeds of such sale are at least equal to the amount of unpaid
Distributions on such securities (including all deferred and
accumulated amounts), provided that (i) such
Mandatory Trigger Provision shall limit the issuance and sale of
common stock
and/or
Qualifying Warrants the net proceeds of which must be applied to
pay such Distributions pursuant to such provision to the common
cap unless such Mandatory Trigger Provision requires such
issuance and sale within one year of such failure and
(ii) the amount of Qualifying Non-Cumulative Perpetual
Preferred Stock
S-63
and still-outstanding Mandatorily Convertible Preferred Stock
issued pursuant to the Mandatory Trigger Provision the net
proceeds of which the issuer may apply to pay such Distributions
pursuant to such provision may not exceed the preferred cap;
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prohibit the issuer of such securities from redeeming or
purchasing any of its securities ranking upon the liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the issuer junior to or pari
passu with any APM Qualifying Securities the proceeds of
which were used to settle deferred interest during the relevant
deferral period prior to the date six months after the issuer
applies the net proceeds of the sales described in the first
bullet point above to pay such deferred distributions in full
(subject to the same exceptions as are set forth in the first
three bullet points of the definition of Repurchase Restriction);
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if the provisions described in the first bullet point above do
not require such issuance and sale within one year of such
failure, include a Repurchase Restriction that applies if
deferral of Distributions continues for more than one
year; and
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include a Bankruptcy Claim Limitation Provision;
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provided (and it being understood) that:
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the issuer will not be obligated to issue (or use APM
Commercially Reasonable Efforts to issue) APM Qualifying
Securities for so long as a Market Disruption Event has occurred
and is continuing;
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if, due to a Market Disruption Event or otherwise, the issuer is
able to raise and apply some, but not all, of the eligible
proceeds necessary to pay all deferred Distributions on any
Distribution Date, the issuer will apply any available eligible
proceeds to pay accrued and unpaid Distributions on the
applicable Distribution Date in chronological order subject to
the common cap and preferred cap, as applicable; and
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if MetLife, Inc. and its subsidiaries have outstanding more than
one class or series of securities under which MetLife, Inc. is
obligated to sell a type of APM Qualifying Securities and apply
some part of the proceeds to the payment of deferred
Distributions, then on any date and for any period the amount of
net proceeds received by the issuer from those sales and
available for payment of deferred Distributions on such
securities shall be applied to such securities on a pro rata
basis up to the common cap and the preferred cap, as
applicable, in proportion to the total amounts that are due on
such securities.
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No remedy other than Permitted Remedies will arise by the terms
of such securities or related transaction agreements in favor of
the holders of such Qualifying Capital Securities as a result of
the issuers failure to pay Distributions because of the
Mandatory Trigger Provision until Distributions have been
deferred for one or more Distribution Periods that total
together at least ten years.
Market Disruption Event means the occurrence
or existence of any of the following events or sets of
circumstances:
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trading in securities generally on any national securities
exchange or over-the-counter market on which MetLife,
Inc.s common stock
and/or its
preferred stock is then listed or traded is suspended or the
settlement of such trading generally is materially disrupted or
minimum prices are established on any such exchange or such
market by the SEC, by such exchange or by any other regulatory
body or governmental authority having jurisdiction, and the
establishment of such minimum prices materially disrupts trading
in, and the issuance and sale of, MetLife, Inc.s common
stock and/or
its preferred stock;
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MetLife, Inc. was required to obtain the consent or approval of
its stockholders, a regulatory body or governmental authority to
issue or sell APM Qualifying Securities and, after using its
commercially reasonable efforts to obtain such consent or
approval, MetLife, Inc. fails to obtain such consent or approval;
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a material disruption shall have occurred in commercial banking
or securities settlement or clearance services in the United
States and such disruption materially disrupts trading in, or
the issuance of, APM Qualifying Securities;
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a banking moratorium shall have been declared by the federal or
state authorities of the United States and such moratorium
materially disrupts trading in, or the issuance and sale of, the
APM Qualifying Securities;
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S-64
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there shall have occurred such a material adverse change in
general domestic or international economic, political or
financial conditions, including without limitation as a result
of terrorist activities, that trading in, or the issuance and
sale of, APM Qualifying Securities shall have been materially
disrupted;
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an event occurs and is continuing as a result of which the
offering document for the offer and sale of APM Qualifying
Securities would, in MetLife, Inc.s reasonable judgment,
contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading and either
(1) the disclosure of that event at such time, in MetLife,
Inc.s reasonable judgment, would have a material adverse
effect on its business and is not otherwise required by law or
(2) the disclosure relates to a previously undisclosed
proposed or pending material business transaction, and MetLife,
Inc. has a bona fide reason for keeping the same confidential or
its disclosure would impede MetLife, Inc.s ability to
consummate such transaction, provided that no single suspension
period contemplated by this bullet point may exceed 90
consecutive days and multiple suspension periods contemplated by
this bullet point may not exceed an aggregate of 180 days
in any
360-day
period; or
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MetLife, Inc. reasonably believes that the offering document for
the offer and sale of APM Qualifying Securities would not be in
compliance with a rule or regulation of the SEC (for reasons
other than those referred to in the bullet point directly above)
and MetLife, Inc. is unable to comply with such rule or
regulation or such compliance is unduly burdensome, provided
that no single suspension period contemplated by this bullet
point may exceed 90 consecutive days and multiple suspension
periods contemplated by this bullet point may not exceed an
aggregate of 180 days in any
360-day
period.
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The definition of Market Disruption Event as used in
any securities or combination of securities that constitute
qualifying securities may include less than all of the
paragraphs outlined above, as determined by MetLife, Inc. at the
time of issuance of such securities, and in the case of the
first, second, third and fourth bullet points above, as
applicable to a circumstance where MetLife, Inc. would otherwise
endeavor to issue preferred stock, shall be limited to
circumstances affecting markets where MetLife, Inc.s
preferred stock trades or where a listing for its trading is
being sought.
No Payment Provision means a provision or
provisions in the transaction documents for securities (referred
to in this definition as such securities)
that include the following:
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an Alternative Payment Mechanism; and
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an Optional Deferral Provision modified and supplemented from
the general definition of that term to provide that the issuer
of such securities may, in its sole discretion, or (if MetLife,
Inc. elects to so provide in the terms of such securities) shall
in response to a directive or order from any Applicable
Governmental Authority defer in whole or in part payment of
Distributions on such securities for one or more consecutive
Distribution Periods of up to five years or, if a Market
Disruption Event has occurred and is continuing, ten years,
without any remedy other than Permitted Remedies and the
obligations (and limitations on obligations) described in the
definition of Alternative Payment Mechanism
applying.
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Non-Cumulative means, with respect to any
securities, that the issuer may elect not to make any number of
periodic Distributions without any remedy arising under the
terms of the securities or related agreements in favor of the
holders, other than one or more Permitted Remedies.
NRSRO means a nationally recognized
statistical rating organization within the meaning of
Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act.
Optional Deferral Provisions means, as to any
securities, provisions in the terms thereof or of the related
transaction agreements to the effect of either bullet point
below:
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(a) the issuer of such securities may, in its sole
discretion, defer in whole or in part payment of Distributions
on such securities for one or more consecutive Distribution
Periods of up to five years or, if a Market Disruption Event is
continuing, ten years, without any remedy other than Permitted
Remedies and (b) an Alternative Payment Mechanism (provided
that such Alternative Payment Mechanism need not apply during
the first five years of any deferral period and need not include
a common cap, preferred cap, Bankruptcy Claim Limitation
Provision or Repurchase Restriction); or
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S-65
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the issuer of such securities may, in its sole discretion, defer
in whole or in part payment of Distributions on such securities
for one or more consecutive Distribution Periods up to ten
years, without any remedy other than Permitted Remedies.
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Permitted Remedies means, with respect to any
securities, one or more of the following remedies:
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rights in favor of the holders of such securities permitting
such holders to elect one or more directors of the issuer
(including any such rights required by the listing requirements
of any stock or securities exchange on which such securities may
be listed or traded); and
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complete or partial prohibitions preventing the issuer from
paying Distributions on or repurchasing common stock or other
securities that rank pari passu with or junior as to
Distributions to such securities for so long as Distributions on
such securities, including unpaid Distributions, remain unpaid.
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Qualifying Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred
Stock means MetLife, Inc.s non-cumulative
preferred shares that rank pari passu with or junior to
all of MetLife, Inc.s other preferred shares, are
perpetual and (a) are subject to a replacement capital
covenant substantially similar to the Replacement Capital
Covenant or (b) are subject to both (i) mandatory
suspension of dividends in the event MetLife, Inc. breaches
certain financial metrics specified within the offering
documents, and (ii) Intent-Based Replacement Disclosure.
Additionally, in both (a) and (b) the transaction
documents shall provide for no remedies as a consequence of
non-payment of Distributions other than Permitted Remedies.
Qualifying Replacement Capital Covenant means
a replacement capital covenant that is substantially similar to
this Replacement Capital Covenant or a replacement capital
covenant, as identified by MetLife, Inc.s board of
directors acting in good faith and in its reasonable discretion
and reasonably construing the definitions and other terms of
this Replacement Capital Covenant, (i) entered into by an
issuer that at the time it enters into such replacement capital
covenant is a reporting company under the Exchange Act and
(ii) that restricts the related issuer and its subsidiaries
from redeeming, repaying or purchasing identified securities
except to the extent of the applicable percentage of the net
proceeds from the issuance of specified replacement capital
securities that have terms and provisions at the time of
redemption, repayment or purchase that are as or more
equity-like than the securities then being redeemed, repaid or
purchased within the
180-day
period prior to the applicable redemption, repayment or purchase
date, provided that the term of such replacement capital
covenant shall be determined at the time of issuance of the
related Replacement Capital Securities taking into account the
other characteristics of such securities. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the replacement capital covenant must continue at
least until the earlier of (i) 20 years after initial
issuance of the Qualifying Capital Securities relating to such
Qualifying Replacement Capital Covenant and (ii) August 1,
2069.
Rating Agency means:
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each of Moodys and Standard &
Poors; and
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if any of Moodys or Standard & Poors
ceases to publish a senior unsecured credit rating for MetLife,
Inc. for reasons outside of MetLife, Inc.s control, an
NRSRO selected by MetLife, Inc. as a replacement agency for
Moodys or Standard & Poors, or both of
them, as the case may be.
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Repurchase Restriction means, with respect to
any Qualifying Capital Securities that include an Alternative
Payment Mechanism or a Mandatory Trigger Provision, provisions
that require MetLife, Inc. and its subsidiaries not to redeem or
purchase any securities of MetLife, Inc. ranking junior to or
pari passu with any APM Qualifying Securities the
proceeds of which were used to settle deferred interest during
the relevant deferral period until at least one year after all
deferred Distributions have been paid other than the following
(none of which shall be restricted or prohibited by a Repurchase
Restriction):
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purchases of such securities by subsidiaries of MetLife, Inc. in
connection with the distribution thereof or market-making or
other secondary-market activities;
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purchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of MetLife,
Inc.s common stock in connection with any employment
contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for
the benefit of employees, officers, directors or
consultants; and
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S-66
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purchases of shares of common stock pursuant to a contractually
binding requirement to buy such shares entered into prior to the
beginning of the related deferral period, including under a
contractually binding share repurchase plan.
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Significant Distribution Rate
Step-Up
means, as to a Qualifying Capital Security, an increase in the
Distribution Rate at a date after initial issuance of such
security of more than 25 basis points (or, if the method of
calculating Distributions on such Qualifying Capital Security is
changing at the time of such increase (for example, from a fixed
rate to a floating rate based upon a margin above an index or
from a floating rate based upon a margin above one index to a
floating rate based upon a margin above a different index), an
increase in the margin above the applicable credit spread in
calculating such increased rate as compared to the credit spread
used in calculating the initial Distribution Rate of more than
25 basis points).
Voting Shares as applied to shares of any
Person, means shares, interests, participations or other
equivalents in the equity interest (however designated) in such
person having ordinary voting power for the election of a
majority of the directors (or the equivalent) of such Person,
other than shares, interests, participations or other
equivalents having such power only by reason of the occurrence
of a contingency.
S-67
BOOK-ENTRY
SYSTEM
The Junior Subordinated Debentures will be represented by one or
more fully registered global security certificates, each of
which is referred to in this prospectus supplement as a
Global Security. Each such Global Security
will be deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC and registered in
the name of DTC or a nominee thereof. Initial settlement for the
Junior Subordinated Debentures will be made in same day funds.
No assurance can be given as to the effect, if any, of
settlement in immediately available funds on trading activity in
the Junior Subordinated Debentures. Unless and until it is
exchanged in whole or in part for Junior Subordinated Debentures
in definitive form, no Global Security may be transferred except
as a whole by DTC to a nominee of DTC or by a nominee of DTC to
DTC or another nominee of DTC or by DTC or any such nominee to a
successor of DTC or a nominee of such successor.
Except under limited circumstances, Junior Subordinated
Debentures represented by the Global Security will not be
exchangeable for, and will not otherwise be issuable as, Junior
Subordinated Debentures in definitive form. Investors may elect
to hold interests in the Global Securities through either DTC
(in the United States) or through Clearstream Banking,
société anonyme, Luxembourg
(Clearstream) or Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as
operator of the Euroclear System (Euroclear),
if they are participants in such systems, or indirectly through
organizations which are participants in such systems.
Clearstream and Euroclear will hold interests on behalf of their
participants through customers securities accounts in
Clearstreams and Euroclears names on the books of
their respective depositaries, which in turn will hold such
interests in customers securities accounts in the
depositaries names on the books of DTC. Citibank, N.A.
will act as depositary for Clearstream and JPMorgan Chase Bank,
N.A. will act as depositary for Euroclear.
Beneficial interests in the Junior Subordinated Debentures will
be represented through book-entry accounts of financial
institutions acting on behalf of Beneficial Owners (as defined
below) as Direct Participants and Indirect Participants (as
defined below) in DTC. So long as DTC, or its nominee, is a
registered owner of a Global Security, DTC or its nominee, as
the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of
the Junior Subordinated Debentures represented by such Global
Security for all purposes under the Junior Subordinated
Indenture. Except as provided below, the actual owners of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures represented by a Global Security
(the Beneficial Owners) will not be entitled
to have the Junior Subordinated Debentures represented by such
Global Security registered in their names, will not receive or
be entitled to receive physical delivery of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures in definitive form and will not be
considered the owners or holders thereof under the Junior
Subordinated Indenture.
Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a
Global Security must rely on the procedures of DTC and, if such
person is not a participant of DTC (a
Participant), on the procedures of the
Participant through which such person owns its interest, to
exercise any rights of a holder of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures. Under existing industry practices, in the event that
any action is requested of holders of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures or that an owner of a beneficial interest that a
holder is entitled to give or take under the Junior Subordinated
Indenture, DTC would authorize the Participants holding the
relevant beneficial interests to give or take such action, and
such Participants would authorize Beneficial Owners owning
through such Participants to give or take such action or would
otherwise act upon the instructions of Beneficial Owners.
The following is based on information furnished by DTC:
DTC will act as securities depositary for the Junior
Subordinated Debentures. The Junior Subordinated Debentures will
be in fully registered securities registered in the name of
Cede & Co. (DTCs partnership nominee). One or
more Global Securities will initially represent the Junior
Subordinated Debentures and will be deposited with DTC.
DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New
York Banking Law, a banking organization within the
meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal
Reserve System, a clearing corporation within the
meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a
clearing agency registered pursuant to the
provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds
securities that its Participants deposit with DTC. DTC also
facilitates the settlement among Participants of securities
transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in deposited
securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in
Participants accounts,
S-68
thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities
certificates. Direct Participants of DTC (Direct
Participants) include securities brokers and dealers,
banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other
organizations. DTC is owned by a number of its Direct
Participants and by The New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the
American Stock Exchange, Inc., and the Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority, Inc. (FINRA). Access to
DTCs system is also available to others such as securities
brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies that clear
through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Direct
Participant, either directly or indirectly (Indirect
Participants). The rules applicable to DTC and its
Participants are on file with the SEC.
Purchases of the Junior Subordinated Debentures under DTCs
system must be made by or through Direct Participants, which
will receive a credit for the Junior Subordinated Debentures on
DTCs records. The ownership interest of each Beneficial
Owner is in turn to be recorded on the records of Direct
Participants and Indirect Participants. Beneficial Owners will
not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase, but
Beneficial Owners are expected to receive written confirmations
providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic
statements of their holdings, from the Direct Participants or
Indirect Participants through which such Beneficial Owner
entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests
in the Junior Subordinated Debentures are to be accomplished by
entries made on the books of Participants acting on behalf of
Beneficial Owners. Beneficial Owners will not receive
certificates representing their ownership interests in the
Junior Subordinated Debentures, except in the limited
circumstances that may be provided in the Junior Subordinated
Indenture.
To facilitate subsequent transfers, all Junior Subordinated
Debentures deposited with DTC are registered in the name of
DTCs partnership nominee, Cede & Co. The deposit
of the Junior Subordinated Debentures with DTC and their
registration in the name of Cede & Co. effect no
change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the
actual Beneficial Owners of the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
DTCs records reflect only the identity of the Direct
Participants to whose accounts such securities are credited,
which may or may not be the Beneficial Owners. The Participants
will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on
behalf of their customers.
Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to Direct
Participants, by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants,
and by Direct Participants and Indirect Participants to
Beneficial Owners will be governed by arrangements among them,
subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in
effect from time to time.
Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. will consent or vote with
respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures. Under its usual
procedures, DTC mails an Omnibus Proxy to MetLife, Inc. as soon
as possible after the applicable record date. The Omnibus Proxy
assigns Cede & Co.s consenting or voting rights
to those Direct Participants to whose accounts securities are
credited on the applicable record date (identified in a listing
attached to the Omnibus Proxy).
Payments on the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be made in
immediately available funds to DTC. DTCs practice is to
credit Direct Participants accounts on the applicable
payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown
on DTCs records unless DTC has reason to believe that it
will not receive payment on such date. Payments by Participants
to Beneficial Owners will be governed by standing instructions
and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for
the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in
street name, and will be the responsibility of such
Participant and not of DTC, the Trustee or MetLife, Inc.,
subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in
effect from time to time. Any payment due to DTC on behalf of
Beneficial Owners is MetLife, Inc.s responsibility or the
responsibility of the applicable agent, disbursement of such
payments to Direct Participants shall be the responsibility of
DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the Beneficial Owners
shall be the responsibility of Direct Participants and Indirect
Participants.
DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities
depositary with respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures at
any time by giving MetLife, Inc. or the applicable agent
reasonable notice. Under such circumstances, in the event that a
successor securities depositary is not obtained, security
certificates are required to be printed and delivered. MetLife,
Inc. may decide (subject to DTCs procedures) to
discontinue use of the system of book-entry transfers through
DTC (or a successor securities depositary). In that event,
security certificates will be printed and delivered.
Clearstream advises that it is incorporated as a limited
liability company under the laws of Luxembourg. Clearstream was
formed in January 2000 by the merger of Cedel International and
Deutsche Börse Clearing and recently fully acquired by the
Deutsche Börse Group. Clearstream holds securities for its
participating
S-69
organizations (Clearstream Participants) and
facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities
transactions between Clearstream Participants through electronic
book-entry changes in accounts of Clearstream Participants,
thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of
certificates. Clearstream Participants are recognized financial
institutions around the world, including underwriters,
securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and
clearing corporations. In the United States, Clearstream
Participants are limited to securities brokers and dealers and
banks, and may include the Underwriters. Indirect access to
Clearstream is also available to others, such as banks, brokers,
dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a
custodial relationship with a Clearstream Participant either
directly or indirectly. Clearstream is an Indirect Participant
in DTC. Clearstream provides to Clearstream Participants, among
other things, services for safekeeping, administration,
clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities
and securities lending and borrowing. Clearstream interfaces
with domestic securities markets in several countries.
Clearstream has established an electronic bridge with the
Euroclear Operator (as defined below) to facilitate settlement
of trades between Clearstream and Euroclear.
Distributions with respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures
held beneficially through Clearstream will be credited to cash
accounts of Clearstream Participants in accordance with its
rules and procedures, to the extent received by Clearstream.
Euroclear advises that it was created in 1968 to hold securities
for participants of Euroclear (Euroclear
Participants) and to clear and settle transactions
between Euroclear Participants through simultaneous electronic
book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the
need for physical movement of certificates and any risk from
lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Euroclear
includes various other services, including securities lending
and borrowing, and interfaces with domestic markets in several
countries. The Euroclear System is owned by Euroclear plc and
operated through a license agreement by Euroclear Bank
S.A./N.V., a bank incorporated under the laws of the Kingdom of
Belgium (the Euroclear Operator), under
contract with Euroclear Clearance Systems S.C., a Belgian
cooperative corporation (the Cooperative).
All operations are conducted by the Euroclear Operator, and all
Euroclear securities clearance accounts and Euroclear cash
accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator, not the
Cooperative. The Cooperative establishes policy for Euroclear on
behalf of Euroclear Participants. Euroclear Participants include
banks (including central banks), securities brokers and dealers
and other professional financial intermediaries and may include
the Underwriters. Indirect access to Euroclear is also available
to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial
relationship with a Euroclear Participant, either directly or
indirectly.
The Euroclear Operator advises that it is regulated and examined
by the Belgian Banking and Finance Commission and the National
Bank of Belgium.
Securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the
Euroclear Operator are governed by the Terms and Conditions
Governing Use of Euroclear and the related Operating Procedures
of the Euroclear System, and applicable Belgian law
(collectively, the Terms and Conditions). The
Terms and Conditions govern transfers of securities and cash
within Euroclear, withdrawals of securities and cash from
Euroclear, and receipts of payments with respect to securities
in Euroclear. All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible
basis without attribution of specific certificates to specific
securities clearance accounts. The Euroclear Operator acts under
the Terms and Conditions only on behalf of Euroclear
Participants, and has no record of or relationship with persons
holding through Euroclear Participants.
Distributions with respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures
held beneficially through Euroclear will be credited to the cash
accounts of Euroclear Participants in accordance with the Terms
and Conditions, to the extent received by DTC for Euroclear.
Global
Clearance and Settlement Procedures
Secondary market trading between the DTC Participants will occur
in the ordinary way in accordance with the DTCs rules and
will be settled in immediately available funds using DTCs
Same-Day
Funds Settlement System. Secondary market trading between
Clearstream Participants
and/or
Euroclear Participants will occur in the ordinary way in
accordance with the applicable rules and operating procedures of
Clearstream and Euroclear and will be settled using the
procedures applicable to conventional Eurobonds in immediately
available funds.
S-70
Cross-market transfers between persons holding directly or
indirectly through DTC on the one hand, and directly or
indirectly through Clearstream or Euroclear Participants, on the
other, will be effected in DTC in accordance with the DTC rules
on behalf of the relevant European international clearing system
by DTC in its capacity as U.S. depositary; however, such
cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions
to the relevant European international clearing system by the
counterparty in such system in accordance with its rules and
procedures and within its established deadlines (European time).
The relevant European international clearing system will, if the
transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver
instructions to DTC to take action to effect final settlement on
its behalf by delivering interests in the Junior Subordinated
Debentures to or receiving interests in the Junior Subordinated
Debentures from DTC, and making or receiving payment in
accordance with normal procedures for
same-day
funds settlement applicable to DTC. Clearstream Participants and
Euroclear Participants may not deliver instructions directly to
DTC.
Because of time-zone differences, credits of interests in the
Junior Subordinated Debentures received in Clearstream or
Euroclear as a result of a transaction with a DTC Participant
will be made during subsequent securities settlement processing
and will be credited the Business Day following the DTC
settlement date. Such credits or any transactions involving
interests in such Junior Subordinated Debentures settled during
such processing will be reported to the relevant Euroclear or
Clearstream Participants on such Business Day. Cash received in
Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of sales of interests in
the Junior Subordinated Debentures by or through a Clearstream
Participant or a Euroclear Participant to a DTC Participant will
be received with value on the DTC settlement date but will be
available in the relevant Clearstream or Euroclear cash account
only as of the Business Day following settlement in DTC.
Although DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear have agreed to the
foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures among participants of DTC,
Clearstream and Euroclear, they are under no obligation to
perform or continue to perform such procedures and such
procedures may be discontinued at any time.
S-71
MATERIAL
UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a general discussion of the material
U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to the
purchase, ownership and disposition of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures. This discussion is based upon the provisions of the
U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
Code), Treasury regulations promulgated or
proposed thereunder and administrative and judicial
interpretations thereof, all as in effect on the date hereof,
and all of which are subject to change, possibly with
retroactive effect, or to different interpretation. This
discussion only applies to the Junior Subordinated Debentures
that are held as capital assets, within the meaning of the Code,
by a Holder (as defined below) who purchases the Junior
Subordinated Debentures in the initial offering at their issue
price (generally, the first price at which a substantial amount
of the Junior Subordinated Debentures are sold hereunder,
excluding sales to bond houses, brokers or similar persons or
organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement
agents or wholesalers).
This discussion is for general information only and does not
address all of the material tax considerations that may be
relevant to specific Holders in light of their particular
circumstances or to Holders subject to special treatment under
U.S. federal income tax law (such as banks, insurance
companies, tax-exempt entities, retirement plans, dealers in
securities, real estate investment trusts, regulated investment
companies, persons holding the Junior Subordinated Debentures as
part of a straddle, hedge, conversion or other integrated
transaction, United States Holders (as defined below) whose
functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, certain former
citizens or residents of the United States and Holders who mark
securities to market for U.S. federal tax purposes). This
discussion does not address any state or local or
non-U.S. tax
considerations or any U.S. federal estate, gift or
alternative minimum tax considerations.
For purposes of this discussion, a United States
Holder is a beneficial owner of a Junior Subordinated
Debenture that is, for U.S. federal income tax purposes:
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an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;
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a corporation created or organized in or under the laws of the
United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;
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an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal
income tax regardless of its source; or
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a trust if either (1) a United States court can exercise
primary supervision over its administration and one or more
United States persons have the authority to control all of its
substantial decisions, or (2) the trust was in existence on
August 20, 1996, was treated as a United States person
prior to such date, and has made a valid election to continue to
be treated as a United States person.
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For purposes of this discussion, a
Non-United
States Holder is a beneficial owner of a Junior
Subordinated Debenture that is neither a United States
Holder nor an entity treated as a partnership for
U.S. federal income tax purposes, and
Holders refers to United States Holders and
Non-United
States Holders.
If an entity treated as a partnership for U.S. federal
income tax purposes holds the Junior Subordinated Debentures,
the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the partnership
and its partners will generally depend on the status and
activities of the partnership and its partners. A prospective
purchaser of the Junior Subordinated Debentures that is treated
as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes
should consult its own tax adviser regarding the
U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to the
purchase, ownership and disposition of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures.
Persons considering the purchase of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures should consult their own tax advisers with respect to
the U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to the
purchase, ownership and disposition of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures in light of their own particular circumstances, as
well as the effect of any state, local, foreign and other tax
laws.
Classification
of the Junior Subordinated Debentures
The determination of whether a security should be classified as
indebtedness or equity for U.S. federal income tax purposes
requires a judgment based on all relevant facts and
circumstances. There is no statutory, judicial or
S-72
administrative authority that directly addresses the
U.S. federal income tax treatment of securities similar to
the Junior Subordinated Debentures. Based upon an analysis of
the relevant facts and circumstances, including certain
assumptions and certain representations made by MetLife, Inc.,
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, MetLife, Inc.s special
tax counsel, will render its opinion generally to the effect
that, although the matter is not free from doubt, under then
applicable law the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be
treated as indebtedness for U.S. federal income tax
purposes. Such opinion is not binding on the Internal Revenue
Service (IRS) or any court and there can be
no assurance that the IRS or a court will agree with such
opinion. No ruling is being sought from the IRS on any of the
issues discussed herein.
MetLife, Inc. agrees, and by acquiring an interest in a Junior
Subordinated Debenture each beneficial owner of a Junior
Subordinated Debenture agrees, to treat the Junior Subordinated
Debentures as indebtedness for U.S. federal income tax
purposes, and the remainder of this discussion assumes such
treatment, except where specified.
United
States Holders
Interest
Income and Original Issue Discount
It is expected, and assumed for purposes of this discussion,
that subject to the discussion below, the Junior Subordinated
Debentures will not be issued with original issue discount
(OID) for U.S. federal income tax
purposes.
Treasury regulations provide that the possibility that interest
on the Junior Subordinated Debentures might be deferred could
result in the Junior Subordinated Debentures being treated as
issued with OID, unless the likelihood of such deferral is
remote. MetLife, Inc. believes that the likelihood of interest
deferral, whether due to an Optional Deferral or a Trigger
Event, is remote and therefore that the possibility of such
deferral will not result in the Junior Subordinated Debentures
being treated as issued with OID. Accordingly, interest paid on
the Junior Subordinated Debentures should be taxable to a United
States Holder as ordinary interest income at the time it accrues
or is received in accordance with such United States
Holders method of accounting for U.S. federal income
tax purposes. However, no rulings or other interpretations have
been issued by the IRS that address the meaning of the term
remote, as used in the applicable Treasury
regulations, and there can be no assurance that the IRS or a
court will agree with MetLife, Inc.s position.
If the possibility of interest deferral were determined not to
be remote, or if interest were in fact deferred, the Junior
Subordinated Debentures would be treated as issued with OID at
the time of issuance, or at the time of such deferral, as the
case may be, and all stated interest, or if interest is in fact
deferred all stated interest due after such deferral, would be
treated as OID. In such case, a United States Holder would be
required to include such stated interest in income as it
accrues, regardless of its regular method of accounting, using
the constant yield method of accrual described in
section 1272 of the Code, before such United States Holder
receives any payment attributable to such income, and would not
separately report the actual cash payments of interest on the
Junior Subordinated Debentures as taxable income.
Sale,
Exchange, Redemption or Other Disposition of Junior Subordinated
Debentures
Upon the sale, exchange, redemption or other disposition of a
Junior Subordinated Debenture, a United States Holder will
generally recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between
the amount realized (less any accrued interest not previously
included in such United States Holders income, which will
be taxable as ordinary income) on the sale, exchange, redemption
or other disposition and such United States Holders
adjusted tax basis in the Junior Subordinated Debenture.
Assuming that interest payments on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures are not deferred and that the Junior Subordinated
Debentures are not treated as issued with OID, a United States
Holders adjusted tax basis in a Junior Subordinated
Debenture generally will be its initial purchase price. If the
Junior Subordinated Debentures are treated as issued with OID, a
United States Holders adjusted tax basis in a Junior
Subordinated Debenture generally will be its initial purchase
price, increased by OID previously includible in such United
States Holders gross income to the date of disposition and
decreased by payments received on the Junior Subordinated
Debenture since and including the date that the Junior
Subordinated Debenture was treated as issued with OID. That gain
or loss generally will be capital gain or loss and generally
will be long-term capital gain or loss
S-73
if the Junior Subordinated Debenture had been held for more than
one year. A United States Holder that is an individual is
generally entitled to preferential treatment for net long-term
capital gains. The ability of a United States Holder to deduct
capital losses is limited.
Non-United
States Holders
Subject to the discussion below concerning backup withholding,
the following is a discussion of U.S. federal income and
withholding tax considerations generally applicable to
Non-United
States Holders:
(a) although the matter is not free from doubt, payments of
principal, premium and interest (including OID) with respect to
a Junior Subordinated Debenture held by or for a
Non-United
States Holder will not be subject to U.S. federal
withholding tax, provided that, in the case of interest
(including OID), (i) such
Non-United
States Holder does not own, actually or constructively, 10% or
more of the total combined voting power of all classes of
MetLife, Inc.s stock entitled to vote, (ii) such
Non-United
States Holder is not a controlled foreign corporation, within
the meaning of section 957(a) of the Code, that is related,
directly or indirectly, to MetLife, Inc. through stock
ownership, and (iii) the statement requirement set forth in
section 871(h) or section 881(c) of the Code
(described below) has been fulfilled with respect to such
Non-United
States Holder; and
(b) a
Non-United
States Holder will generally not be subject to U.S. federal
income or withholding tax on gain realized on the sale,
exchange, redemption or other disposition of a Junior
Subordinated Debenture (other than amounts treated as interest),
unless (i) such
Non-United
States Holder is an individual who is present in the
U.S. for 183 days or more in the taxable year of such
sale, exchange, redemption or other disposition and certain
other conditions are met or (ii) such gain is effectively
connected with the conduct by such
Non-United
States Holder of a trade or business in the U.S. (in each
case, subject to the provisions of an income tax treaty).
In general, sections 871(h) and 881(c) of the Code require
that, in order to obtain the exemption from U.S. federal
withholding tax described in paragraph (a) above, the
Non-United
States Holder must provide a statement to the withholding agent
to the effect that the
Non-United
States Holder is not a United States person. Such requirement
generally will be fulfilled if the
Non-United
States Holder certifies on IRS
Form W-8BEN,
under penalties of perjury, that it is not a United States
person and provides its name and address. In the case of Junior
Subordinated Debentures held by a foreign intermediary (other
than a qualified intermediary) or a foreign
partnership (other than a withholding foreign
partnership), the foreign intermediary or partnership, as
the case may be, generally must provide IRS
Form W-8IMY
to the withholding agent with the required attachments,
including an appropriate certification by each beneficial owner.
The President has recently proposed changes to these statement
requirements.
If, contrary to the opinion of MetLife, Inc.s special tax
counsel, the Junior Subordinated Debentures were treated as
equity for U.S. federal income tax purposes, payments of
interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures would generally
be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax imposed at a
rate of 30% or such lower rate as might be provided for by an
applicable income tax treaty.
If a
Non-United
States Holder is engaged in a trade or business in the United
States, and if amounts (including OID) treated as interest for
U.S. federal income tax purposes on a Junior Subordinated
Debenture or gain realized on the sale, exchange, redemption or
other disposition of a Junior Subordinated Debenture are
effectively connected with the conduct of such trade or
business, such
Non-United
States Holder, although generally exempt from U.S. federal
withholding tax described in paragraph (a) above, will
generally be subject to regular U.S. federal income tax on
such effectively connected income or gain in the same manner as
if it were a United States Holder (subject to the provisions of
an applicable income tax treaty). In lieu of the IRS forms
described above, such
Non-United
States Holder will be required to provide IRS
Form W-8ECI
to the withholding agent in order to claim an exemption from
U.S. federal withholding tax. In addition, if such
Non-United
States Holder is a corporation, it may be subject to a branch
profits tax equal to 30% (or such lower rate provided by an
applicable tax treaty) of its effectively connected earnings and
profits for the taxable year, subject to certain adjustments.
S-74
Backup
Withholding and Information Reporting
Backup withholding and information reporting requirements
generally apply to interest (including OID), premium and
principal payments made to, and to the proceeds of sales,
exchanges, redemptions or other dispositions by, certain
non-corporate United States Holders. A United States Holder not
otherwise exempt from backup withholding generally can avoid
backup withholding by providing IRS
Form W-9.
In the case of a
Non-United
States Holder, backup withholding and information reporting will
not apply to payments on, or proceeds from the sale, exchange,
redemption or other disposition of, a Junior Subordinated
Debenture if the statement referred to in clause (a)(iii) of the
first paragraph under the heading
Non-United
States Holder has been received. Withholding agents must
nevertheless report to the IRS and to each
Non-United
States Holder the amount of interest (including OID) paid with
respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures held by such
Non-United
States Holder and the rate of withholding (if any) applicable to
such
Non-United
States Holder. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding
rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against the
Holders U.S. federal income tax liability, provided
the required information is furnished on a timely basis to the
IRS.
S-75
ERISA
CONSIDERATIONS
Title I of the U.S. Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA), and
Section 4975 of the Code impose certain requirements on
(i) employee benefit plans (as defined in Section 3(3)
of ERISA) subject to ERISA (ERISA Plans),
(ii) plans and retirement arrangements subject to
Section 4975 of the Code, including individual retirement
accounts and annuities, and Keogh plans (together with ERISA
Plans, Plans and each a
Plan) and (iii) any entity, including
certain collective investment funds or insurance company general
or separate accounts whose underlying assets include the assets
of any such Plans (Plan Assets). Each
fiduciary of a Plan should consider the fiduciary standards of
ERISA in the context of the Plans particular circumstances
before authorizing an investment in the Junior Subordinated
Debentures. Accordingly, among other factors, the fiduciary
should consider whether such an investment is permitted under
the documents and instruments governing the Plan and whether the
investment would satisfy the prudence and diversification
requirements of ERISA.
Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code
prohibit a broad range of transactions involving Plan Assets and
persons (parties in interest under ERISA and
disqualified persons under the Code, collectively,
Parties in Interest) with specified
relationships to a Plan, unless a statutory or administrative
exemption is available. Parties in Interest that participate in
a prohibited transaction may be subject to a penalty imposed
under ERISA
and/or an
excise tax imposed pursuant to Section 4975 of the Code,
unless a statutory or administrative exemption is available.
Certain employee benefit plans, such as governmental plans (as
defined in Section 3(32) of ERISA), certain church plans
(as defined in Section 3(33) of ERISA) and foreign plans,
though not subject to the prohibited transaction provisions of
Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, may
be subject to
non-U.S.,
federal, state or local laws that are substantially similar to
the provisions of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975
of the Code (collectively, Similar Laws).
Subject to the considerations described herein, the Junior
Subordinated Debentures are eligible for purchase with Plan
Assets of any Plan.
Any fiduciary or other Plan investor considering whether to
purchase the Junior Subordinated Debentures with Plan Assets
should determine whether such purchase is consistent with its
fiduciary duties and whether such purchase would constitute or
result in a non-exempt prohibited transaction under ERISA
and/or
Section 4975 of the Code. Because the acquisition and
holding of a Junior Subordinated Debenture may be deemed to be
an indirect extension of credit between an investor and MetLife,
Inc., and MetLife, Inc. may be a Party in Interest to a number
of Plans, the acquisition and holding of a Junior Subordinated
Debenture could constitute a prohibited transaction.
Accordingly, any fiduciary or other Plan investor considering
whether to purchase or hold the Junior Subordinated Debentures
should consult with its counsel regarding the availability of
exemptive relief under U.S. Department of Labor
(DOL) Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption
(PTCE)
96-23
(relating to transactions determined by in-house asset
managers),
95-60
(relating to transactions involving insurance company general
accounts),
91-38
(relating to transactions involving bank collective investment
funds), 90-1
(relating to transactions involving insurance company pooled
separate accounts) or
84-14
(relating to transactions determined by independent
qualified professional asset managers). In addition
to the foregoing, the Pension Protection Act of 2006 included a
new statutory exemption, codified in Section 408(b)(17) of
ERISA and Section 4975(d)(20) of the Code, which together
with any related regulations promulgated by the DOL (all of the
foregoing herein referred to as the Service Provider
Exemption) may provide exemptive relief. Any Plan
fiduciary relying on the Service Provider Exemption in
connection with the purchase of Junior Subordinated Debentures
will have to make a determination that (x) the Plan is
paying no more than, and is receiving no less than, adequate
consideration in connection with the transaction and
(y) neither MetLife, Inc. nor any of its affiliates
directly or indirectly exercises any discretionary authority or
control or renders investment advice with respect to the assets
of the Plan which such fiduciary is using to purchase Junior
Subordinated Debentures, both of which are necessary
preconditions to utilizing the Service Provider Exemption. A
purchaser of the Junior Subordinated Debentures should be aware,
however, that even if the conditions specified in one or more of
the above-referenced exemptions are met, the scope of the
exemptive relief provided by the exemption might not cover all
acts which might be construed as prohibited transactions.
In any event, each purchaser or holder of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures or any interest therein will be deemed
to have represented by its purchase and holding thereof that
either (i) it is not, and is not acting on behalf of or
investing the assets of, a Plan or a governmental, church or
foreign plan that is subject to any Similar Laws, or
(ii) its acquisition,
S-76
holding and disposition of the Junior Subordinated Debentures or
any beneficial interest therein will not constitute or result in
(A) a non-exempt prohibited transaction under
Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code (or,
in the case of a governmental, church or foreign plan, any
Similar Laws) by reason of the exemptive relief available under
one or more applicable statutory or administrative exemptions,
or (B) any other violation of ERISA or Similar Laws.
Moreover, because the acquisition and holding of a Junior
Subordinated Debenture may be deemed to be an indirect extension
of credit between an investor and MetLife, Inc., the Junior
Subordinated Debentures may not be purchased or held by any
Plan, or any person acting on behalf of or investing Plan Assets
of any Plan, if MetLife, Inc. or any of its affiliates
(a) has investment or administrative discretion with
respect to the Plan Assets used to effect such purchase; or
(b) has authority or responsibility to give, or regularly
gives, investment advice with respect to such Plan Assets, for a
fee and pursuant to an agreement or understanding that such
advice (1) will serve as a primary basis for investment
decisions with respect to such Plan Assets, and (2) will be
based on the particular investment needs of such Plan.
The DOL has promulgated a regulation, 29 C.F.R.
§ 2510.3-101 (the Plan Asset
Regulation), describing what constitutes the assets of
a Plan with respect to the Plans investment in an entity
for purposes of the fiduciary responsibility provisions of
Title I of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code. Under
the Plan Asset Regulation, if a Plan invests in an equity
interest of an entity that is neither a publicly
offered security nor a security issued by an investment
company registered under the U.S. Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended, the Plans assets are deemed to include
both the equity interest itself and an undivided interest in
each of the entitys underlying assets, unless it is
established that the entity is an operating company
or that equity participation by benefit plan
investors, within the meaning of Section 3(42) of
ERISA, is not significant. As defined in the Plan
Asset Regulation, the term operating company
includes any entity that is primarily engaged, either directly
or through a majority owned subsidiary or subsidiaries, in the
production or sale of a product or service other than the
investment of capital.
The Plan Asset Regulation defines an equity interest
as an interest other than an instrument that is treated as
indebtedness under applicable local law and which has no
substantial equity features. There is very little pertinent
authority on the issue of what constitutes an equity security
for purposes of the Plan Asset Regulation. Accordingly, whether
the Junior Subordinated Debentures would be treated as debt or
equity for purposes of the Plan Asset Regulation is unclear.
However, even if the Junior Subordinated Debentures were treated
as equity interests, because MetLife, Inc. should qualify as an
operating company for purposes of the Plan Asset
Regulation, the underlying assets of MetLife, Inc. should not be
treated as Plan Assets of any Plan investor by reason of such
Plans investment in the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
Any fiduciary or other Plan investor considering whether to
purchase any Junior Subordinated Debentures on behalf of or with
Plan Assets of any Plan should consult with its counsel
regarding the potential consequences under ERISA and the Code of
an investment in the Junior Subordinated Debentures considering
their specific circumstances.
Any insurance company proposing to invest assets of its general
account in the Junior Subordinated Debentures should consider
the extent to which such investment would be subject to the
requirements of ERISA in light of the U.S. Supreme
Courts decision in John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance
Co. v. Harris Trust and Savings Bank, 510 U.S. 86
(1993), and under any subsequent guidance that may become
available relating to that decision. In particular, such an
insurance company should consider the retroactive and
prospective exemptive relief granted by the DOL for transactions
involving insurance company general accounts in
PTCE 95-60
and Section 401(c) of ERISA.
Due to the complexity of these rules and the penalties that may
be imposed upon Parties in Interest in non-exempt prohibited
transactions, it is particularly important that fiduciaries or
other persons considering purchasing Junior Subordinated
Debentures on behalf of, or with Plan Assets of, any Plan
consult with their counsel regarding the potential consequences
of such purchase and the availability of exemptive relief under
an applicable statutory or administrative exemption, and
determine on their own whether all of the conditions for
exemptive relief have been satisfied. The fiduciary of an
employee benefit plan that is not subject to ERISA or
Section 4975 of the Code proposing to invest in the Junior
Subordinated Debentures must make its own determination that
such investment is permitted under applicable Similar Laws.
The sale of any Junior Subordinated Debentures to a Plan is in
no respect a representation by any party or entity that such an
investment meets all relevant legal requirements with respect to
investments by Plans generally or any particular Plan, or that
such an investment is appropriate for Plans generally or any
particular Plan.
S-77
UNDERWRITING
Subject to the terms and conditions of the underwriting
agreement, dated June 30, 2009 (the Underwriting
Agreement), and the pricing agreement, dated
June 30, 2009 (the Pricing Agreement),
MetLife, Inc. has agreed to sell to each of the Underwriters
named below, severally, and each of the Underwriters has
severally agreed to purchase, the principal amount of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures set forth opposite its name below.
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Morgan Stanley &
Co. Incorporated will act as joint book-running managers for the
offering and are the representatives of the Underwriters.
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Principal
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Amount of
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Junior
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Subordinated
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Underwriters
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Debentures
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J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
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$
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175,000,000
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Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
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175,000,000
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Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
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25,000,000
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BNP Paribas Securities Corp.
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12,500,000
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Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
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12,500,000
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Daiwa Securities America Inc.
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12,500,000
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Goldman, Sachs & Co.
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12,500,000
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HSBC Securities (USA) Inc
|
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12,500,000
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ING Financial Markets LLC
|
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12,500,000
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Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
|
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12,500,000
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RBS Securities Inc.
|
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12,500,000
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Blaylock Robert Van, LLC
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3,125,000
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Cabrera Capital Markets, LLC
|
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3,125,000
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CastleOak Securities, L.P.
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3,125,000
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Guzman & Company
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3,125,000
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Muriel Siebert & Co. Inc.
|
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3,125,000
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Samuel A. Ramirez & Company, Inc.
|
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3,125,000
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Toussaint Capital Partners, LLC
|
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3,125,000
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The Williams Capital Group, L.P.
|
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3,125,000
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Total
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$
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500,000,000
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The Underwriting Agreement provides that the obligations of the
several Underwriters to purchase the Junior Subordinated
Debentures offered hereby are subject to approval of certain
legal matters by counsel and to certain other conditions. The
Underwriters are committed to take and pay for all of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures being offered, if any are taken. In the
event of default by any Underwriter, the Underwriting Agreement
provides that, in certain circumstances, the purchase
commitments of the non-defaulting Underwriters may be increased
or the Underwriting Agreement may be terminated.
The Underwriters initially propose to offer the Junior
Subordinated Debentures to the public at the initial public
offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus
supplement. Any Junior Subordinated Debentures sold by the
Underwriters to securities dealers may be sold at a discount
from the initial public offering price of up to 0.60% per Junior
Subordinated Debenture from the initial public offering price.
Any such securities dealers may resell any Junior Subordinated
Debentures purchased from the Underwriters to certain other
brokers or dealers at a discount from the initial public
offering price of up to 0.25% per Junior Subordinated Debenture
from the initial public offering price. After the initial
offering of the Junior Subordinated Debentures to the public,
the offering price and the other selling terms may be varied
from time to time.
The Junior Subordinated Debentures are a new issue of securities
with no established trading market and will not be listed on any
national securities exchange. The Underwriters have advised us
that they intend to make a
S-78
market for the Junior Subordinated Debentures, but they have no
obligation to do so and may discontinue market making at any
time without providing any notice. No assurance can be given as
to the liquidity of any trading market for the Junior
Subordinated Debentures.
In addition to the underwriting discount, MetLife, Inc.
estimates that its expenses for this offering will be
approximately $0.685 million. The Underwriters have agreed
to reimburse MetLife, Inc. for certain expenses related to this
offering.
MetLife, Inc. has agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against
certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended, or to contribute to payments which the
Underwriters may be required to make in respect of any such
liabilities.
In connection with the offering of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures, the representatives may engage in transactions that
stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures. Specifically, the representatives may
overallot in connection with the offering of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures, creating a syndicate short position. In
addition, the representatives may bid for, and purchase, Junior
Subordinated Debentures in the open market to cover syndicate
short positions or to stabilize the price of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures. Finally, the representatives may
reclaim selling concessions allowed for distributing the Junior
Subordinated Debentures in the offering of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures, if the representatives repurchase
previously distributed Junior Subordinated Debentures in
syndicate covering transactions, stabilization transactions or
otherwise. Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the
market price of the Junior Subordinated Debentures above
independent market levels. The representatives are not required
to engage in any of these activities, may end any of them at any
time, and must bring them to an end after a limited period.
It is expected that delivery of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures will be made through the facilities of DTC on or
about July 8, 2009, which is the 5th Business Day following
the initial sale of the Junior Subordinated Debentures. Under
Rule 15c6-1
under the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market generally
are required to settle in three business days, unless the
parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise.
Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the Junior
Subordinated Debentures prior to the third business day before
the delivery of the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be
required, by virtue of the fact that the Junior Subordinated
Debentures initially will settle on a delayed basis, to agree to
a delayed settlement cycle at the time of any trade to prevent a
failed settlement. Purchasers of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures who wish to make such trades should consult their own
advisors.
In the ordinary course of their respective businesses, the
underwriters and their affiliates have engaged, and may in the
future engage, in commercial banking
and/or
investment banking transactions with us and our affiliates for
which they have in the past received, and may in the future
receive, customary fees. Affiliates of some of the lenders under
MetLife, Inc.s credit agreements are acting as
Underwriters for this offering.
S-79
OFFERING
RESTRICTIONS
The Junior Subordinated Debentures are offered for sale in those
jurisdictions in the United States, Asia, Europe and elsewhere
where it is lawful to make such offers. No action has been
taken, or will be taken, which would permit a public offering of
the Junior Subordinated Debentures in any jurisdiction outside
the United States.
Each of the Underwriters has severally represented and agreed
that it has not offered, sold or delivered and it will not
offer, sell or deliver or indirectly, any of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures, in or from any jurisdiction except
under circumstances that are reasonably designed to result in
compliance with the applicable laws and regulations thereof.
United
States of America
The Junior Subordinated Debentures or any interest therein may
not be acquired or held by any person who is an employee benefit
plan or other plan or arrangement subject to Title I of
ERISA, Section 4975 of the Code or any Similar Laws, or who
is acting on behalf of or investing the assets of any such plan
or arrangement, unless the acquisition, holding and disposition
of the Junior Subordinated Debentures or interest therein by
such person will not constitute or result in (A) a
non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of
ERISA, Section 4975 of the Code or any Similar Laws by
reason of the exemptive relief available under one or more
applicable statutory or administrative exemptions, or
(B) any other violation of ERISA or Similar Laws.
European
Economic Area
In relation to each member state of the European Economic Area
which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a
Relevant Member State), each Underwriter
represents that it has not made and will not make an offer of
the Junior Subordinated Debentures to the public in that
relevant member state, except that it may make an offer of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures to the public in that relevant
member state at any time under the following exemptions under
the Prospectus Directive (as defined below), if they have been
implemented in that Relevant Member State: (i) to legal
entities which are authorized or regulated to operate in the
financial markets or, if not so authorized or regulated, whose
corporate purpose is solely to invest in securities;
(ii) to any legal entity which has two or more of
(1) an average of at least 250 employees during the
last financial year; (2) a total balance sheet of more than
43,000,000 and (3) an annual net turnover of more
than 50,000,000, as shown in its last annual or
consolidated accounts; (iii) to fewer than 100 natural or
legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the
Prospectus Directive) subject to obtaining the prior consent of
the book-running manager for any such offer; or (iv) in any
other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the
Prospectus Directive, provided that no such offer of Junior
Subordinated Debentures shall result in a requirement for the
publication by us or any Underwriter of a prospectus pursuant to
Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive.
For the purposes of this section, the expression an offer
of the Junior Subordinated Debentures to the public in
relation to any Junior Subordinated Debentures in any relevant
member state means the communication in any form and by any
means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and
the Junior Subordinated Debentures to be offered so as to enable
an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe to purchase the
Junior Subordinated Debentures, as the same may be varied in
that member state by any measure implementing the Prospectus
Directive in that member state, and references to the
Prospectus Directive means Directive 2003/71/EC and
includes any relevant implementing measure in each relevant
member state.
United
Kingdom
Each Underwriter represents that, in connection with the
distribution of the Junior Subordinated Debentures, it has only
communicated or caused to be communicated and will only
communicate or cause to be communicated any invitation or
inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning
of section 21 of the U.K. Financial Services and Markets
Act 2000, or the FSMA, of the United Kingdom) received by it in
connection with the issue or sale of such Junior Subordinated
Debentures or any investments representing the Junior
Subordinated Debentures in circumstances in which
section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to us and that it
has complied and will comply with all the applicable provisions
of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to
any Junior Subordinated Debentures in, from or otherwise
involving the United Kingdom.
S-80
Hong
Kong
The Junior Subordinated Debentures may not be offered or sold by
means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which
do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of
the Companies Ordinance (Cap.32, Laws of Hong Kong),
(ii) to professional investors within the
meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap.571, Laws
of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder or (iii) in
other circumstances which do not result in the document being a
prospectus within the meaning of the Companies
Ordinance (Cap.32, Laws of Hong Kong), and no advertisement,
invitation or document relating to the Junior Subordinated
Debentures may be issued or may be in the possession of any
person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong
Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of
which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong
Kong (except if permitted to do so under the laws of Hong Kong)
other than with respect to Junior Subordinated Debentures which
are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside
Hong Kong or only to professional investors within
the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap.571,
Laws of Hong Kong) and any rules made thereunder.
Japan
The Junior Subordinated Debentures have not been and will not be
registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law of
Japan (the Securities and Exchange Law) and each Underwriter has
agreed that it will not offer or sell any Junior Subordinated
Debentures, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the
benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used herein
means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or
other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to others
for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or
to a resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the
registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with,
the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law and any other
applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.
Singapore
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have
not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority
of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus supplement, the
accompanying prospectus and any other document or material in
connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for
subscription or purchase, of the Junior Subordinated Debentures
may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the Junior
Subordinated Debentures be offered or sold, or be made the
subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether
directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than
(i) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of
the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore,
or the SFA, (ii) to a relevant person,
or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A), and in
accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of
the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance
with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the
SFA.
Where the Junior Subordinated Debentures are subscribed or
purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person
which is: (a) a corporation (which is not an accredited
investor) the sole business of which is to hold investments and
the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more
individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or
(b) a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited
investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each
beneficiary is an accredited investor, shares, debentures and
units of shares and debentures of that corporation or the
beneficiaries rights and interest in that trust shall not
be transferable for 6 months after that corporation or that
trust has acquired the Junior Subordinated Debentures under
Section 275 of the SFA except: (1) to an institutional
investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant
person, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the
SFA, and in accordance with the conditions, specified in
Section 275 of the SFA; (2) where no consideration is
given for the transfer; or (3) by operation of law.
S-81
LEGAL
OPINIONS
Unless otherwise indicated in this prospectus supplement, the
validity of the Junior Subordinated Debentures offered hereby
will be passed upon for MetLife, Inc. by Matthew M. Ricciardi,
Chief Counsel, Public Company and Corporate Law Section, of
MetLife Group, Inc., an affiliate of MetLife, Inc., and by
Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP. Debevoise & Plimpton
LLP, which has acted as special tax counsel for MetLife, Inc.,
will pass upon certain U.S. federal income tax matters for
MetLife, Inc. Mr. Ricciardi is paid a salary by MetLife, is
a participant in various employee benefit plans offered by
MetLife to employees generally, holds MetLife, Inc. common stock
and has options to purchase shares of MetLife, Inc. common
stock. Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP maintains various group and
other insurance policies with Metropolitan Life Insurance
Company. Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP has, from time to time,
represented, currently represents, and may continue to
represent, some or all of the Underwriters in connection with
various legal matters. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher &
Flom LLP will pass upon certain legal matters for the
Underwriters. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
has, from time to time, represented, currently represents, and
may continue to represent, MetLife, Inc. and its affiliates in
connection with various legal matters. Skadden, Arps, Slate,
Meagher & Flom LLP maintains a group life insurance
policy and short- and long-term disability insurance policies
with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements, and the related financial
statement schedules, incorporated by reference in this
prospectus supplement from MetLifes Current Report on
Form 8-K
dated June 12, 2009, and the effectiveness of
MetLifes internal control over financial reporting for the
year ended December 31, 2008, incorporated by reference in
this prospectus supplement from MetLifes Annual Report on
Form 10-K, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP,
an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in
their reports, dated February 26, 2009 (except with respect
to our opinion on the consolidated financial statements insofar
as it relates to the effects of the retrospective application of
accounting guidance adopted on January 1, 2009, relating to
the presentation of noncontrolling interests, as described in
Note 1 of the consolidated financial statements, as to
which the date is June 12, 2009) (which (1) express an
unqualified opinion on the consolidated financial statements and
financial statement schedules and include an explanatory
paragraph regarding changes in MetLifes method of
accounting for certain assets and liabilities to a fair value
measurement approach as required by accounting guidance adopted
on January 1, 2008, and its method of accounting for
deferred acquisition costs and for income taxes as required by
accounting guidance adopted on January 1, 2007, and
(2) express an unqualified opinion on MetLifes
effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting),
which are incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated
financial statements and financial statement schedules have been
so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given
upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
S-82
PROSPECTUS
METLIFE, INC.
DEBT SECURITIES, PREFERRED
STOCK, DEPOSITARY SHARES,
COMMON STOCK, WARRANTS,
PURCHASE CONTRACTS AND UNITS
METLIFE CAPITAL
TRUST V
METLIFE CAPITAL
TRUST VI
METLIFE CAPITAL
TRUST VII
METLIFE CAPITAL
TRUST VIII
METLIFE CAPITAL
TRUST IX
TRUST PREFERRED
SECURITIES
Fully and Unconditionally
Guaranteed by MetLife, Inc.,
As Described in this Prospectus
and the Accompanying Prospectus Supplement
MetLife, Inc., or any of the trusts named above, may offer these
securities, or any combination thereof, from time to time in
amounts, at prices and on other terms to be determined at the
time of the offering. MetLife, Inc., or any of the trusts named
above, will provide the specific terms of these securities in
supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus
and the accompanying prospectus supplement carefully before you
make your investment decision.
THIS PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE USED TO SELL SECURITIES UNLESS
ACCOMPANIED BY A PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.
MetLife, Inc., or any of the trusts named above, may offer
securities through underwriting syndicates managed or co-managed
by one or more underwriters, through agents, or directly to
purchasers. The prospectus supplement for each offering of
securities will describe in detail the plan of distribution for
that offering. For general information about the distribution of
securities offered, please see Plan of Distribution
in this prospectus.
MetLife, Inc.s common stock is listed on the New York
Stock Exchange under the trading symbol MET. Unless
otherwise stated in this prospectus or an accompanying
prospectus supplement, none of these securities will be listed
on a securities exchange, other than MetLife, Inc.s common
stock.
MetLife, Inc., or any of the trusts named above, or any of their
respective affiliates may use this prospectus and the applicable
prospectus supplement in a remarketing or other resale
transaction involving the securities after their initial sale.
These transactions may be executed at negotiated prices that are
related to market prices at the time of purchase or sale, or at
other prices, as determined from time to time.
Investing in our securities or the securities of the trusts
involves risk. See Risk Factors on page 1 of this
prospectus.
None of the Securities and Exchange Commission, any state
securities commission, the New York Superintendent of Insurance
or any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of
these securities or determined if this prospectus or the
accompanying prospectus supplement is truthful or complete. They
have not made, nor will they make, any determination as to
whether anyone should buy these securities. Any representation
to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is November 6, 2007
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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ABOUT
THIS PROSPECTUS
Unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires,
references in this prospectus to MetLife,
we, our, or us refer to
MetLife, Inc., and its direct and indirect subsidiaries, while
references to MetLife, Inc. refer only to MetLife,
Inc. on an unconsolidated basis. References in this prospectus
to the trusts refer to MetLife Capital Trust V,
MetLife Capital Trust VI, MetLife Capital Trust VII,
MetLife Capital Trust VIII and MetLife Capital
Trust IX.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that
MetLife, Inc. and the trusts filed with the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission (the SEC) using a
shelf registration process. Under this shelf
process, MetLife, Inc. may, from time to time, sell any
combination of debt securities, preferred stock, depositary
shares, common stock, warrants, purchase contracts and units and
the trusts may, from time to time, sell trust preferred
securities guaranteed by MetLife, Inc., as described in this
prospectus, in one or more offerings in one or more foreign
currencies, foreign currency units or composite currencies. This
prospectus provides you with a general description of the
securities MetLife, Inc. and the trusts may offer. Each time
that securities are sold, a prospectus supplement that will
contain specific information about the terms of that offering
will be provided. The prospectus supplement may also add, update
or change information contained in this prospectus. You should
read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together
with additional information described under the heading
Where You Can Find More Information.
You should rely on the information contained or incorporated by
reference in this prospectus. Neither MetLife, Inc. nor the
trusts have authorized anyone to provide you with different
information. If anyone provides you with different or
inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. Neither
MetLife, Inc. nor the trusts are making an offer to sell these
securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not
permitted.
You should assume that the information in this prospectus is
accurate as of the date of the prospectus. Our business,
financial condition, results of operations and prospects may
have changed since that date.
RISK
FACTORS
Investing in MetLife, Inc. securities or the securities of the
trusts involve risks. You should carefully consider the risks
described in our filings with the SEC referred to under the
heading Where You Can Find More Information,
referenced in Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking
Statements below, as well as those included in any
prospectus supplement hereto. For example, MetLife, Inc.s
Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2006 contains a discussion
of significant risks under the heading Risk Factors
which could be relevant to your investment in the securities.
Subsequent filings with the SEC may contain amended and updated
discussions of significant risks.
SPECIAL
NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement may
contain or incorporate by reference information that includes or
is based upon forward-looking statements within the meaning of
the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Forward-looking statements give expectations or forecasts of
future events. You can identify these statements by the fact
that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts.
They use words such as anticipate,
estimate, expect, project,
intend, plan, believe, and
other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with a
discussion of future operating or financial performance. In
particular, these include statements relating to future actions,
prospective services or products, future performance or results
of current and anticipated services or products, sales efforts,
expenses, the outcome of contingencies such as legal
proceedings, trends in operations and financial results.
Any or all forward-looking statements may turn out to be wrong.
They can be affected by inaccurate assumptions or by known or
unknown risks and uncertainties. Many such factors will be
important in determining MetLifes actual future results.
These statements are based on current expectations and the
current economic environment. They involve a number of risks and
uncertainties that are difficult to predict. These statements
are not guarantees of future performance, and there are no
guarantees about the performance of any securities offered by
1
this prospectus. Actual results could differ materially from
those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements.
Risks, uncertainties and other factors that might cause such
differences include the risks, uncertainties and other factors
identified in our filings with the SEC referred to under the
heading Where You Can Find More Information,
including those identified under Risk Factors above.
These factors include:
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changes in general economic conditions, including the
performance of financial markets and interest rates;
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heightened competition, including with respect to pricing, entry
of new competitors, the development of new products by new and
existing competitors and for personnel;
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investment losses and defaults;
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unanticipated changes in industry trends;
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catastrophe losses;
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ineffectiveness of risk management policies and procedures;
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changes in accounting standards, practices and/or policies;
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changes in assumptions related to deferred policy acquisition
costs (DAC), value of business acquired or goodwill;
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discrepancies between actual claims experience and assumptions
used in setting prices for our products and establishing the
liabilities for our obligations for future policy benefits and
claims;
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discrepancies between actual experience and assumptions used in
establishing liabilities related to other contingencies or
obligations;
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adverse results or other consequences from litigation,
arbitration or regulatory investigations;
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downgrades in our and our affiliates claims paying
ability, financial strength or credit ratings;
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regulatory, legislative or tax changes that may affect the cost
of, or demand for, our products or services;
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MetLife, Inc.s primary reliance, as a holding company, on
dividends from its subsidiaries to meet debt payment obligations
and the applicable regulatory restrictions on the ability of the
subsidiaries to pay such dividends;
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deterioration in the experience of the closed block
established in connection with the reorganization of
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company;
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economic, political, currency and other risks relating to our
international operations;
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the effects of business disruption or economic contraction due
to terrorism or other hostilities;
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our ability to identify and consummate on successful terms any
future acquisitions, and to successfully integrate acquired
businesses with minimal disruption;
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other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in
MetLife, Inc.s or the trusts filings with the SEC;
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the risk factors or uncertainties set forth herein or listed
from time to time in prospectus supplements or any document
incorporated by reference herein; and
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other risks and uncertainties that have not been identified at
this time.
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Neither MetLife, Inc. nor the trusts undertake any obligation to
publicly correct or update any forward-looking statement if any
of MetLife, Inc. or the trusts later become aware that it is not
likely to be achieved. You are advised, however, to consult any
further disclosures MetLife, Inc. or the trusts make on related
subjects in reports to the SEC.
WHERE YOU
CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
MetLife, Inc. files reports, proxy statements and other
information with the SEC. These reports, proxy statements and
other information, including the registration statement of which
this prospectus is a part, can be read and copied at the
SECs public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E.,
Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at
2
1-800-SEC-0330
for further information on the operation of the public reference
room. The SEC maintains an internet site at www.sec.gov that
contains reports, proxy and information statements and other
information regarding companies that file electronically with
the SEC, including MetLife, Inc. MetLife, Inc.s common
stock is listed and traded on the New York Stock Exchange under
the symbol MET. These reports, proxy statements and
other information can also be read at the offices of the New
York Stock Exchange, 11 Wall Street, New York, New York
10005.
The SEC allows incorporation by reference into this
prospectus of information that MetLife, Inc. files with the SEC.
This permits MetLife, Inc. to disclose important information to
you by referencing these filed documents. Any information
referenced this way is considered part of this prospectus, and
any information filed with the SEC subsequent to the date of
this prospectus will automatically be deemed to update and
supersede this information. Information furnished under
Item 2.02 and Item 7.01 of MetLife, Inc.s
Current Reports on
Form 8-K
is not incorporated by reference in this registration statement
and prospectus. MetLife, Inc. incorporates by reference the
following documents which have been filed with the SEC:
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Registration Statement on
Form 8-A,
dated March 31, 2000, relating to registration of shares of
MetLife, Inc.s common stock and Registration Statement on
Form 8-A, dated March 31, 2000, relating to
registration of MetLife, Inc.s Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock purchase rights;
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Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2006;
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Quarterly Reports on
Form 10-Q
for the quarters ended March 31, 2007, June 30, 2007
and September 30, 2007; and
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Current Reports on
Form 8-K
filed January 22, 2007, February 16, 2007,
March 5, 2007, May 15, 2007, May 25, 2007,
June 25, 2007, August 15, 2007, August 28, 2007,
September 26, 2007 and October 24, 2007.
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MetLife, Inc. incorporates by reference the documents listed
above and any future filings made with the SEC in accordance
with Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 until MetLife, Inc. and the trusts file a
post-effective amendment which indicates the termination of the
offering of the securities made by this prospectus. Any reports
filed by us with the SEC after the date of this prospectus and
before the date that the offering of the securities by means of
this prospectus is terminated will automatically update and,
where applicable, supersede any information contained in this
prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
MetLife, Inc. will provide without charge upon written or oral
request, a copy of any or all of the documents which are
incorporated by reference into this prospectus, other than
exhibits to those documents, unless those exhibits are
specifically incorporated by reference into those documents.
Requests should be directed to Investor Relations, MetLife,
Inc., 1 MetLife Plaza, Long Island City, New York 11101 by
electronic mail (metir@metlife.com) or by telephone
(212-578-2211).
You may also obtain some of the documents incorporated by
reference into this document at MetLifes website,
www.metlife.com. You should be aware that all other information
contained on MetLifes website is not a part of this
document.
METLIFE,
INC.
We are a leading provider of insurance and other financial
services with operations throughout the United States and the
regions of Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific. Through our
domestic and international subsidiaries and affiliates, we offer
life insurance, annuities, automobile and homeowners insurance,
retail banking and other financial services to individuals, as
well as group insurance, reinsurance, and retirement &
savings products and services to corporations and other
institutions.
We are one of the largest insurance and financial services
companies in the Unites States. Our franchises and brand names
uniquely position us to be the preeminent provider of protection
and savings and investment products in the Unites States. In
addition, our international operations are focused on markets
where the demand for insurance and savings and investment
products is expected to grow rapidly in the future.
As a holding company, the primary source of MetLife, Inc.s
liquidity is dividends it receives from its insurance
subsidiaries. MetLife, Inc.s insurance subsidiaries are
subject to regulatory restrictions on the payment of dividends
3
imposed by the regulators of their respective domiciles. The
dividend limitation for U.S. insurance subsidiaries is based on
the surplus to policyholders as of the immediately preceding
calendar year and statutory net gain from operations of the
immediately preceding calendar year. Statutory accounting
practices, as prescribed by insurance regulators of various
states in which we conduct business, differ in certain respects
from accounting principles used in financial statements prepared
in conformity with GAAP. The significant differences related to
the treatment of DAC, certain deferred income tax, required
investment reserves, reserve calculation assumptions, goodwill
and surplus notes.
MetLife, Inc. is incorporated under the laws of the State of
Delaware. MetLife, Inc.s principal executive offices are
located at 200 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10166-0188,
and its telephone number is
212-578-2211.
THE
TRUSTS
MetLife Capital Trust V, MetLife Capital Trust VI,
MetLife Capital Trust VII, MetLife Capital Trust VIII
and MetLife Capital Trust IX are statutory trusts formed on
October 31, 2007 under Delaware law pursuant to
declarations of trust between the trustees named therein and
MetLife, Inc. and the filing of certificates of trust with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. MetLife, Inc., as
sponsor of the trusts, and the trustees named in the
declarations of trust will amend and restate the declarations of
trust in their entirety substantially in the forms which are
incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration
statement of which this prospectus forms a part, as of or prior
to the date the trusts issue any trust preferred securities. The
declarations of trust will be qualified as indentures under the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the Trust
Indenture Act).
The trusts exist for the exclusive purposes of:
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issuing preferred securities offered by this prospectus and
common securities to MetLife, Inc.;
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investing the gross proceeds of the preferred securities and
common securities in related series of debt securities, which
may be senior or subordinated, issued by MetLife, Inc.; and
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engaging in only those other activities which are necessary,
appropriate, convenient or incidental to the purposes set forth
above.
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The payment of periodic cash distributions on the trust
preferred securities and payments on liquidation and redemption
with respect to the trust preferred securities, in each case to
the extent the trusts have funds legally and immediately
available, will be guaranteed by MetLife, Inc. to the extent set
forth under Description of Guarantees.
MetLife, Inc. will own, directly or indirectly, all of the
common securities of the trusts. The common securities will
represent an aggregate liquidation amount equal to at least 3%
of each trusts total capitalization. The preferred
securities of each trust will represent the remaining 97% of
each trusts total capitalization. The common securities
will have terms substantially identical to, and will rank equal
in priority of payment with, the preferred securities. However,
if MetLife, Inc. defaults on the related series of debt
securities, then cash distributions and liquidation, redemption
and other amounts payable on the common securities will be
subordinate to the trust preferred securities in priority of
payment.
The trusts each have a term of approximately 55 years, but
may dissolve earlier as provided in their respective
declarations of trust. The trusts activities will be
conducted by the trustees appointed by MetLife, Inc., as the
direct or indirect holder of all of the common securities. The
holder of the common securities of each trust will be entitled
to appoint, remove or replace any of, or increase or reduce the
number of, the trustees of the trust. However, the number of
trustees shall be at least three, at least one of which shall be
an administrative trustee. The duties and obligations of the
trustees will be governed by the declaration of trust for each
trust. A majority of the trustees of each trust will be persons
who are employees or officers of or affiliated with MetLife,
Inc. One trustee of each trust will be a financial institution
which will be unaffiliated with MetLife, Inc. and which will act
as property trustee and as indenture trustee for purposes of the
Trust Indenture Act, pursuant to the terms set forth in a
prospectus supplement. In addition, unless the property trustee
maintains a principal place of business in the State of
Delaware,
4
and otherwise meets the requirements of applicable law, one
trustee of each trust will have its principal place of business
or reside in the State of Delaware.
The property trustee will hold title to the debt securities for
the benefit of the holders of the trust securities and the
property trustee will have the power to exercise all rights,
powers and privileges under the indenture as the holder of the
debt securities. In addition, the property trustee will maintain
exclusive control of a segregated non-interest bearing bank
account to hold all payments made in respect of the debt
securities for the benefit of the holders of the trust
securities. The property trustee will make payments of
distributions and payments on liquidation, redemption and
otherwise to the holders of the trust securities out of funds
from this property account.
The rights of the holders of the trust preferred securities,
including economic rights, rights to information and voting
rights, are provided in the declarations of trust of MetLife
Capital Trust V, MetLife Capital Trust VI, MetLife
Capital Trust VII, MetLife Capital Trust VIII and
MetLife Capital Trust IX, including any amendments thereto,
the trust preferred securities, the Delaware Statutory
Trust Act and the Trust Indenture Act.
MetLife, Inc. will pay all fees and expenses related to the
trusts and the offering of trust preferred securities. The
principal offices of each trust is: The Bank of New York
(Delaware), 100 White Clay Center, Route 273, Newark,
Delaware 19711, Attention: Corporate Trust Administration. The
telephone number of each trust is:
302-283-8905.
Please read the prospectus supplement relating to the trust
preferred securities for further information concerning the
trusts and the trust preferred securities.
USE OF
PROCEEDS
We may use the proceeds of securities sold or re-sold under this
registration statement for, among other things, general
corporate purposes. The prospectus supplement for each offering
of securities will specify the intended use of the proceeds of
that offering. Unless otherwise indicated in an accompanying
prospectus supplement, the trusts will use all of the proceeds
they receive from the sale of trust preferred securities to
purchase debt securities issued by MetLife, Inc.
RATIO OF
EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
AND RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK
DIVIDENDS
The following table sets forth our historical ratio of earnings
to fixed
charges(1)
for the periods indicated:
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Nine Months Ended September 30,
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Year Ended December 31,
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2007
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2006
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2006
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2005
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2004
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2003
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2002
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Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
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1.80
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1.72
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1.67
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1.92
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2.03
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1.73
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1.47
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Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends
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1.78
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1.70
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1.65
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1.90
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2.03
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1.73
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1.47
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(1) |
For purposes of this computation, earnings are defined as income
before provision for income tax and discontinued operations and
excluding undistributed income and losses from equity method
investments, minority interest and fixed charges, excluding
capitalized interest. Fixed charges are the sum of interest and
debt issue costs, interest credited to policyholder account
balances, and an estimated interest component of rent expense.
We did not have any preferred stock outstanding prior to the
initial issuances of our (i) Floating Rate Non-Cumulative
Preferred Stock, Series A, issued on June 13, 2005;
and (ii) 6.50% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock,
Series B, issued on June 16, 2005. The preferred stock
dividends are included within the total fixed charges to
calculate the ratio of earnings to fixed charges and preferred
stock dividends.
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DESCRIPTION
OF SECURITIES
This prospectus contains summary descriptions of the debt
securities, preferred stock, depositary shares, common stock,
warrants, purchase contracts and units that MetLife, Inc. may
sell from time to time, and the trust
5
preferred securities guaranteed by MetLife, Inc. that the trusts
may sell from time to time. These summary descriptions are not
meant to be complete descriptions of each security. However,
this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement
contain the material terms of the securities being offered.
DESCRIPTION
OF DEBT SECURITIES
As used in this prospectus, debt securities means the
debentures, notes, bonds and other evidences of indebtedness
that MetLife, Inc. may issue from time to time. The debt
securities will either be senior debt securities or subordinated
debt securities. Unless the applicable prospectus supplement
states otherwise, senior debt securities will be issued under
the Senior Indenture dated as of November 9, 2001 between
MetLife, Inc, and Bank One Trust Company, N.A. (predecessor to
The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.) (the Senior
Indenture) and subordinated debt securities will be issued
under the Subordinated Indenture dated as of June 21, 2005
between MetLife, Inc. and J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National
Association (predecessor to The Bank of New York Trust Company,
N.A.) (the Subordinated Indenture). This prospectus
sometimes refers to the Senior Indenture and the Subordinated
Indenture collectively as the Indentures.
The Senior Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture are
incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration
statement of which this prospectus forms a part. The statements
and descriptions in this prospectus or in any prospectus
supplement regarding provisions of the Indentures and debt
securities are summaries thereof, do not purport to be complete
and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by
reference to, all of the provisions of the Indentures and the
debt securities, including the definitions therein of certain
terms.
General
The debt securities will be direct unsecured obligations of
MetLife, Inc. The senior debt securities will rank equally with
all of MetLife, Inc.s other senior and unsubordinated
debt. The subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and
junior in right of payment to all of MetLife, Inc.s
present and future senior indebtedness.
Because MetLife, Inc. is principally a holding company, its
right to participate in any distribution of assets of any
subsidiary, including Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, upon
the subsidiarys liquidation or reorganization or
otherwise, is subject to the prior claims of creditors of the
subsidiary, except to the extent MetLife, Inc. may be recognized
as a creditor of that subsidiary. Accordingly, MetLife,
Inc.s obligations under the debt securities will be
effectively subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness
and liabilities of its subsidiaries, including liabilities under
contracts of insurance and annuities written by MetLife,
Inc.s insurance subsidiaries, and holders of debt
securities should look only to MetLife, Inc.s assets for
payment thereunder.
The Indentures do not limit the aggregate principal amount of
debt securities that MetLife, Inc. may issue and provide that
MetLife, Inc. may issue debt securities from time to time in one
or more series, in each case with the same or various
maturities, at par or at a discount. MetLife, Inc. may issue
additional debt securities of a particular series without the
consent of the holders of the debt securities of such series
outstanding at the time of the issuance. Any such additional
debt securities, together with all other outstanding debt
securities of that series, will constitute a single series of
debt securities under the applicable Indenture. The Indentures
also do not limit our ability to incur other debt.
Each prospectus supplement will describe the terms relating to
the specific series of debt securities being offered. These
terms will include some or all of the following:
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the title of debt securities and whether they are subordinated
debt securities or senior debt securities;
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any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the debt
securities;
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the price or prices at which MetLife, Inc. will sell the debt
securities;
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the maturity date or dates of the debt securities;
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the rate or rates of interest, if any, which may be fixed or
variable, per annum at which the debt securities will bear
interest, or the method of determining such rate or rates, if
any;
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6
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the date or dates from which any interest will accrue, the dates
on which interest will be payable, or the method by which such
date or dates will be determined;
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the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and
the duration of any such deferral period, including the maximum
consecutive period during which interest payment periods may be
extended;
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whether the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if
any) or interest on the debt securities may be determined with
reference to any index, formula or other method, such as one or
more currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices,
and the manner of determining the amount of such payments;
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the dates on which MetLife, Inc. will pay interest on the debt
securities and the regular record date for determining who is
entitled to the interest payable on any interest payment date;
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the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any)
and interest on the debt securities will be payable;
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if MetLife, Inc. possesses the option to do so, the periods
within which and the prices at which MetLife, Inc. may redeem
the debt securities, in whole or in part, pursuant to optional
redemption provisions, and the other terms and conditions of any
such provisions;
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MetLife, Inc.s obligation, if any, to redeem, repay or
purchase debt securities by making periodic payments to a
sinking fund or through an analogous provision or at the option
of holders of the debt securities, and the period or periods
within which and the price or prices at which MetLife, Inc. will
redeem, repay or purchase the debt securities, in whole or in
part, pursuant to such obligation, and the other terms and
conditions of such obligation;
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the denominations in which the debt securities will be issued,
if other than denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of
$1,000;
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the portion, or methods of determining the portion, of the
principal amount of the debt securities which MetLife, Inc. must
pay upon the acceleration of the maturity of the debt securities
in connection with an Event of Default (as described below), if
other than the full principal amount;
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the currency, currencies or currency unit in which MetLife, Inc.
will pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if
any, on the debt securities, if not United States dollars and
the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in United
States dollars;
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provisions, if any, granting special rights to holders of the
debt securities upon the occurrence of specified events;
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any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events
of Default or MetLife, Inc.s covenants with respect to the
applicable series of debt securities, and whether or not such
Events of Default or covenants are consistent with those
contained in the applicable Indenture;
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the application, if any, of the terms of the Indenture relating
to defeasance and covenant defeasance (which terms are described
below) to the debt securities;
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whether the subordination provisions summarized below or
different subordination provisions will apply to the debt
securities;
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the terms, if any, upon which the holders may or are required to
convert or exchange such debt securities into or for MetLife,
Inc.s common stock or other securities or property or into
securities of a third party, including conversion price (which
may be adjusted), the method of calculating the conversion
price, or the conversion period;
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whether any of the debt securities will be issued in global or
certificated form and, if so, the terms and conditions upon
which global debt securities may be exchanged for certificated
debt securities;
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any change in the right of the trustee or the requisite holders
of debt securities to declare the principal amount thereof due
and payable because of an Event of Default;
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7
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the depositary for global or certificated debt securities;
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if applicable, a discussion of the U.S. federal income tax
considerations applicable to specific debt securities;
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any trustees, authenticating or paying agents, transfer agents
or registrars or other agents with respect to the debt
securities; and
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any other terms of the debt securities not inconsistent with the
provisions of the Indentures, as amended or supplemented.
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Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus
supplement, the debt securities will not be listed on any
securities exchange.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus
supplement, the debt securities will be issued in fully
registered form without coupons.
Debt securities may be sold at a substantial discount below
their stated principal amount, bearing no interest or interest
at a rate which at the time of issuance is below market rates.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the federal
income tax consequences and special considerations applicable to
any such debt securities. The debt securities may also be issued
as indexed securities or securities denominated in foreign
currencies or currency units, as described in more detail in the
prospectus supplement relating to any of the particular debt
securities. The prospectus supplement relating to specific debt
securities will also describe any special considerations and
certain additional tax considerations applicable to such debt
securities.
Subordination
The prospectus supplement relating to any offering of
subordinated debt securities will describe the specific
subordination provisions. However, unless otherwise noted in the
prospectus supplement, subordinated debt securities will be
subordinate and junior in right of payment to all of MetLife,
Inc.s Senior Indebtedness (as described below).
Under the Subordinated Indenture, Senior
Indebtedness means all amounts due on obligations in
connection with any of the following, whether outstanding at the
date of execution of the Subordinated Indenture or thereafter
incurred or created:
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the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest in respect
of indebtedness of MetLife, Inc. for borrowed money and
indebtedness evidenced by securities, debentures, bonds or other
similar instruments issued by MetLife, Inc.;
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all capital lease obligations of MetLife, Inc.;
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all obligations of MetLife, Inc. issued or assumed as the
deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale
obligations of MetLife, Inc. and all obligations of MetLife,
Inc. under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade
accounts payable in the ordinary course of business);
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all obligations of MetLife, Inc. for the reimbursement on any
letter of credit, bankers acceptance, security purchase
facility or similar credit transaction;
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all obligations of MetLife, Inc. in respect of interest rate
swap, cap or other agreements, interest rate future or options
contracts, currency swap agreements, currency future or option
contracts and other similar agreements;
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all obligations of the types referred to above of other persons
for the payment of which MetLife, Inc. is responsible or liable
as obligor, guarantor or otherwise; and
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all obligations of the types referred to above of other persons
secured by any lien on any property or asset of MetLife, Inc.
whether or not such obligation is assumed by MetLife, Inc.
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8
Senior Indebtedness does not include:
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indebtedness or monetary obligations to trade creditors created
or assumed by MetLife, Inc. in the ordinary course of business
in connection with the obtaining of materials or services;
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indebtedness that is, by its terms, subordinated to, or ranks
equal with, the subordinated debt securities; and
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any indebtedness of MetLife, Inc. to its affiliates (including
all debt securities and guarantees in respect of those debt
securities issued to any trust, partnership or other entity
affiliated with MetLife, Inc. that is a financing vehicle of
MetLife, Inc. in connection with the issuance by such financing
entity of preferred securities or other securities guaranteed by
MetLife, Inc.) unless otherwise expressly provided in the terms
of any such indebtedness.
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At both September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006,
Senior Indebtedness aggregated approximately $7.0 billion.
The amount of Senior Indebtedness which MetLife, Inc. may issue
is subject to limitations imposed by its board of directors.
Senior Indebtedness shall continue to be Senior Indebtedness and
be entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions
irrespective of any amendment, modification or waiver of any
term of such Senior Indebtedness.
Unless otherwise noted in the accompanying prospectus
supplement, if MetLife, Inc. defaults in the payment of any
principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Senior
Indebtedness when it becomes due and payable, whether at
maturity or at a date fixed for prepayment or by declaration or
otherwise, then, unless and until such default is cured or
waived or ceases to exist, MetLife, Inc. will make no direct or
indirect payment (in cash, property, securities, by set-off or
otherwise) in respect of the principal of or interest on the
subordinated debt securities or in respect of any redemption,
retirement, purchase or other requisition of any of the
subordinated debt securities.
In the event of the acceleration of the maturity of any
subordinated debt securities, the holders of all senior debt
securities outstanding at the time of such acceleration will
first be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due
on the senior debt securities before the holders of the
subordinated debt securities will be entitled to receive any
payment of principal (and premium, if any) or interest on the
subordinated debt securities.
If any of the following events occurs, MetLife, Inc. will pay in
full all Senior Indebtedness before it makes any payment or
distribution under the subordinated debt securities, whether in
cash, securities or other property, to any holder of
subordinated debt securities:
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any dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization
of MetLife, Inc., whether voluntary or involuntary or in
bankruptcy, insolvency or receivership;
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any general assignment by MetLife, Inc. for the benefit of
creditors; or
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any other marshaling of MetLife, Inc.s assets or
liabilities.
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In such event, any payment or distribution under the
subordinated debt securities, whether in cash, securities or
other property, which would otherwise (but for the subordination
provisions) be payable or deliverable in respect of the
subordinated debt securities, will be paid or delivered directly
to the holders of Senior Indebtedness in accordance with the
priorities then existing among such holders until all Senior
Indebtedness has been paid in full. If any payment or
distribution under the subordinated debt securities is received
by the trustee of any subordinated debt securities in
contravention of any of the terms of the Subordinated Indenture
and before all the Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full,
such payment or distribution or security will be received in
trust for the benefit of, and paid over or delivered and
transferred to, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness at the
time outstanding in accordance with the priorities then existing
among such holders for application to the payment of all Senior
Indebtedness remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay all
such Senior Indebtedness in full.
The Subordinated Indenture does not limit the issuance of
additional Senior Indebtedness.
If debt securities are issued to a trust in connection with the
issuance of trust preferred securities, such debt securities may
thereafter be distributed pro rata to the holders of such trust
securities in connection with the dissolution of such trust upon
the occurrence of certain events described in the applicable
prospectus supplement.
9
Restrictive
Covenants
Unless an accompanying prospectus supplement states otherwise,
the following restrictive covenants shall apply to each series
of senior debt securities:
Limitation on Liens. So long as any senior
debt securities are outstanding, neither MetLife, Inc. nor any
of its subsidiaries will create, assume, incur or guarantee any
debt which is secured by any mortgage, pledge, lien, security
interest or other encumbrance on any capital stock of:
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Metropolitan Life Insurance Company;
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any successor to substantially all of the business of
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company which is also a subsidiary
of MetLife, Inc.; or
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any corporation (other than MetLife, Inc.) having direct or
indirect control of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company or any
such successor.
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However, this restriction will not apply if the debt securities
then outstanding are secured at least equally and ratably with
the otherwise prohibited secured debt so long as it is
outstanding.
Limitations on Dispositions of Stock of Certain
Subsidiaries. So long as any senior debt
securities are outstanding and subject to the provisions of the
Senior Indenture regarding mergers, consolidations and sales of
assets, neither MetLife, Inc. nor any of its subsidiaries will
sell or otherwise dispose of any shares of capital stock (other
than preferred stock having no voting rights of any kind) of:
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Metropolitan Life Insurance Company;
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any successor to substantially all of the business of
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company which is also a subsidiary
of MetLife, Inc.; or
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any corporation (other than MetLife, Inc.) having direct or
indirect control of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company or any
such successor;
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except for, in each case:
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a sale or other disposition of any of such stock to a
wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife, Inc. or of such subsidiary;
or
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a sale or other disposition of all of such stock for at least
fair value (as determined by MetLife, Inc.s board of
directors acting in good faith); or a sale or other disposition
required to comply with an order of a court or regulatory
authority of competent jurisdiction, other than an order issued
at MetLife, Inc.s request or the request of any of
MetLife, Inc.s subsidiaries.
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Consolidation,
Merger, Sale of Assets and Other Transactions
(i) MetLife, Inc. may not merge with or into or consolidate
with another corporation or sell, assign, transfer, lease or
convey all or substantially all of its properties and assets to,
any other corporation other than a direct or indirect
wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife, Inc., and (ii) no
corporation may merge with or into or consolidate with MetLife,
Inc. or, except for any direct or indirect wholly-owned
subsidiary of MetLife, Inc., sell, assign, transfer, lease or
convey all or substantially all of its properties and assets to
MetLife, Inc., unless:
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MetLife, Inc. is the surviving corporation or the corporation
formed by or surviving such merger or consolidation or to which
such sale, assignment, transfer, lease or conveyance has been
made, if other than MetLife, Inc., has expressly assumed by
supplemental indenture all the obligations of MetLife, Inc.
under the debt securities, the Indentures, and any guarantees of
preferred securities or common securities issued by the trusts;
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immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no default
or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing;
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if at the time any preferred securities of the trusts are
outstanding, such transaction is not prohibited under the
applicable declaration of trust and the applicable preferred
securities guarantee of each trust; and
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MetLife, Inc. delivers to the trustee an officers
certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that the
supplemental indenture complies with the applicable Indenture.
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Events
of Default, Notice and Waiver
Unless an accompanying prospectus supplement states otherwise,
the following shall constitute Events of Default
under the Indentures with respect to each series of debt
securities:
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MetLife, Inc.s failure to pay any interest on any debt
security of such series when due and payable, continued for
30 days;
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MetLife, Inc.s failure to pay principal (or premium, if
any) on any debt security of such series when due, regardless of
whether such payment became due because of maturity, redemption,
acceleration or otherwise, or is required by any sinking fund
established with respect to such series;
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MetLife, Inc.s failure to observe or perform any other of
its covenants or agreements with respect to such series for
90 days after MetLife, Inc. receives notice of such failure;
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certain defaults with respect to MetLife, Inc.s debt which
result in a principal amount in excess of $100,000,000 becoming
or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it
would otherwise have become due and payable (other than the debt
securities or non-recourse debt);
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certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of
MetLife, Inc.; and
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certain events of dissolution or winding-up of the trusts in the
event that debt securities are issued to the trusts or a trustee
of the trusts in connection with the issuance of securities by
the trusts.
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If an Event of Default with respect to any debt securities of
any series outstanding under either of the Indentures shall
occur and be continuing, the trustee under such Indenture or the
holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
debt securities of that series outstanding may declare, by
notice as provided in the applicable Indenture, the principal
amount (or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the debt
securities of that series) of all the debt securities of that
series outstanding to be due and payable immediately; provided
that, in the case of an Event of Default involving certain
events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, acceleration
is automatic; and, provided further, that after such
acceleration, but before a judgment or decree based on
acceleration, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may,
under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration
if all Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of
accelerated principal, have been cured or waived. Upon the
acceleration of the maturity of original issue discount
securities, an amount less than the principal amount thereof
will become due and payable. Reference is made to the prospectus
supplement relating to any original issue discount securities
for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of
maturity thereof.
Any past default under either Indenture with respect to debt
securities of any series, and any Event of Default arising
therefrom, may be waived by the holders of a majority in
principal amount of all debt securities of such series
outstanding under such Indenture, except in the case of
(i) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium,
if any) or interest on any debt securities of such series, or
(ii) default in respect of a covenant or provision which
may not be amended or modified without the consent of the holder
of each outstanding debt security of such series affected.
The trustee is required, within 90 days after the
occurrence of a default (which is known to the trustee and is
continuing), with respect to the debt securities of any series
(without regard to any grace period or notice requirements), to
give to the holders of the debt securities of such series notice
of such default; provided, however, that, except in the case of
a default in the payment of the principal of (and premium, if
any) or interest, or in the payment of any sinking fund
installment, on any debt securities of such series, the trustee
shall be protected in withholding such notice if it in good
faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the
interests of the holders of the debt securities of such series.
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The trustee, subject to its duties during default to act with
the required standard of care, may require indemnification by
the holders of the debt securities of any series with respect to
which a default has occurred before proceeding to exercise any
right or power under the Indentures at the request of the
holders of the debt securities of such series. Subject to such
right of indemnification and to certain other limitations, the
holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding debt securities of any series under either Indenture
may direct the time, method and place of conducting any
proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or
exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee with
respect to the debt securities of such series.
No holder of a debt security of any series may institute any
action against MetLife, Inc. under either of the Indentures
(except actions for payment of overdue principal of (and
premium, if any) or interest on such debt security or for the
conversion or exchange of such debt security in accordance with
its terms) unless (i) the holder has given to the trustee
written notice of an Event of Default and of the continuance
thereof with respect to the debt securities of such series
specifying an Event of Default, as required under the applicable
Indenture, (ii) the holders of at least 25% in aggregate
principal amount of the debt securities of that series then
outstanding under such Indenture shall have requested the
trustee to institute such action and offered to the trustee
reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities
to be incurred in compliance with such request, and
(iii) the trustee shall not have instituted such action
within 60 days of such request.
MetLife, Inc. is required to furnish annually to the trustee
statements as to MetLife, Inc.s compliance with all
conditions and covenants under each Indenture.
Discharge,
Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, MetLife,
Inc. may discharge or defease its obligations under each
Indenture as set forth below.
MetLife, Inc. may discharge certain obligations to holders of
any series of debt securities issued under either the Senior
Indenture or the Subordinated Indenture which have not already
been delivered to the trustee for cancellation and which have
either become due and payable or are by their terms due and
payable within one year (or scheduled for redemption within one
year) by irrevocably depositing with the trustee cash or, in the
case of debt securities payable only in U.S. dollars,
U.S. government obligations (as defined in either
Indenture), as trust funds in an amount certified to be
sufficient to pay when due, whether at maturity, upon redemption
or otherwise, the principal of (and premium, if any) and
interest on such debt securities.
If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, MetLife,
Inc. may elect either (i) to defease and be discharged from
any and all obligations with respect to the debt securities of
or within any series (except as otherwise provided in the
relevant Indenture) (defeasance) or (ii) to be
released from its obligations with respect to certain covenants
applicable to the debt securities of or within any series
(covenant defeasance), upon the deposit with the
relevant Indenture trustee, in trust for such purpose, of money
and/or government obligations which, through the payment of
principal and interest in accordance with their terms, will
provide money in an amount sufficient, without reinvestment, to
pay the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on such
debt securities to maturity or redemption, as the case may be,
and any mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments thereon. As
a condition to defeasance or covenant defeasance, MetLife, Inc.
must deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect
that the holders of such debt securities will not recognize
income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result
of such defeasance or covenant defeasance and will be subject to
federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner
and at the same times as would have been the case if such
defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred. Such opinion
of counsel, in the case of defeasance under clause (i)
above, must refer to and be based upon a ruling of the Internal
Revenue Service or a change in applicable federal income tax law
occurring after the date of the relevant Indenture. In addition,
in the case of either defeasance or covenant defeasance,
MetLife, Inc. shall have delivered to the trustee (i) an
officers certificate to the effect that the relevant debt
securities exchange(s) have informed it that neither such debt
securities nor any other debt securities of the same series, if
then listed on any securities exchange, will be delisted as a
result of such deposit, and (ii) an officers
certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that all
conditions precedent with respect to such defeasance or covenant
defeasance have been complied with.
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MetLife, Inc. may exercise its defeasance option with respect to
such debt securities notwithstanding its prior exercise of its
covenant defeasance option.
Modification
and Waiver
Under the Indentures, MetLife, Inc. and the applicable trustee
may supplement the Indentures for certain purposes which would
not materially adversely affect the interests or rights of the
holders of debt securities of a series without the consent of
those holders. MetLife, Inc. and the applicable trustee may also
modify the Indentures or any supplemental indenture in a manner
that affects the interests or rights of the holders of debt
securities with the consent of the holders of at least a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt
securities of each affected series issued under the Indenture.
However, the Indentures require the consent of each holder of
debt securities that would be affected by any modification which
would:
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extend the fixed maturity of any debt securities of any series,
or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or
extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any
premium payable upon the redemption thereof;
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reduce the amount of principal of an original issue discount
debt security or any other debt security payable upon
acceleration of the maturity thereof;
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change the currency in which any debt security or any premium or
interest is payable;
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impair the right to enforce any payment on or with respect to
any debt security;
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adversely change the right to convert or exchange, including
decreasing the conversion rate or increasing the conversion
price of, any debt security (if applicable);
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reduce the percentage in principal amount of outstanding debt
securities of any series, the consent of whose holders is
required for modification or amendment of the Indentures or for
waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the Indentures
or for waiver of certain defaults;
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reduce the requirements contained in the Indentures for quorum
or voting; or
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modify any of the above provisions.
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If debt securities are held by a trust or a trustee of a trust,
a supplemental indenture that affects the interests or rights of
the holders of debt securities will not be effective until the
holders of not less than a majority in liquidation preference of
the preferred securities and common securities of the applicable
trust, collectively, have consented to the supplemental
indenture; provided, further, that if the consent of the holder
of each outstanding debt security is required, the supplemental
indenture will not be effective until each holder of the
preferred securities and the common securities of the applicable
trust has consented to the supplemental indenture.
The Indentures permit the holders of at least a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of
any series issued under the Indenture which is affected by the
modification or amendment to waive MetLife, Inc.s
compliance with certain covenants contained in the Indentures.
Payment
and Paying Agents
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus
supplement, payment of interest on a debt security on any
interest payment date will be made to the person in whose name a
debt security is registered at the close of business on the
record date for the interest.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus
supplement, principal, interest and premium on the debt
securities of a particular series will be payable at the office
of such paying agent or paying agents as MetLife, Inc. may
designate for such purpose from time to time. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, at MetLife, Inc.s option, payment of any
interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the
person entitled thereto as such address appears in the security
register.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus
supplement, a paying agent designated by MetLife, Inc. and
located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, will
act as paying agent for payments with
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respect to debt securities of each series. All paying agents
initially designated by MetLife, Inc. for the debt securities of
a particular series will be named in the applicable prospectus
supplement. MetLife, Inc. may at any time designate additional
paying agents or rescind the designation of any paying agent or
approve a change in the office through which any paying agent
acts, except that MetLife, Inc. will be required to maintain a
paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of
a particular series.
All moneys paid by MetLife, Inc. to a paying agent for the
payment of the principal, interest or premium on any debt
security which remain unclaimed at the end of two years after
such principal, interest or premium has become due and payable
will be repaid to MetLife, Inc. upon request, and the holder of
such debt security thereafter may look only to MetLife, Inc. for
payment thereof.
Denominations,
Registrations and Transfer
Unless an accompanying prospectus supplement states otherwise,
debt securities will be represented by one or more global
certificates registered in the name of a nominee for The
Depository Trust Company (DTC). In such case, each
holders beneficial interest in the global securities will
be shown on the records of DTC and transfers of beneficial
interests will only be effected through DTCs records.
A holder of debt securities may only exchange a beneficial
interest in a global security for certificated securities
registered in the holders name if:
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DTC notifies MetLife, Inc. that it is unwilling or unable to
continue serving as the depositary for the relevant global
securities or DTC ceases to maintain certain qualifications
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and no successor
depositary has been appointed for 90 days; or
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MetLife, Inc. determines, in its sole discretion and subject to
the procedures of DTC, that the global security shall be
exchangeable.
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If debt securities are issued in certificated form, they will
only be issued in the minimum denomination specified in the
accompanying prospectus supplement and integral multiples of
such denomination. Transfers and exchanges of such debt
securities will only be permitted in such minimum denomination.
Transfers of debt securities in certificated form may be
registered at the trustees corporate office or at the
offices of any paying agent or trustee appointed by MetLife,
Inc. under the Indentures. Exchanges of debt securities for an
equal aggregate principal amount of debt securities in different
denominations may also be made at such locations.
Governing
Law
The Indentures and debt securities will be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of
New York, without regard to its principles of conflicts of laws.
Relationship
with the Trustees
The trustee under the Indentures is The Bank of New York Trust
Company, N.A. (in the case of the Senior Indenture, as successor
to Bank One Trust Company, N.A., and in the case of the
Subordinated Indenture, as successor to J.P. Morgan Trust
Company, National Association). MetLife, Inc. and its
subsidiaries maintain ordinary banking and trust relationships
with a number of banks and trust companies, including the
trustee under the Indentures.
Conversion
or Exchange Rights
The prospectus supplement will describe the terms, if any, on
which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or
exchangeable for securities described in this prospectus. These
terms will include provisions as to whether conversion or
exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at
MetLife, Inc.s option. These provisions may allow or
require the number of shares of MetLife, Inc.s common
stock or other securities to be received by the holders of such
series of debt securities to be adjusted.
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DESCRIPTION
OF CAPITAL STOCK
MetLife, Inc.s authorized capital stock consists of:
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200,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value
$0.01 per share, of which 84,000,000 shares were
issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2007:
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27,600,000 shares of Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Preferred
Stock, Series A (the Series A Preferred
Stock), of which 24,000,000 shares were issued and
outstanding as of September 30, 2007;
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69,000,000 shares of 6.500% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock,
Series B (the Series B Preferred Stock) of
which 60,000,000 shares were issued and outstanding as of
September 30, 2007; and
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10,000,000 shares of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which no
shares were issued or outstanding as of the date of this
prospectus; and
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3,000,000,000 shares of common stock, par value
$0.01 per share, of which 740,286,838 shares, as well
as the same number of rights to purchase shares of Series A
Junior Participating Preferred Stock pursuant to the stockholder
rights plan adopted by MetLife, Inc.s board of directors
on September 29, 1999, were outstanding as of
September 30, 2007. See Stockholder
Rights Plan for a description of the Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock. The remaining shares of
authorized and unissued common stock will be available for
future issuance without additional stockholder approval.
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Common
Stock
Dividends. The holders of common stock, after
any preferences of holders of any preferred stock, are entitled
to receive dividends as determined by the board of directors.
The issuance of dividends will depend upon, among other factors
deemed relevant by MetLife, Inc.s board of directors,
MetLifes financial condition, results of operations, cash
requirements, future prospects and regulatory restrictions on
the payment of dividends by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
and MetLife, Inc.s other subsidiaries. There is no
requirement or assurance that MetLife, Inc. will declare and pay
any dividends. In addition, (i) the certificates of
designation for the Series A Preferred Stock and the
Series B Preferred Stock, (ii) MetLife, Inc.s
6.40% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Junior Subordinated Debentures due
2066, and (iii) both series of junior subordinated debt
securities underlying MetLife, Inc.s common equity units,
all prohibit the declaration or payment of dividends or
distributions on common stock under certain circumstances. Under
the certificates of designation for the Series A Preferred
Stock and the Series B Preferred Stock, if dividends on
such securities are not paid, no dividends may be paid on the
common stock. Similarly, under the the 6.40% Fixed-to-Floating
Rate Junior Subordinated Debentures due 2066, under certain
circumstances, if interest is not paid in full on such
securities, whether because of an optional deferral or a trigger
event, subject to certain exceptions, than no dividends may be
paid on the common stock. The indenture governing the terms of
the junior subordinated debt securities underlying the common
equity units prohibits, during any period in which the payment
of interest on either series is deferred, or certain other
events have occurred, among other things, the declaration or
payment of any dividends or distributions on, the redemption,
purchase, acquisition of or making a liquidation payment with
respect to, any shares of capital stock.
Voting Rights. The holders of common stock are
entitled to one vote per share on all matters on which the
holders of common stock are entitled to vote and do not have any
cumulative voting rights.
Liquidation and Dissolution. In the event of
MetLife, Inc.s liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, the
holders of common stock are entitled to share equally and
ratably in MetLife, Inc.s assets, if any, remaining after
the payment of all of MetLife, Inc.s liabilities and the
liquidation preference of any outstanding class or series of
preferred stock.
Other Rights. The holders of common stock have
no preemptive, conversion, redemption or sinking fund rights.
The holders of shares of MetLife, Inc.s common stock are
not required to make additional capital contributions.
Transfer Agent and Registrar. The transfer
agent and registrar for MetLife, Inc.s common stock is
Mellon Investor Services LLC, successor to ChaseMellon
Shareholder Services, L.L.C.
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Preferred
Stock
General. MetLife, Inc.s board of
directors has the authority to issue preferred stock in one or
more series and to fix the title and number of shares
constituting any such series and the designations, powers,
preferences, limitations and relative rights including offering
price, any dividend rights (including whether dividends will be
cumulative or non-cumulative), dividend rate, voting rights,
terms of any redemption, any redemption price or prices,
conversion or exchange rights and any liquidation preferences of
the shares constituting any series, without any further vote or
action by stockholders. The specific terms of the preferred
stock will be described in the prospectus supplement.
MetLife, Inc. has authorized 10,000,000 shares of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock for issuance
in connection with its stockholder rights plan. See
Stockholder Rights Plan for a
description of the Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock.
Voting Rights. The Delaware General
Corporation Law provides that the holders of preferred stock
will have the right to vote separately as a class on any
proposal involving fundamental changes in the rights of holders
of such preferred stock. The prospectus supplement will describe
the voting rights, if any, of the preferred stock.
Conversion or Exchange. The prospectus
supplement will describe the terms, if any, on which the
preferred stock may be convertible into or exchangeable for
securities described in this prospectus. These terms will
include provisions as to whether conversion or exchange is
mandatory, at the option of the holder or at MetLife,
Inc.s option. These provisions may set forth the
conversion price, the method of determining the conversion price
and the conversion period and may allow or require the number of
shares of MetLife, Inc.s common stock or other securities
to be received by the holders of preferred stock to be adjusted.
Redemption. The prospectus supplement will
describe the obligation, if any, to redeem the preferred stock
in whole or in part at the times and at the redemption prices
set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus
supplement, MetLife, Inc. may not purchase or redeem any of the
outstanding shares or any series of preferred stock unless full
cumulative dividends, if any, have been paid or declared and set
apart for payment upon all outstanding shares of any series of
preferred stock for all past dividend periods, and unless all of
MetLife, Inc.s matured obligations with respect to all
sinking funds, retirement funds or purchase funds for all series
of preferred stock then outstanding have been met.
Certain
Provisions in MetLife, Inc.s Certificate of Incorporation
and By-Laws and in Delaware and New York Law
A number of provisions of MetLife, Inc.s certificate of
incorporation and by-laws deal with matters of corporate
governance and rights of stockholders. The following discussion
is a general summary of selected provisions of MetLife,
Inc.s certificate of incorporation and by-laws and
regulatory provisions that might be deemed to have a potential
anti-takeover effect. These provisions may have the
effect of discouraging a future takeover attempt which is not
approved by MetLife, Inc.s board of directors but which
individual stockholders may deem to be in their best interests
or in which stockholders may receive a substantial premium for
their shares over then current market prices. As a result,
stockholders who might desire to participate in such a
transaction may not have an opportunity to do so. Such
provisions will also render the removal of the incumbent board
of directors or management more difficult. Some provisions of
the Delaware General Corporation Law and the New York Insurance
Law may also have an anti-takeover effect. The following
description of selected provisions of MetLife, Inc.s
certificate of incorporation and by-laws and selected provisions
of the Delaware General Corporation Law and the New York
Insurance Law is necessarily general and reference should be
made in each case to MetLife, Inc.s certificate of
incorporation and by-laws, which are incorporated by reference
as exhibits to the registration statement of which this
prospectus forms a part, and to the provisions of those laws.
Classified
Board of Directors and Removal of Directors
Pursuant to MetLife, Inc.s certificate of incorporation,
the directors are divided into three classes, as nearly equal in
number as possible, with each class having a term of three
years. The classes serve staggered terms, such that the term of
one class of directors expires each year. Any effort to obtain
control of MetLife, Inc.s board of
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directors by causing the election of a majority of the board may
require more time than would be required without a staggered
election structure. MetLife, Inc.s certificate of
incorporation also provides that, subject to the rights of the
holders of any class of preferred stock, directors may be
removed only for cause at a meeting of stockholders by a vote of
a majority of the shares then entitled to vote. This provision
may have the effect of slowing or impeding a change in
membership of MetLife, Inc.s board of directors that would
effect a change of control.
Exercise
of Duties by Board of Directors
MetLife, Inc.s certificate of incorporation provides that
while the MetLife Policyholder Trust (as described below) is in
existence, each MetLife, Inc. director is required, in
exercising his or her duties as a director, to take the
interests of the trust beneficiaries into account as if they
were holders of the shares of common stock held in the trust,
except to the extent that any such director determines, based on
advice of counsel, that to do so would violate his or her duties
as a director under Delaware law.
Restriction
on Maximum Number of Directors and Filling of Vacancies on
MetLife, Inc.s Board of Directors
Pursuant to MetLife, Inc.s by-laws and subject to the
rights of the holders of any class of preferred stock, the
number of directors may be fixed and increased or decreased from
time to time by resolution of the board of directors, but the
board of directors will at no time consist of fewer than three
directors. Subject to the rights of the holders of any class of
preferred stock, stockholders can only remove a director for
cause by a vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote, in
which case the vacancy caused by such removal may be filled at
such meeting by the stockholders entitled to vote for the
election of the director so removed. Any vacancy on the board of
directors, including a vacancy resulting from an increase in the
number of directors or resulting from a removal for cause where
the stockholders have not filled the vacancy, subject to the
rights of the holders of any class of preferred stock, may be
filled by a majority of the directors then in office, although
less than a quorum. If the vacancy is not so filled it will be
filled by the stockholders at the next annual meeting of
stockholders. The stockholders are not permitted to fill
vacancies between annual meetings, except where the vacancy
resulted from a removal for cause. These provisions give
incumbent directors significant authority that may have the
effect of limiting the ability of stockholders to effect a
change in management.
Advance
Notice Requirements for Nomination of Directors and Presentation
of New Business at Meetings of Stockholders; Action by Written
Consent
MetLife, Inc.s by-laws provide for advance notice
requirements for stockholder proposals and nominations for
director. In addition, pursuant to the provisions of both the
certificate of incorporation and the by-laws, action may not be
taken by written consent of stockholder. Rather, any action
taken by the stockholders must be effected at a duly called
meeting. Moreover, the stockholders do not have the power to
call a special meeting. Only the chief executive officer or the
secretary pursuant to a board resolution or, under some
circumstances, the president or a director who also is an
officer, may call a special meeting. These provisions make it
more difficult for a stockholder to place a proposal or
nomination on the meeting agenda and prohibit a stockholder from
taking action without a meeting, and therefore may reduce the
likelihood that a stockholder will seek to take independent
action to replace directors or with respect to other matters
that are not supported by management for stockholder vote.
Limitations
on Director Liability
MetLife, Inc.s certificate of incorporation contains a
provision that is designed to limit the directors
liability to the extent permitted by the Delaware General
Corporation Law and any amendments to that law. Specifically,
directors will not be held liable to MetLife, Inc. or its
stockholders for an act or omission in their capacity as a
director, except for liability as a result of:
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a breach of the duty of loyalty to MetLife, Inc. or its
stockholders;
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acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional
misconduct or a knowing violation of law;
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payment of an improper dividend or improper repurchase of
MetLife, Inc.s stock under Section 174 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law; or
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actions or omissions pursuant to which the director received an
improper personal benefit.
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The principal effect of the limitation on liability provision is
that a stockholder is unable to prosecute an action for monetary
damages against a director of MetLife, Inc. unless the
stockholder can demonstrate one of the specified bases for
liability. This provision, however, does not eliminate or limit
director liability arising in connection with causes of action
brought under the federal securities laws. MetLife, Inc.s
certificate of incorporation also does not eliminate the
directors duty of care. The inclusion of the limitation on
liability provision in the certificate may, however, discourage
or deter stockholders or management from bringing a lawsuit
against directors for a breach of their fiduciary duties, even
though such an action, if successful, might otherwise have
benefited MetLife, Inc. and its stockholders. This provision
should not affect the availability of equitable remedies such as
injunction or rescission based upon a directors breach of
the duty of care.
MetLife, Inc.s by-laws also provide that MetLife, Inc.
indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent
permitted by Delaware law. MetLife, Inc. is required to
indemnify its directors and officers for all judgments, fines,
settlements, legal fees and other expenses reasonably incurred
in connection with pending or threatened legal proceedings
because of the directors or officers position with
MetLife, Inc. or another entity, including Metropolitan Life
Insurance Company, that the director or officer serves at
MetLife, Inc.s request, subject to certain conditions, and
to advance funds to MetLife, Inc.s directors and officers
to enable them to defend against such proceedings. To receive
indemnification, the director or officer must succeed in the
legal proceeding or act in good faith and in a manner reasonably
believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of
MetLife, Inc. and with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be
lawful.
Supermajority
Voting Requirement for Amendment of Certain Provisions of the
Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws
Some of the provisions of MetLife, Inc.s certificate of
incorporation, including those that authorize the board of
directors to create stockholder rights plans, that set forth the
duties, election and exculpation from liability of directors and
that prohibit stockholders from taking actions by written
consent, may not be amended, altered, changed or repealed unless
the amendment is approved by the vote of holders of 75% of the
then outstanding shares entitled to vote at an election of
directors. This requirement exceeds the majority vote of the
outstanding stock that would otherwise be required by the
Delaware General Corporation Law for the repeal or amendment of
such provisions of the certificate of incorporation. MetLife,
Inc.s by-laws may be amended, altered or repealed by the
board of directors or by the vote of holders of 75% of the then
outstanding shares entitled to vote in the election of
directors. These provisions make it more difficult for any
person to remove or amend any provisions that have an
anti-takeover effect.
Business
Combination Statute
In addition, as a Delaware corporation, MetLife, Inc. is subject
to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law,
unless it elects in its certificate of incorporation not to be
governed by the provisions of Section 203. MetLife, Inc.
has not made that election. Section 203 can affect the
ability of an interested stockholder of MetLife,
Inc. to engage in certain business combinations, including
mergers, consolidations or acquisitions of additional shares of
MetLife, Inc. for a period of three years following the time
that the stockholder becomes an interested
stockholder. An interested stockholder is
defined to include any person owning, directly or indirectly,
15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of a corporation.
The provisions of Section 203 are not applicable in some
circumstances, including those in which (1) the business
combination or transaction which results in the stockholder
becoming an interested stockholder is approved by
the corporations board of directors prior to the time the
stockholder becomes an interested stockholder or
(2) the interested stockholder, upon
consummation of such transaction, owns at least 85% of the
voting stock of the corporation outstanding prior to such
transaction.
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Restrictions
on Acquisitions of Securities
The insurance laws and regulations of New York, the jurisdiction
in which MetLife, Inc.s principal insurance subsidiary,
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, is organized, may delay or
impede a business combination involving MetLife, Inc. In
addition to the limitations described in the immediately
preceding paragraph, the New York Insurance Law prohibits any
person from acquiring control of Metropolitan Life Insurance
Company, either directly or indirectly through any acquisition
of control of MetLife, Inc., without the prior approval of
the New York Superintendent of Insurance. That law presumes that
control exists where any person, directly or indirectly, owns,
controls, holds the power to vote or holds proxies representing
10% or more of MetLife, Inc.s outstanding voting stock,
unless the New York Superintendent, upon application, determines
otherwise. Even persons who do not acquire beneficial ownership
of more than 10% of the outstanding shares of MetLife,
Inc.s common stock may be deemed to have acquired such
control, if the New York Superintendent determines that such
persons, directly or indirectly, exercise a controlling
influence over MetLife, Inc.s management or policies.
Therefore, any person seeking to acquire a controlling interest
in MetLife, Inc. would face regulatory obstacles which may
delay, deter or prevent an acquisition.
The insurance holding company law and other insurance laws of
many other states also regulate changes of control (generally
presumed upon acquisitions of 10% or more of voting securities)
of domestic insurers (including insurers owned by MetLife, Inc.)
and insurance holding companies such as MetLife, Inc.
Stockholder
Rights Plan
MetLife, Inc.s board of directors has adopted a
stockholder rights plan under which each outstanding share of
MetLife, Inc.s common stock issued between April 4,
2000 and the earlier of the distribution date (as described
below) and the expiration of the rights (as described below)
will be coupled with a stockholder right. Initially, the
stockholder rights will be attached to the certificates
representing outstanding shares of common stock, and no separate
rights certificates will be distributed. Each right will entitle
the holder to purchase one one-hundredth of a share of MetLife,
Inc.s Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock.
Each one one-hundredth of a share of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock will have economic and voting
terms equivalent to one share of MetLife, Inc.s common
stock. Until it is exercised, the right itself will not entitle
the holder thereof to any rights as a stockholder, including the
right to receive dividends or to vote at stockholder meetings.
The description and terms of the rights are set forth in a
rights agreement entered into between MetLife, Inc. and Mellon
Investor Services LLC, successor to ChaseMellon Shareholder
Services, L.L.C., as rights agent. Although the material
provisions of the rights agreement have been accurately
summarized, the statements below concerning the rights agreement
are not necessarily complete and in each instance reference is
made to the rights agreement itself, which is incorporated by
reference into this prospectus in its entirety. Each statement
is qualified in its entirety by such reference.
Stockholder rights are not exercisable until the distribution
date and will expire at the close of business on April 4,
2010, unless earlier redeemed or exchanged by MetLife, Inc. A
distribution date would occur upon the earlier of:
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the tenth day after the first public announcement or
communication to MetLife, Inc. that a person or group of
affiliated or associated persons (referred to as an
acquiring person) has acquired beneficial ownership
of 10% or more of MetLife, Inc.s outstanding common stock
(the date of such announcement or communication is referred to
as the stock acquisition time); or
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the tenth business day after the commencement or announcement of
the intention to commence a tender offer or exchange offer that
would result in a person or group becoming an acquiring person.
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If any person becomes an acquiring person, each holder of a
stockholder right will be entitled to exercise the right and
receive, instead of Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock, common stock (or, in certain circumstances, cash, a
reduction in purchase price, property or other securities of
MetLife, Inc.) having a value equal to two times the purchase
price of the stockholder right. All stockholder rights that are
beneficially owned by an acquiring person or its transferee will
become null and void.
If at any time after a public announcement has been made or
MetLife, Inc. has received notice that a person has become an
acquiring person, (1) MetLife, Inc. is acquired in a merger
or other business combination, or (2) 50% or
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more of MetLife, Inc.s and its subsidiaries assets,
cash flow or earning power is sold or transferred, each holder
of a stockholder right (except rights which previously have been
voided as set forth above) will have the right to receive, upon
exercise, common stock of the acquiring company having a value
equal to two times the purchase price of the right.
The purchase price payable, the number of one one-hundredths of
a share of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock or
other securities or property issuable upon exercise of rights
and the number of rights outstanding, are subject to adjustment
from time to time to prevent dilution. With certain exceptions,
no adjustment in the purchase price or the number of shares of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock issuable upon
exercise of a stockholder right will be required until the
cumulative adjustment would require an increase or decrease of
at least one percent in the purchase price or number of shares
for which a right is exercisable.
At any time until the earlier of (1) the stock acquisition
time, or (2) the final expiration date of the rights
agreement, MetLife, Inc. may redeem all the stockholder rights
at a price of $0.01 per right. At any time after a person
has become an acquiring person and prior to the acquisition of
beneficial ownership by such person of 50% or more of the
outstanding shares of MetLife, Inc.s common stock,
MetLife, Inc. may exchange the stockholder rights, in whole or
in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of common stock, or
one one-hundredth of a share of Series A Junior
Participating Preferred Stock (or of a share of a class or
series of preferred stock having equivalent rights, preferences
and privileges), per right.
The stockholder rights plan is designed to protect stockholders
in the event of unsolicited offers to acquire MetLife, Inc. and
other coercive takeover tactics which, in the opinion of its
board of directors, could impair its ability to represent
stockholder interests. The provisions of the stockholder rights
plan may render an unsolicited takeover more difficult or less
likely to occur or may prevent such a takeover, even though such
takeover may offer MetLife, Inc.s stockholders the
opportunity to sell their stock at a price above the prevailing
market rate and may be favored by a majority of MetLife,
Inc.s stockholders.
MetLife
Policyholder Trust
Under a plan of reorganization adopted in September 1999,
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company converted from a mutual life
insurance company to a stock life insurance company subsidiary
of MetLife, Inc. MetLife established the MetLife Policyholder
Trust to hold the shares of common stock allocated to eligible
policyholders. A total of 494,466,664 shares of common
stock were distributed to the MetLife Policyholder Trust on the
effective date of the plan of reorganization. As of
October 31, 2007, the trust held 262,431,955 shares of
MetLife, Inc.s common stock. Because of the number of
shares held by the trust and the voting provisions of the trust,
the trust may affect the outcome of matters brought to a
stockholder vote.
The trustee will generally vote all of the shares of common
stock held in the trust in accordance with the recommendations
given by MetLife, Inc.s board of directors to its
stockholders or, if the board gives no such recommendation, as
directed by the board, except on votes regarding certain
fundamental corporate actions. As a result of the voting
provisions of the trust, MetLife, Inc.s board of directors
will effectively be able to control votes on all matters
submitted to a vote of stockholders, excluding those fundamental
corporate actions described below, so long as the trust holds a
substantial number of shares of MetLife, Inc.s common
stock.
If the vote relates to fundamental corporate actions specified
in the trust, the trustee will solicit instructions from the
beneficiaries and vote all shares held in the trust in
proportion to the instructions it receives, which would give
disproportionate weight to the instructions actually given by
trust beneficiaries. These actions include:
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an election or removal of directors in which a stockholder has
properly nominated one or more candidates in opposition to a
nominee or nominees of MetLife, Inc.s board of directors
or a vote on a stockholders proposal to oppose a board
nominee for director, remove a director for cause or fill a
vacancy caused by the removal of a director by stockholders,
subject to certain conditions;
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a merger or consolidation, a sale, lease or exchange of all or
substantially all of the assets, or a recapitalization or
dissolution of MetLife, Inc., in each case requiring a vote of
MetLife, Inc.s stockholders under applicable Delaware law;
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any transaction that would result in an exchange or conversion
of shares of common stock held by the trust for cash, securities
or other property; and
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any proposal requiring MetLife, Inc.s board of directors
to amend or redeem the rights under the stockholder rights plan,
other than a proposal with respect to which MetLife, Inc. has
received advice of nationally-recognized legal counsel to the
effect that the proposal is not a proper subject for stockholder
action under Delaware law.
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DESCRIPTION
OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
The following outlines some of the general terms and provisions
of the depositary shares. Further terms of the depositary shares
and the applicable deposit agreement will be stated in the
applicable prospectus supplement. The following description and
any description of the depositary shares in a prospectus
supplement may not be complete and is subject to and qualified
in its entirety by reference to the terms and provisions of the
deposit agreement, a form of which has been or will be filed as
an exhibit to the registration statement of which this
prospectus forms a part.
The particular terms of the depositary shares offered by any
prospectus supplement and the extent to which the general
provisions described below may apply to such depositary shares
will be outlined in the applicable prospectus supplement.
General
MetLife, Inc. may choose to offer fractional interests in debt
securities or fractional shares of common stock or preferred
stock. MetLife, Inc. may issue fractional interests in debt
securities, common stock or preferred stock, as the case may be,
in the form of depositary shares. Each depositary share would
represent a fractional interest in a security of a particular
series of debt securities or a fraction of a share of common
stock or of a particular series of preferred stock, as the case
may be, and would be evidenced by a depositary receipt.
MetLife, Inc. will deposit the debt securities or shares of
common stock or preferred stock represented by depositary shares
under a deposit agreement between MetLife, Inc. and a depositary
which will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, as an owner of a
depositary share, you will be entitled, in proportion to the
applicable fraction of a debt security or share of common stock
or preferred stock represented by the depositary share, to all
the rights and preferences of the debt security, common stock or
preferred stock, as the case may be, represented by the
depositary share, including, as the case may be, interest,
dividend, voting, conversion, redemption, sinking fund,
repayment at maturity, subscription and liquidation rights.
Interest,
Dividends and Other Distributions
The depositary will distribute all payments of interest, cash
dividends or other cash distributions received on the debt
securities, common stock or preferred stock, as the case may be,
to you in proportion to the number of depositary shares that you
own. In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the
depositary will distribute property received by it to you in an
equitable manner, unless the depositary determines that it is
not feasible to make a distribution. In that case, the
depositary may sell the property and distribute the net proceeds
from the sale to you.
Redemption
of Depositary Shares
If a debt security, common stock or series of preferred stock
represented by depositary shares is redeemed, the depositary
will redeem your depositary shares from the proceeds received by
the depositary resulting from the redemption. The redemption
price per depositary share will be equal to the applicable
fraction of the redemption price per debt security or share of
common stock or preferred stock, as the case may be, payable in
relation to the redeemed series of debt securities, common stock
or preferred stock. Whenever MetLife, Inc. redeems debt
securities or shares of common stock or preferred stock held by
the depositary, the depositary will redeem, as of the same
redemption date, the number of depositary shares representing,
as the case may be, fractional interests in the debt securities
or shares of common stock or preferred stock redeemed. If fewer
than all the depositary shares are to
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be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be
selected by lot, proportionately or by any other equitable
method as the depositary may determine.
Exercise
of Rights under the Indentures or Voting the Common Stock or
Preferred
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which you are entitled
to vote, or of any request for instructions or directions from
you as holder of fractional interests in debt securities, common
stock or preferred stock, the depositary will mail to you the
information contained in that notice. Each record holder of the
depositary shares on the record date will be entitled to
instruct the depositary how to give instructions or directions
with respect to the debt securities represented by that
holders depositary shares or how to vote the amount of the
common stock or preferred stock represented by that
holders depositary shares. The record date for the
depositary shares will be the same date as the record date for
the debt securities, common stock or preferred stock, as the
case may be. The depositary will endeavor, to the extent
practicable, to give instructions or directions with respect to
the debt securities or to vote the amount of the common stock or
preferred stock, as the case may be, represented by the
depositary shares in accordance with those instructions.
MetLife, Inc. will agree to take all reasonable action which the
depositary may deem necessary to enable the depositary to do so.
The depositary will abstain from giving instructions or
directions with respect to your fractional interests in the debt
securities or voting shares of the common stock or preferred
stock, as the case may be, if it does not receive specific
instructions from you.
Amendment
and Termination of the Deposit Agreement
MetLife, Inc. and the depositary may amend the form of
depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any
provision of the deposit agreement at any time. However, any
amendment which materially and adversely affects the rights of
the holders of the depositary shares will not be effective
unless the amendment has been approved by the holders of at
least a majority of the depositary shares then outstanding.
The deposit agreement will terminate if:
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all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed;
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if applicable, the debt securities and the preferred stock
represented by depositary shares have been converted into or
exchanged for common stock or, in the case of debt securities,
repaid in full; or
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there has been a final distribution in respect of the common
stock or preferred stock, including in connection with the
liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of MetLife, Inc., and the
distribution proceeds have been distributed to you.
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Resignation
and Removal of Depositary
The depositary may resign at any time by delivering to MetLife,
Inc. notice of its election to do so. MetLife, Inc. also may, at
any time, remove the depositary. Any resignation or removal will
take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and
its acceptance of such appointment. MetLife, Inc. must appoint
the successor depositary within 60 days after delivery of
the notice of resignation or removal. The successor depositary
must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in
the United States and having total assets of not less than
$1,000,000,000.
Charges
of Depositary
MetLife, Inc. will pay all transfer and other taxes and
governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the
depositary arrangements. MetLife, Inc. will pay charges of the
depositary in connection with the initial deposit of the debt
securities or common stock or preferred stock, as the case may
be, and issuance of depositary receipts, all withdrawals of
depositary shares of debt securities or common stock or
preferred stock, as the case may be, by you and any repayment or
redemption of the debt securities or preferred stock, as the
case may be. You will pay other transfer and other taxes and
governmental charges, as well as the other charges that are
expressly provided in the deposit agreement to be for your
account.
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Miscellaneous
The depositary will forward all reports and communications from
MetLife, Inc. which are delivered to the depositary and which
MetLife, Inc. is required or otherwise determines to furnish to
holders of debt securities, common stock or preferred stock, as
the case may be. Neither MetLife, Inc. nor the depositary will
be liable under the deposit agreement to you other than for its
gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. Neither
MetLife, Inc. nor the depositary will be obligated to prosecute
or defend any legal proceedings relating to any depositary
shares, debt securities, common stock or preferred stock unless
satisfactory indemnity is furnished. MetLife, Inc. and the
depositary may rely upon written advice of counsel or
accountants, or upon information provided by persons presenting
debt securities or shares of common stock or preferred stock for
deposit, you or other persons believed to be competent and on
documents which MetLife, Inc. and the depositary believe to be
genuine.
DESCRIPTION
OF WARRANTS
MetLife, Inc. may issue warrants to purchase debt securities,
preferred stock, common stock or other securities described in
this prospectus, or any combination of these securities, and
these warrants may be issued independently or together with any
underlying securities and may be attached or separate from the
underlying securities. MetLife, Inc. will issue each series of
warrants under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into
between MetLife, Inc. and a warrant agent. The warrant agent
will act solely as MetLife, Inc.s agent in connection with
the warrants of such series and will not assume any obligation
or relationship of agency for or with holders or beneficial
owners of warrants.
The following outlines some of the general terms and provisions
of the warrants. Further terms of the warrants and the
applicable warrant agreement will be stated in the applicable
prospectus supplement. The following description and any
description of the warrants in a prospectus supplement may not
be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by
reference to the terms and provisions of the warrant agreement,
a form of which has been or will be filed as an exhibit to the
registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of
any warrants that MetLife, Inc. may offer, including the
following:
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the title of the warrants;
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the total number of warrants;
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the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued;
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the currency or currencies investors may use to pay for the
warrants;
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the designation and terms of the underlying securities
purchasable upon exercise of the warrants;
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the price at which and the currency, currencies, or currency
units in which investors may purchase the underlying securities
purchasable upon exercise of the warrants;
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the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will
commence and the date on which the right will expire;
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whether the warrants will be issued in registered form or bearer
form;
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information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;
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if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of warrants which
may be exercised at any one time;
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if applicable, the designation and terms of the underlying
securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of
warrants issued with each underlying security;
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if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the
related underlying securities will be separately transferable;
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if applicable, a discussion of material United States federal
income tax considerations;
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the identity of the warrant agent;
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the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of the
warrants; and
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any other terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and
limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the
warrants.
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Warrant certificates may be exchanged for new warrant
certificates of different denominations, and warrants may be
exercised at the warrant agents corporate trust office or
any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus
supplement. Prior to the exercise of their warrants, holders of
warrants exercisable for debt securities will not have any of
the rights of holders of the debt securities purchasable upon
such exercise and will not be entitled to payments of principal
(or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the debt securities
purchasable upon such exercise. Prior to the exercise of their
warrants, holders of warrants exercisable for shares of
preferred stock or common stock will not have any rights of
holders of the preferred stock or common stock purchasable upon
such exercise and will not be entitled to dividend payments, if
any, or voting rights of the preferred stock or common stock
purchasable upon such exercise. Prior to the exercise of their
warrants, holders of warrants exercisable for other securities
described in this prospectus will not have any rights of holders
of such securities purchasable upon such exercise.
Exercise
of Warrants
A warrant will entitle the holder to purchase for cash an amount
of securities at an exercise price that will be stated in, or
that will be determinable as described in, the applicable
prospectus supplement. Warrants may be exercised at any time up
to the close of business on the expiration date set forth in the
applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on
the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.
Warrants may be exercised as set forth in the applicable
prospectus supplement. Upon receipt of payment and the warrant
certificate properly completed and duly executed at the
corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office
indicated in the prospectus supplement, MetLife, Inc. will, as
soon as practicable, forward the securities purchasable upon
such exercise. If less than all of the warrants represented by
such warrant certificate is exercised, a new warrant certificate
will be issued for the remaining warrants.
Enforceability
of Rights; Governing Law
The holders of warrants, without the consent of the warrant
agent, may, on their own behalf and for their own benefit,
enforce, and may institute and maintain any suit, action or
proceeding against MetLife, Inc. to enforce their rights to
exercise and receive the securities purchasable upon exercise of
their warrants. Unless otherwise stated in the prospectus
supplement, each issue of warrants and the applicable warrant
agreement will be governed by, and construed in accordance with,
the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard to
its principles of conflicts of laws.
DESCRIPTION
OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS
As may be specified in a prospectus supplement, MetLife, Inc.
may issue purchase contracts obligating holders to purchase from
MetLife, Inc., and MetLife, Inc. to sell to the holders, a
number of debt securities, shares of common stock or preferred
stock, or other securities described in this prospectus or the
applicable prospectus supplement at a future date or dates. The
purchase contracts may require MetLife, Inc. to make periodic
payments to the holders of the purchase contracts. These
payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis to be
specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The prospectus supplement relating to any purchase contracts
will specify the material terms of the purchase contracts and
any applicable pledge or depositary arrangements, including one
or more of the following:
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The stated amount that a holder will be obligated to pay under
the purchase contract in order to purchase debt securities,
common stock, preferred stock, or other securities described in
this prospectus or the formula by which such amount shall be
determined.
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The settlement date or dates on which the holder will be
obligated to purchase such securities. The prospectus supplement
will specify whether the occurrence of any events may cause the
settlement date to occur on an earlier date and the terms on
which an early settlement would occur.
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The events, if any, that will cause MetLife, Inc.s
obligations and the obligations of the holder under the purchase
contract to terminate.
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The settlement rate, which is a number that, when multiplied by
the stated amount of a purchase contract, determines the number
of securities that MetLife, Inc. or a trust will be obligated to
sell and a holder will be obligated to purchase under that
purchase contract upon payment of the stated amount of that
purchase contract. The settlement rate may be determined by the
application of a formula specified in the prospectus supplement.
If a formula is specified, it may be based on the market price
of such securities over a specified period or it may be based on
some other reference statistic.
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Whether the purchase contracts will be issued separately or as
part of units consisting of a purchase contract and an
underlying security with an aggregate principal amount equal to
the stated amount. Any underlying securities will be pledged by
the holder to secure its obligations under a purchase contract.
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The type of underlying security, if any, that is pledged by the
holder to secure its obligations under a purchase contract.
Underlying securities may be debt securities, common stock,
preferred stock, or other securities described in this
prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement.
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The terms of the pledge arrangement relating to any underlying
securities, including the terms on which distributions or
payments of interest and principal on any underlying securities
will be retained by a collateral agent, delivered to MetLife,
Inc. or be distributed to the holder.
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The amount of the contract fee, if any, that may be payable by
MetLife, Inc. to the holder or by the holder to MetLife, Inc.,
the date or dates on which the contract fee will be payable and
the extent to which MetLife, Inc. or the holder, as applicable,
may defer payment of the contract fee on those payment dates.
The contract fee may be calculated as a percentage of the stated
amount of the purchase contract or otherwise.
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The descriptions of the purchase contracts and any applicable
underlying security or pledge or depository arrangements in this
prospectus and in any prospectus supplement are summaries of the
material provisions of the applicable agreements and are subject
to and qualified in their entirety by reference to the terms and
provisions of the purchase contract agreement, pledge agreement
and deposit agreement, forms of which have been or will be filed
as exhibits to the registration statement of which this
prospectus forms a part.
DESCRIPTION
OF UNITS
As specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, MetLife,
Inc. may issue units comprised of one or more of the other
securities described in this prospectus in any combination. Each
unit may also include debt obligations of third parties, such as
U.S. Treasury securities. Each unit will be issued so that
the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security
included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the
rights and obligations of a holder of each included security.
The prospectus supplement will describe:
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the designation and terms of the units and of the securities
comprising the units, including whether and under what
circumstances the securities comprising the units may be held or
transferred separately;
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a description of the terms of any unit agreement governing the
units;
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a description of the provisions for the payment, settlement,
transfer or exchange of the units; and
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whether the units will be issued in fully registered or global
form.
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The descriptions of the units and any applicable underlying
security or pledge or depositary arrangements in this prospectus
and in any prospectus supplement are summaries of the material
provisions of the applicable agreements and are subject to, and
qualified in their entirety by reference to, the terms and
provisions of the applicable agreements, forms of which have
been or will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement
of which this prospectus forms a part.
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DESCRIPTION
OF TRUST PREFERRED SECURITIES
The following outlines some of the general terms and provisions
of the trust preferred securities. Further terms of the trust
preferred securities and the amended and restated declarations
of trust will be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The prospectus supplement will also indicate whether the general
terms described in this section apply to that particular series
of trust preferred securities. The following description and any
description of the trust preferred securities and amended and
restated declarations of trust in a prospectus supplement may
not be complete and are subject to and qualified in their
entirety by reference to the terms and provisions of the amended
and restated declarations of trust, forms of which have been or
will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which
this prospectus forms a part.
General
Each trust may issue only one series of trust preferred
securities having terms described in the prospectus supplement.
The declaration of trust of each trust will authorize the
administrative trustees, on behalf of the trust, to issue the
trust preferred securities of the trust. The trusts will use all
of the proceeds they receive from the sale of trust preferred
securities and common securities to purchase debt securities
issued by MetLife, Inc. The debt securities will be held in
trust by the trusts property trustee for the benefit of
the holders of the trust preferred securities and common
securities.
The trust preferred securities of each trust will have such
terms as are set forth in the trusts declaration of trust,
including as relates to distributions, redemption, voting,
liquidation rights and the other preferred, deferral and special
rights and restrictions. A prospectus supplement relating to the
trust preferred securities being offered will include specific
terms relating to the offering. These terms will include some or
all of the following:
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the distinctive designation of the trust preferred securities;
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the number of trust preferred securities issued by the trust;
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the total and per-security liquidation amount of the trust
preferred securities;
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the annual distribution rate, or method of determining such
rate, for trust preferred securities of the trust;
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the date or dates on which distributions will be payable and any
corresponding record dates;
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whether distributions on the trust preferred securities will be
cumulative;
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if the trust preferred securities have cumulative distribution
rights, the date or dates, or method of determining the date or
dates, from which distributions on the trust preferred
securities will be cumulative;
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the amount or amounts that will be paid out of the assets of the
trust to the holders of the trust preferred securities of the
trust upon voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or
termination of the trust;
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the obligation, if any, of the trust to purchase or redeem the
trust preferred securities;
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if the trust is to purchase or redeem the trust preferred
securities:
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the price or prices at which the trust preferred securities will
be purchased or redeemed in whole or in part;
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the period or periods within which the trust preferred
securities will be purchased or redeemed, in whole or in part;
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the terms and conditions upon which the trust preferred
securities will be purchased or redeemed, in whole or in part;
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the voting rights, if any, of the trust preferred securities in
addition to those required by law, including:
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the number of votes per trust preferred security; and
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any requirement for the approval by the holders of trust
preferred securities as a condition to specified action or
amendments to the trusts declaration of trust;
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the rights, if any, to defer distributions on the trust
preferred securities by extending the interest payment period on
the related debt securities;
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if the trust preferred securities may be converted into or
exercised or exchanged for MetLifes common stock or
preferred stock or any other securities, the terms on which
conversion, exercise or exchange is mandatory, at the option of
the holder or at the option of each trust, the date on or the
period during which conversion, exercise or exchange may occur,
the initial conversion, exercise or exchange price or rate and
the circumstances or manner in which the amount of common stock
or preferred stock or other securities issuable upon conversion,
exercise or exchange may be adjusted;
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the terms upon which the debt securities may be distributed to
holders of trust preferred securities;
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whether the preferred securities are to be issued in book-entry
form and represented by one or more global certificates;
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certain U.S. federal income tax considerations;
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if applicable, any securities exchange upon which the trust
preferred securities shall be listed;
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provisions relating to events of default and the rights of
holders of trust preferred securities in the event of default;
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other agreements or other rights including upon the
consolidation or merger of the trust; and
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any other relative rights, preferences, privileges, limitations
or restrictions of the trust preferred securities not
inconsistent with the trusts declaration of trust or
applicable law.
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All trust preferred securities offered will be guaranteed by
MetLife, Inc. to the extent set forth under Description of
Guarantees. Any material United States federal income tax
considerations applicable to an offering of trust preferred
securities will be described in the applicable prospectus
supplement.
In connection with the issuance of preferred securities, each
trust will issue one series of common securities. The
declaration of each trust authorizes the administrative trustees
to issue on behalf of such trust one series of common securities
having such terms including distributions, redemption, voting,
liquidation rights or such restrictions as shall be set forth
therein. The terms of the common securities issued by the trust
will be substantially identical to the terms of the preferred
securities issued by such trust and the common securities will
rank equally, and payments will be made thereon pro rata, with
the preferred securities. However, upon an event of default
under the declaration of trust, the rights of the holders of the
common securities to payment in respect of distributions and
payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise will be
subordinated to the rights of the holders of the preferred
securities. Except in certain limited circumstances, the common
securities will also carry the right to vote, and appoint,
remove or replace any of the trustees of a trust. MetLife, Inc.
will own, directly or indirectly, all of the common securities
of each trust.
Enforcement
of Certain Rights by Holders of Trust Preferred
Securities
If an event of default occurs, and is continuing, under the
declaration of trust of any of the trusts, the holders of the
preferred securities of that trust would typically rely on the
property trustee to enforce its rights as a holder of the
related debt securities against MetLife, Inc. Additionally,
those who together hold a majority of the liquidation amount of
the trusts preferred securities will have the right to:
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direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding
for any remedy available to the property trustee; or
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direct the exercise of any trust or power that the property
trustee holds under the declaration of trust, including the
right to direct the property trustee to exercise the remedies
available to it as a holder of MetLife, Inc.s debt
securities.
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If the property trustee fails to enforce its rights under the
applicable series of debt securities, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, a holder of trust preferred securities of such
trust may institute a legal proceeding directly against
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MetLife, Inc. to enforce the property trustees rights
under the applicable series of debt securities without first
instituting any legal proceeding against the property trustee or
any other person or entity.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an event of default occurs and
the event is attributable to MetLife, Inc.s failure to pay
interest or principal on the debt securities when due, including
any payment on redemption, and this debt payment failure is
continuing, a preferred securities holder of the trust may
directly institute a proceeding for the enforcement of this
payment. Such a proceeding will be limited, however, to
enforcing the payment of this principal or interest only up to
the value of the aggregate liquidation amount of the
holders preferred securities as determined after the due
date specified in the applicable series of debt securities.
DESCRIPTION
OF GUARANTEES
The following outlines some of the general terms and provisions
of the guarantees. Further terms of the guarantees will be
stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. The prospectus
supplement will also indicate whether the general terms
described in this section apply to those guarantees. The
following description and any description of the guarantees in a
prospectus supplement may not be complete and is subject to and
qualified in its entirety by reference to the terms and
provisions of the guarantee agreements, forms of which have been
or will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of
which this prospectus forms a part, and the Trust Indenture Act.
MetLife, Inc. will execute and deliver the guarantees for the
benefit of the holders of the trust preferred securities. Each
guarantee will be held by the guarantee trustee for the benefit
of holders of the trust preferred securities to which it relates.
Each guarantee will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust
Indenture Act. The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. will act
as indenture trustee under each guarantee for purposes of the
Trust Indenture Act.
General
Pursuant to each guarantee, MetLife, Inc. will irrevocably and
unconditionally agree, to the extent set forth in the guarantee,
to pay in full, to the holders of the related trust preferred
securities, the following guarantee payments, to the extent
these guarantee payments are not paid by, or on behalf of, the
related trust, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or
counterclaim that MetLife, Inc. may have or assert against any
person:
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any accrued and unpaid distributions required to be paid on the
trust preferred securities of the trust, but if and only if and
to the extent that the trust has funds legally and immediately
available to make those payments;
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any distributions of MetLifes common stock or preferred
stock or any of its other securities, in the event that the
trust preferred securities may be converted into or exercised
for common stock or preferred stock, to the extent the
conditions of such conversion or exercise have occurred or have
been satisfied and the trust does not distribute such shares or
other securities but has received such shares or other
securities;
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the redemption price, including all accrued and unpaid
distributions to the date of redemption, with respect to any
trust preferred securities called for redemption by the trust,
but if and only to the extent the trust has funds legally and
immediately available to make that payment; and
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upon a dissolution, winding-up or termination of the trust,
other than in connection with the distribution of debt
securities to the holders of trust preferred securities of the
trust, the lesser of:
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the total of the liquidation amount and all accrued and unpaid
distributions on the trust preferred securities of the trust to
the date of payment, to the extent the trust has funds legally
and immediately available to make that payment; and
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the amount of assets of the trust remaining available for
distribution to holders of trust preferred securities of the
trust in liquidation of the trust.
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MetLife, Inc. may satisfy its obligation to make a guarantee
payment by directly paying the required amounts to the holders
of the related trust preferred securities or by causing the
related trust to pay such amounts to such holders.
Each guarantee will constitute a guarantee of payments with
respect to the related trust preferred securities from the time
of issuance of the trust preferred securities. The guarantees
will not apply to the payment of distributions and other
payments on the trust preferred securities when the related
trust does not have sufficient funds legally and immediately
available to make the distributions or other payments. If
MetLife, Inc. does not make interest payments on the debt
securities purchased by a trust, such trust will not pay
distributions on the preferred securities issued by such trust
and will not have funds available therefor. The guarantee, when
taken together with MetLife, Inc.s obligations under the
debt securities, the Indentures and the declarations of trust,
will provide a full and unconditional guarantee by MetLife, Inc.
of payments due on the trust preferred securities.
MetLife, Inc. will also agree separately, through guarantees of
the common securities, to irrevocably and unconditionally
guarantee the obligations of the trusts with respect to the
common securities to the same extent as the guarantees of the
preferred securities. However, upon an event of default under
the Indentures, holders of preferred securities shall have
priority over holders of common securities with respect to
distributions and payments on liquidation, redemption or
otherwise.
Subordination
MetLife, Inc.s obligation under each guarantee to make the
guarantee payments will be an unsecured obligation of MetLife,
Inc. and, if subordinated debt securities are issued to the
applicable trust and unless otherwise noted in the prospectus
supplement, will rank:
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subordinate and junior in right of payment to all of MetLife,
Inc.s other liabilities, including the subordinated debt
securities, except those obligations or liabilities ranking
equal or subordinate to the guarantees by their terms;
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equally with any other securities, liabilities or obligations
that may have equal ranking by their terms; and
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senior to all of MetLife, Inc.s common stock.
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If subordinated debt securities are issued to the applicable
trust, the terms of the trust preferred securities will provide
that each holder of trust preferred securities, by accepting the
trust preferred securities, agrees to the subordination
provisions and other terms of the guarantee related to
subordination.
Each guarantee will constitute a guarantee of payment and not of
collection. This means that the holder of trust preferred
securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against
MetLife, Inc. to enforce its rights under the guarantee without
first instituting a legal proceeding against any other person or
entity.
Each guarantee will be unsecured and, because MetLife, Inc. is
principally a holding company, will be effectively subordinated
to all existing and future liabilities of MetLife, Inc.s
subsidiaries, including liabilities under contracts of insurance
and annuities written by MetLife, Inc.s insurance
subsidiaries. The guarantee does not limit the incurrence or
issuance of other secured or unsecured debt by MetLife, Inc.
Amendments
and Assignment
For any changes that materially and adversely affect the rights
of holders of the related trust preferred securities, each
guarantee may be amended only if there is prior approval of the
holders of more than 50% in liquidation amount of the
outstanding trust preferred securities issued by the applicable
trust. All guarantees and agreements contained in each guarantee
will bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and
representatives of MetLife, Inc. and will inure to the benefit
of the holders of the related trust preferred securities of the
applicable trust then outstanding.
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Termination
Each guarantee will terminate and will have no further force and
effect as to the related trust preferred securities upon:
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distribution of debt securities to the holders of all trust
preferred securities of the applicable trust; or
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full payment of the amounts payable upon liquidation of the
applicable trust.
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Each guarantee will continue to be effective or will be
reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any holder of the
related trust preferred securities must restore payment of any
sums paid with respect to the trust preferred securities or
under the guarantee.
Events
of Default
Each guarantee provides that an event of default under a
guarantee occurs upon MetLife, Inc.s failure to perform
any of its obligations under the applicable guarantee.
The holders of a majority or more in liquidation amount of the
trust preferred securities to which any guarantee relates may
direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding
for any remedy available to the guarantee trustee with respect
to the guarantee or may direct the exercise of any trust or
power conferred upon the guarantee trustee in respect of the
guarantee.
If the guarantee trustee fails to enforce the guarantee, any
holder of the related trust preferred securities may institute a
legal proceeding directly against MetLife, Inc. to enforce the
holders rights under such guarantee without first
instituting a legal proceeding against the trust, the guarantee
trustee or any other person or entity.
Furthermore, if MetLife, Inc. fails to make a guarantee payment,
a holder of trust preferred securities may directly institute a
proceeding against MetLife, Inc. for enforcement of the trust
preferred securities guarantee for such payment.
The holders of a majority or more in liquidation amount of trust
preferred securities of any series may, by vote, on behalf of
the holders of all the trust preferred securities of the series,
waive any past event of default and its consequences.
Information
Concerning the Guarantee Trustee
Prior to an event of default with respect to any guarantee and
after the curing or waiving of all events of default with
respect to the guarantee, the guarantee trustee may perform only
the duties that are specifically set forth in the guarantee.
Once a guarantee event of default has occurred and is
continuing, the guarantee trustee is to exercise, with respect
to the holder of the trust preferred securities of the series,
the same degree of care as a prudent individual would exercise
in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Unless the guarantee
trustee is offered reasonable indemnity against the costs,
expenses and liabilities which may be incurred by the guarantee
trustee by a holder of the related trust preferred securities,
the guarantee trustee is not required to exercise any of its
powers under any guarantee at the request of the holder.
Additionally, the guarantee trustee is not required to expend or
risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in
the performance of its duties if the guarantee trustee
reasonably believes that it is not assured repayment or adequate
indemnity.
The guarantee trustee is The Bank of New York Trust Company,
N.A., which is one of a number of banks and trust companies with
which MetLife, Inc. and its subsidiaries maintain ordinary
banking and trust relationships.
Governing
Law
Each guarantee will be governed by, and construed in accordance
with, the internal laws of the State of New York, without regard
to its principles of conflicts of laws.
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PLAN OF
DISTRIBUTION
MetLife, Inc. may sell the securities being offered hereby in
one or more of the following ways from time to time:
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to underwriters or dealers for resale to the public or to
institutional investors;
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directly to institutional investors; or
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through agents to the public or to institutional investors.
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The prospectus supplement with respect to each series of
securities will state the terms of the offering of the
securities, including:
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the name or names of any underwriters or agents;
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the purchase price of the securities and the proceeds to be
received by MetLife, Inc. or the applicable trust from the sale;
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any underwriting discounts or agency fees and other items
constituting underwriters or agents compensation;
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any initial public offering price;
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any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to
dealers; and
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any securities exchange on which the securities may be listed.
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If MetLife, Inc. or the trusts use underwriters in the sale, the
securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own
account and may be resold from time to time in one or more
transactions, including:
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negotiated transactions;
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at a fixed public offering price or prices, which may be changed;
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at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;
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at prices related to prevailing market prices; or
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at negotiated prices.
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The securities may also be offered and sold, if so indicated in
the prospectus supplement, in connection with a remarketing upon
their purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment
pursuant to their terms, or otherwise, by one or more
remarketing firms, acting as principals for their own accounts
or as agents for MetLife, Inc. or the trusts. The prospectus
supplement will identify any remarketing firm and will describe
the terms of its agreement, if any, with MetLife, Inc. or the
trusts and its compensation.
Unless otherwise stated in a prospectus supplement, the
obligations of the underwriters to purchase any securities will
be conditioned on customary closing conditions and the
underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of such series of
securities, if any are purchased.
If MetLife, Inc. sells the securities directly or through agents
designated by it, MetLife, Inc. will identify any agent involved
in the offering and sale of the securities and will list any
commissions payable by MetLife, Inc. to the agent in the
accompanying prospectus supplement. Unless indicated otherwise
in the prospectus supplement, any such agent will be acting on a
best efforts basis to solicit purchases for the period of its
appointment.
MetLife, Inc. may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to
solicit offers by certain institutional investors to purchase
securities and provide for payment and delivery on a future date
specified in an accompanying prospectus supplement. MetLife,
Inc. will describe any such arrangement in the prospectus
supplement. Any such institutional investor may be subject to
limitations on the minimum amount of securities that it may
purchase or on the portion of the aggregate principal amount of
such securities that it may sell under such arrangements.
Institutional investors from which such authorized offers may be
solicited include:
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commercial and savings banks;
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insurance companies;
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pension funds;
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investment companies;
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educational and charitable institutions; and
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such other institutions as MetLife, Inc. may approve.
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Underwriters, dealers, agents and remarketing firms may be
entitled under agreements entered into with MetLife, Inc. and/or
the applicable trust, or both, to indemnification by MetLife,
Inc. against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities
under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to
payments which the underwriters, dealers, agents and remarketing
firms may be required to make. Underwriters, dealers, agents and
remarketing agents may be customers of, engage in transactions
with, or perform services for MetLife, Inc., any trust, and/or
MetLife, Inc.s affiliates in the ordinary course of
business.
Each series of securities will be a new issue of securities and
will have no established trading market other than the common
stock which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Any common
stock sold will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, upon
official notice of issuance. The securities, other than the
common stock, may or may not be listed on a national securities
exchange. Any underwriters to whom securities are sold by
MetLife, Inc. or any trust for public offering and sale may make
a market in the securities, but such underwriters will not be
obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any
time without notice.
Any offering of trust preferred securities will be made in
compliance with Rule 2810 of the Conduct Rules of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
LEGAL
OPINIONS
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus
supplement, the validity of the securities offered hereby will
be passed upon for MetLife, Inc. by Richard S. Collins,
Senior Chief Counsel General Corporate, of
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and for any underwriters or
agents by counsel named in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Mr. Collins is paid a salary by MetLife, is a participant
in various employee benefit plans offered by MetLife to
employees generally and has options to purchase shares of
MetLife, Inc. common stock. Certain matters of Delaware law
relating to the validity of the trust preferred securities of
MetLife Capital Trust V, MetLife Capital Trust VI,
MetLife Capital Trust VII, MetLife Capital Trust VIII
and MetLife Capital Trust IX will be passed upon for the
trust by Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., Wilmington,
Delaware, special Delaware counsel for the trusts.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements, consolidated financial
statement schedules, and managements report on the
effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting,
incorporated in this Prospectus by reference from MetLifes
Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2006, have been audited by
Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered
public accounting firm, as stated in their reports which are
incorporated herein by reference, (which (1) express an
unqualified opinion on the consolidated financial statements and
consolidated financial statement schedules and include an
explanatory paragraph referring to MetLifes change of its
method of accounting for defined benefit pension and other
postretirement plans, and for certain non-traditional long
duration contracts and separate accounts as required by
accounting guidance which MetLife adopted on December 31,
2006 and January 1, 2004, respectively, (2) express an
unqualified opinion on managements assessment regarding
the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting,
and (3) express an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness
of internal control over financial reporting), and have been so
incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given
upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.