424B5
Filed
pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration Statement No. 333-147180
Prospectus Supplement
(To Prospectus Dated November 6, 2007)
$1,029,805,000
MetLife, Inc.
6.817% Senior Debt Securities,
Series A, Due 2018
This prospectus supplement relates to the remarketing of
$1,029,805,000 aggregate principal amount of 6.817% Senior Debt
Securities, Series A, due 2018 (the Series A
Debentures), of MetLife, Inc. We issued the
Series A Debentures originally as 4.82% Junior Subordinated
Debt Securities, Series A, due 2039, to MetLife Capital
Trust II, a Delaware statutory trust (the
Trust), in connection with the offering of
our 6.375% Common Equity Units (the Units) in
June 2005. Each Unit initially consisted of a contract to
purchase shares of MetLife, Inc.s common stock in
accordance with the terms of the Unit, as well as a
1/80th or 1.25% undivided beneficial ownership interest in
a Series A trust preferred security of the Trust (the
Series A Trust Preferred
Securities) and a 1/80th or 1.25% undivided
beneficial ownership interest in a Series B trust preferred
security of MetLife Capital Trust III. In accordance with
the Declaration (as defined below) we have dissolved the Trust
and distributed Series A Debentures to the holders of the
Series A Trust Preferred Securities. The Series A
Debentures are unsecured obligations of MetLife, Inc. and rank
equally in right of payment with all of our existing and future
senior unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness.
Interest on the Series A Debentures will accrue at 6.817%
per annum from August 15, 2008. We will pay interest on the
Series A Debentures in cash semi-annually on February 15
and August 15 of each year. The first such interest payment on
the Series A Debentures will be made on February 15,
2009.
The stated maturity of the Series A Debentures will be
August 15, 2018. The Series A Debentures will be
redeemable at MetLife, Inc.s option in whole or in part,
at any time, on or after August 15, 2010, at a redemption
price equal to the greater of 100% of the principal amount to be
redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of
redemption and the Make-Whole Redemption Amount
calculated as described in this prospectus supplement.
The Series A Debentures are being remarketed through Banc
of America Securities LLC, Barclays Capital Inc. and the other
remarketing agents named herein (each a Remarketing
Agent and together, the Remarketing
Agents) pursuant to a remarketing agreement dated
July 11, 2008 (the Remarketing
Agreement) among the Remarketing Agents, MetLife, Inc.
and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., not
individually, but solely as Purchase Contract Agent (as defined
in the Remarketing Agreement) and as attorney-in-fact of the
holders of Purchase Contracts (as defined in the Remarketing
Agreement). We will not receive any of the proceeds from the
remarketing, except as described under Use of
Proceeds and Relationship of the Common Equity Units
to the Remarketing in this prospectus supplement.
The Series A Debentures are not, and are not expected to
be, listed on any national securities exchange nor included in
any automated quotation system. The Remarketing Agents expect to
deliver the Series A Debentures, in book-entry form only,
through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company
(DTC) for the accounts of its participants,
including Clearstream Banking, société anonyme,
Luxembourg (Clearstream Luxembourg)
and/or
Euroclear Bank N.V./S.A. (Euroclear), on or
about August 15, 2008.
See Risk Factors beginning on
page S-10
of this prospectus supplement to read about important factors
you should consider before buying the Series A 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 Series A Debenture
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Total
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Price to the Public (1)
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100.35
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%
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$
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1,033,409,317.50
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Remarketing Fee to Remarketing Agents
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0.35
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%
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$
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3,604,317.50
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Net Proceeds (2)
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100.00
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%
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$
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1,029,805,000.00
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(1) |
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Plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, from August 15,
2008. |
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(2) |
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We will not receive any proceeds from the remarketing. See
Use of Proceeds and Relationship of the Common
Equity Units to the Remarketing. |
Joint Bookrunning Managers
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Banc
of America Securities LLC |
Barclays Capital |
The date of this prospectus
supplement is August 12, 2008
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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Page
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Prospectus Supplement
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About this Prospectus Supplement
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S-3
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Forward-Looking Statements
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S-4
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Summary
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S-5
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Risk Factors
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S-10
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Selected Historical Financial Information
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S-12
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Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends
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S-16
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Use of Proceeds
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S-17
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Capitalization
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S-18
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Relationship of the Common Equity Units to the Remarketing
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S-19
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Description of the Remarketed Series A Debentures
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S-20
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Certain United States Federal Income Tax Consequences
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S-28
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Plan of Distribution
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S-31
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Offering Restrictions
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S-32
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Legal Opinions
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S-34
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Experts
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S-34
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Prospectus
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About This Prospectus
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1
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Risk Factors
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1
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Where You Can find More Information
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1
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Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
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2
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MetLife, Inc.
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3
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The Trusts
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4
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Use of Proceeds
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5
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Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Ratio of Earnings to
Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends
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5
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Description of Securities
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6
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Description of Debt Securities
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6
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Description of Capital Stock
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15
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Description of Depositary Shares
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21
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Description of Warrants
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23
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Description of Purchase Contracts
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24
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Description of Units
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26
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Description of Trust Preferred Securities
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26
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Description of Guarantees
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29
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Plan of Distribution
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31
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Legal Opinions
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33
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Experts
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33
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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 Remarketing Agents
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 Remarketing Agents 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 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 Series A 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 Series A 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 Remarketing Agents 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
Series A Debentures. This prospectus supplement contains
the terms of this remarketing of Series A 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.
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.
S-3
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, including statements
relating to trends in the operations and financial results and
the business and the products of MetLife, Inc. and its
subsidiaries, as well as other statements including words such
as anticipate, believe,
plan, estimate, expect,
intend and other similar expressions.
Forward-looking statements are made based upon managements
current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments
and their potential effects on MetLife. Such forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance.
Actual results may differ materially from those included in the
forward-looking statements as a result of risks and
uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the following:
(i) changes in general economic conditions, including the
performance of financial markets and interest rates, which may
affect MetLifes ability to raise capital and its
generation of fee income and market-related revenues;
(ii) heightened competition, including with respect to
pricing, entry of new competitors, the development of new
products by new and existing competitors and for personnel;
(iii) investment losses and defaults, and changes to
investment valuations; (iv) unanticipated changes in
industry trends; (v) catastrophe losses;
(vi) ineffectiveness of risk management policies and
procedures; (vii) changes in accounting standards,
practices
and/or
policies; (viii) changes in assumptions related to deferred
policy acquisition costs, value of business acquired or
goodwill; (ix) 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; (x) discrepancies between actual experience and
assumptions used in establishing liabilities related to other
contingencies or obligations; (xi) adverse results or other
consequences from litigation, arbitration or regulatory
investigations; (xii) downgrades in MetLife, Inc.s
and its affiliates claims paying ability, financial
strength or credit ratings; (xiii) regulatory, legislative
or tax changes that may affect the cost of, or demand for
MetLifes products or services; (xiv) 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; (xv) deterioration in
the experience of the closed block established in
connection with the reorganization of Metropolitan Life
Insurance Company; (xvi) economic, political, currency and
other risks relating to MetLifes international operations;
(xvii) the effects of business disruption or economic
contraction due to terrorism or other hostilities;
(xviii) MetLifes ability to identify and consummate
on successful terms any future acquisitions, and to successfully
integrate acquired businesses with minimal disruption; and
(xix) other risks and uncertainties described from time to
time in MetLifes filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC).
MetLife specifically disclaims any obligation to update or
revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new
information, future developments or otherwise.
S-4
SUMMARY
This summary contains basic information about us and this
remarketing. Because it is a summary, it does not contain all of
the information that you should consider before purchasing any
securities in the remarketing. 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 the prospectus supplement and the accompanying
prospectus, before making an investment decision.
MetLife
MetLife is a leading provider of insurance and other financial
services to millions of individual and institutional customers
throughout the United States. MetLife offers life insurance,
annuities, automobile and homeowners insurance and retail
banking services to individuals, as well as group insurance,
reinsurance, and retirement & savings products and
services to corporations and other institutions. Outside the
United States, MetLife has direct insurance operations in the
Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific regions.
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 them 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.
On July 1, 2005, MetLife 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
(collectively, Travelers) for
$12.1 billion. The results of Travelers operations
were included in MetLifes financial statements beginning
July 1, 2005. As a result of the acquisition,
MetLifes management increased significantly the size and
scale of its core insurance and annuity products and expanded
its presence in both the retirement & savings
domestic and international markets. The distribution agreements
executed with Citigroup as part of the acquisition provide
MetLife with one of the broadest distribution networks in the
industry. The initial consideration paid by MetLife for the
acquisition consisted of $11.0 billion in cash and
22,436,617 shares of MetLifes common stock with a
market value of $1.0 billion to Citigroup and
$100 million in other transaction costs. In addition to
cash on-hand, the purchase price was financed through the
issuance of common stock, debt securities, common equity units
and preferred stock.
MetLife divides its business into five operating segments:
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Institutional (41% of 2007 revenues). 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 such as
accidental death and dismemberment, long-term care, short- and
long-term disability, individual disability income, critical
illness and dental insurance, and related administrative
services. 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 customer consisting, as of
December 31, 2007, of 398 marketing representatives.
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, as
well as guaranteed interest products and other stable value
products, accumulation and income annuities, and separate
account contracts for the investment of defined benefit and
defined contribution plan assets. MetLife distributes
retirement & savings products and services through
dedicated sales teams and relationship managers located in 15
offices around the country. In addition, the
retirement & savings organization works with the
distribution channels in the Individual segment and
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S-5
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in the group insurance area, which enable us to better reach and
service customers, brokers, consultants and other intermediaries.
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Individual (29% of 2007 revenues). 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, as well as disability insurance, long-term
care insurance products, investment products such as mutual
funds and other products offered by MetLifes other
businesses.
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Individual segment products are distributed nationwide through
the agency distribution group, which is comprised of two
distribution channels, and the independent distribution group,
which is comprised of three distribution wholesaler
organizations.
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The agency distribution group is comprised of two distribution
channels, the MetLife Distribution Channel and the New England
Financial Distribution Channel. The MetLife Distribution
Channel, which focuses on the large middle-income and affluent
markets, including multi-cultural markets, had 6,243 agents
under contract in 98 agencies at December 31, 2007. The New
England Financial Distribution Channel, which targets high net
worth individuals, owners of small businesses and executives of
small- to medium-sized companies, included 46 general agencies
providing support to 2,155 agents and a network of independent
brokers throughout the United States at December 31, 2007.
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The independent distribution group is comprised of three
wholesaler organizations, including the coverage and point of
sale models for risk-based products, and the annuity wholesale
model for accumulation-based products. Both the coverage and
point of sale model wholesalers distribute universal life,
variable universal life, traditional life, long-term care and
disability income products. The annuity model wholesalers
distribute both fixed and variable deferred annuities, as well
as income annuities. As of December 31, 2007, there were 16
coverage model wholesalers, 38 regional point of sale model
wholesalers and 127 regional annuity model wholesalers.
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Auto & Home (6% of 2007
revenues). 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 the agency distribution group, independent agents,
property and casualty specialists and direct response marketing.
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International (10% of 2007 revenues). 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. In Latin
America, MetLife operates in Mexico, Chile and Argentina (which
together represented 88% of its total 2007 Latin America
premiums and fees), as well as Brazil and Uruguay. In Europe,
MetLife operates in the United Kingdom (which represented 56% of
its total 2007 Europe premiums and fees), as well as Belgium,
Poland, Ireland and India, whose results are included in Europe.
In the Asia Pacific region MetLife operates in South Korea and
Taiwan (which together represented 78% of its total 2007 Asia
Pacific premiums and fees), as well as Australia, Japan, Hong
Kong and China.
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Reinsurance (11% of 2007 revenues). The
Reinsurance segment is comprised of the life reinsurance
business of Reinsurance Group of America, Incorporated
(RGA), a publicly traded company (New York
Stock Exchange: RGA). MetLife owned approximately 52% of
RGAs outstanding common shares at December 31, 2007.
In June 2008, MetLife, Inc. and RGA entered into an agreement to
execute a tax-free split-off transaction whereby shareholders of
MetLife, Inc. will be offered the ability to exchange their
MetLife, Inc. shares for shares in RGA based upon an exchange
ratio determined at the time of the exchange offer. The
transaction has the effect of MetLife, Inc.s exchanging
substantially all of its 52% ownership in RGA for shares of its
own stock. The transaction is subject to RGAs shareholders
approving a recapitalization, state insurance regulatory
approval as well as acceptance of the offer by a sufficient
number of MetLife, Inc. shareholders. The aggregate market value
of MetLifes investment in RGA common stock, based on the
RGA common stock closing prices on June 30, 2008 and
August 8, 2008 of
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$43.52 and $46.57 per share, respectively, was approximately
$1.4 billion and 1.5 billion, respectively. Every
$1.00 decrease in RGAs per share market value would
decrease the aggregate market value of MetLifes investment
in RGA by approximately $32.2 million. The net book value
of MetLifes investment in RGA at June 30, 2008 was
approximately $1.9 billion.
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Corporate & Other contains the excess capital not
allocated to the business segments, various
start-up
entities, including MetLife Bank, National Association, a
national bank, and run-off entities, as well as interest
expense, expenses associated with certain legal proceedings and
income tax audit issues and the elimination of all intersegment
amounts.
For the year ended December 31, 2007, MetLife had total
revenue of $53.0 billion and net income of
$4.3 billion. At December 31, 2007, MetLife had cash
and invested assets of $345.1 billion, total assets of
$558.6 billion and stockholders equity of
$35.2 billion.
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
Remarketing
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Issuer |
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MetLife, Inc. |
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Securities Remarketed |
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$1,029,805,000 aggregate principal amount of 6.817% Senior
Debt Securities, Series A, due 2018 (the
Series A Debentures). |
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Aggregate Principal Amount |
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$1,035,000,000 |
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Maturity Date |
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August 15, 2018. |
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Interest Rate |
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Interest on the Series A Debentures will accrue at 6.817%
per annum from August 15, 2008. The Series A
Debentures will pay interest in cash. |
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Interest Payment Dates |
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February 15 and August 15 of each year. February 15, 2009
will be the first interest payment date on which interest is
paid at the above referenced Interest Rate. |
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The Remarketing |
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We issued the Series A Debentures originally as 4.82%
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities, Series A, due 2039 to
MetLife Capital Trust II (the Trust) in
connection with the offering of our 6.375% Common Equity Units
(the Units) in June 2005. Each Unit initially
consisted of a contract to purchase shares (the
Purchase Contract) of MetLife, Inc.s
common stock (the Common Stock) in accordance
with the terms of the Unit, as well as a 1/80th or 1.25%
undivided beneficial interest in a Series A trust preferred
security of the Trust (the Series A
Trust Preferred Securities) and a 1/80th or 1.25%
undivided beneficial ownership interest in a 4.91% Series B
trust preferred security of MetLife Capital Trust III (the
Series B Trust Preferred Securities, and
together with the Series A Trust Preferred Securities, the
Trust Preferred Securities). To secure their
obligations under the Purchase Contract, investors in the Units
pledged their Trust Preferred Securities to a collateral
agent. |
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We have dissolved the Trust and distributed Series A
Debentures to the holders of the Series A
Trust Preferred Securities. |
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Under the terms of the Units, we were obligated to engage one or
more nationally recognized investment banks to remarket the
Series A Debentures on behalf of holders (other than those
holders who have |
S-7
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elected not to participate in the remarketing) pursuant to the
Remarketing Agreement. |
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Remarketing Agents |
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Appointed Remarketing Agents are: |
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Banc of America Securities LLC, Barclays Capital Inc., Wells
Fargo Securities, LLC, Blaylock Robert Van, LLC, BNP Paribas
Securities Corp., Cabrera Capital Markets, LLC, CALYON
Securities (USA) Inc., CastleOak Securities, L.P., Greenwich
Capital Markets, Inc., Guzman & Company, HSBC
Securities (USA) Inc., ING Financial Markets LLC, PNC Capital
Markets LLC, Raymond James & Associates, Inc.,
RBC Capital Markets Corporation, Samuel A. Ramirez &
Company, Inc., Standard Chartered Bank and The Williams Capital
Group, L.P. |
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Redemption |
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The Series A Debentures will be redeemable at MetLife,
Inc.s option in whole or in part, at any time on or after
August 15, 2010 at a redemption price equal to the greater
of 100% of the principal amount to be redeemed plus accrued and
unpaid interest to the date of redemption and the
Make-Whole Redemption Amount calculated as
described under Description of the Remarketed
Series A Debentures Redemption. |
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Anticipated Ratings |
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Standard &
Poors: A |
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Moodys: A2 |
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An explanation of the significance of ratings may be obtained
from the rating agencies. Generally, rating agencies base their
rating on such material and information, and such of their own
investigations, studies and assumptions, as they deem
appropriate. The rating of the Series A 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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Ranking |
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The Series A Debentures are unsecured obligations of
MetLife, Inc. and rank equally in right of payment with all of
our existing and future senior unsecured and unsubordinated
indebtedness. We do not have the right to defer payment of
interest on the Series A Debentures. |
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Use of Proceeds |
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We will not receive any of the proceeds from the remarketing.
Proceeds from the remarketing attributable to the Series A
Debentures that are part of normal Units
(i.e., Units consisting, prior to the settlement of the
remarketing, of a 1/80th interest in the Series A
Debentures, a 1/80th interest in the Series B Trust
Preferred Securities and a stock purchase contract), that
participated in the remarketing will be used as follows: |
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to pay the Remarketing Agents a remarketing
fee not exceeding 0.35% of the total principal attributable to
the Series A Debentures that are part of normal Units that
participated in the remarketing;
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to satisfy the obligation of holders of normal
Units to purchase common stock of MetLife, Inc. under the stock
purchase contract on the date of settlement of the remarketing;
and
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any remaining portion, if any, of the proceeds
will be remitted for the benefit of holders of normal Units
participating in the remarketing.
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Proceeds from the remarketing attributable to
separate Series A Debentures (i.e.,
Series A Debentures not comprising part of normal Units),
if any, that participated in the remarketing will be used as
follows: |
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to pay the Remarketing Agents a remarketing
fee not exceeding 0.35% of the total principal attributable to
separate Series A Debentures that participated in the
remarketing; and
|
|
|
|
to pay the holders of separate Series A
Debentures that participated in the remarketing a portion of the
proceeds attributable to the separate Series A Debentures.
|
|
|
|
See Relationship of the Common Equity Units to the
Remarketing. |
|
Clearance and Settlement |
|
The Series A Debentures will be cleared through DTC,
Clearstream, Luxembourg and the Euroclear System. |
|
Listing |
|
The Series A Debentures are not, and are not expected to
be, listed on any national securities exchange nor included in
any automated quotation system. |
|
Governing Law |
|
New York. |
S-9
RISK
FACTORS
Investment in the Series A Debentures remarketed hereby
will involve certain risks described below. However, this
prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not
describe all of the risks involving an investment in these
securities. You should also read the Risk Factors set forth in
our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007 (the 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 2007 MetLife
Form 10-K.
Therefore, you should review the information included in the
Risk Factors set forth in the 2007 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 our
Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q
for the period ended June 30, 2008.
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 and pay
special attention to the following discussion of risks relating
to the Series A Debentures, before deciding whether an
investment in the securities offered hereby is suitable for you.
The securities offered hereby will not be an appropriate
investment for you if you are not knowledgeable about
significant features of the securities offered hereby or
financial matters in general. You should not purchase any of the
offered securities unless you understand, and know that you can
bear, these investment risks.
There
Are No Financial Covenants in the Indenture.
Neither we nor any of our subsidiaries are restricted from
incurring additional debt or other liabilities, including
additional senior debt, under the Indenture (as defined under
Description of the Remarketed Series A
Debentures). If we incur additional debt or liabilities,
our ability to pay our obligations on the Series A
Debentures could be adversely affected. We expect that we will
from time to time incur additional debt and other liabilities.
In addition, we are not restricted from paying dividends or
issuing or repurchasing our securities under the Indenture.
There are no financial covenants in the Indenture. You are not
protected under the Indenture in the event of a highly leveraged
transaction, reorganization, change of control, restructuring,
merger or similar transaction that may adversely affect you,
except to the extent described in the accompanying prospectus
under Description of the Debt Consolidation,
Merger, Sale of Assets and Other Transactions.
The
Series A Debentures Are Not Guaranteed by Any of Our
Subsidiaries and Are Structurally Subordinated to the Debt and
Other Liabilities of Our Subsidiaries, Which Means that
Creditors of Our Subsidiaries Will be Paid from Their Assets
Before Holders of the Series A Debentures Would Have Any
Claims to Those Assets.
We are a holding company and conduct substantially all of our
operations through subsidiaries. However, the Series A
Debentures are obligations exclusively of MetLife, Inc. and are
not guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries. As a result, the
Series A Debentures are structurally subordinated to all
debt and other liabilities of our subsidiaries (including
liabilities to policyholders and contractholders), which means
that creditors of our subsidiaries will be paid from their
assets before holders of the Series A Debentures would have
any claims to those assets. As of June 30, 2008, our
subsidiaries had outstanding $508.4 billion of total
liabilities, including $8.3 billion of total debt
(excluding, in each case, intercompany liabilities).
An
Active After-Market for the Series A Debentures May Not
Develop.
The Series A Debentures have no established trading market.
We cannot assure you that an active after-market for the
Series A Debentures will develop or be sustained or that
holders of the Series A Debentures will be able to sell
their Series A Debentures at favorable prices or at all.
Although the Remarketing Agents have indicated to us that they
intend to make a market in the Series A Debentures, as
permitted by applicable laws and regulations, they are not
obligated to do so and may discontinue any such market-making at
any time without notice. Accordingly, no assurance can be given
as to the liquidity of, or trading markets for, the
Series A Debentures. The Series A
S-10
Debentures are not listed and we do not plan to apply to list
the Series A Debentures on any securities exchange or to
include them in any automated dealer quotation system.
If a
Trading Market Does Develop, Changes in Our Credit Ratings or
the Debt Markets Could Adversely Affect the Market Price of the
Series A Debentures.
The price for the Series A Debentures depends on many
factors, including:
|
|
|
|
|
Our credit ratings with major credit rating agencies;
|
|
|
|
The prevailing interest rates being paid by other companies
similar to us;
|
|
|
|
Our financial condition, financial performance and future
prospects; and
|
|
|
|
The overall condition of the financial markets.
|
The condition of the financial markets and prevailing interest
rates have fluctuated in the past and are likely to fluctuate in
the future. Such fluctuations could have an adverse effect on
the price of the Series A Debentures.
In addition, credit rating agencies continually review their
ratings for the companies that they follow, including us. The
credit rating agencies also evaluate the insurance industry as a
whole and may change their credit rating for us based on their
overall view of our industry. A negative change in our rating
could have an adverse effect on the price of the Series A
Debentures.
S-11
SELECTED
HISTORICAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The following selected financial data has been derived from
MetLifes audited consolidated financial statements. The
statement of income data for the years ended December 31,
2007, 2006 and 2005 and the balance sheet data as of
December 31, 2007 and 2006 has been derived from
MetLifes audited financial statements included in the
MetLife Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2007 incorporated by
reference in this prospectus supplement. The statement of income
data for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003 and the
balance sheet as of December 31, 2005 and 2004 has been
derived from MetLifes audited financial statements
included in the MetLife Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2005 not included herein.
The selected consolidated financial information at and for the
six months ended June 30, 2008 and 2007 have been derived
from the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial
statements included in MetLifes Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q
for the six months ended June 30, 2008 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. Some
previously reported amounts have been reclassified to conform
with the presentation at and for the six months ended
June 30, 2008.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Six Months
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ended June 30,
|
|
|
Years Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
|
(In millions)
|
|
|
Statement of Income Data (1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Premiums
|
|
$
|
15,294
|
|
|
$
|
13,668
|
|
|
$
|
27,895
|
|
|
$
|
26,412
|
|
|
$
|
24,860
|
|
|
$
|
22,200
|
|
|
$
|
20,575
|
|
Universal life and investment-type product policy fees
|
|
|
2,838
|
|
|
|
2,587
|
|
|
|
5,311
|
|
|
|
4,780
|
|
|
|
3,828
|
|
|
|
2,867
|
|
|
|
2,495
|
|
Net investment income (2)
|
|
|
9,091
|
|
|
|
9,355
|
|
|
|
19,010
|
|
|
|
17,086
|
|
|
|
14,760
|
|
|
|
12,268
|
|
|
|
11,381
|
|
Other revenues
|
|
|
766
|
|
|
|
795
|
|
|
|
1,533
|
|
|
|
1,362
|
|
|
|
1,271
|
|
|
|
1,198
|
|
|
|
1,199
|
|
Net investment gains (losses) (2)
|
|
|
(1,248
|
)
|
|
|
(277
|
)
|
|
|
(738
|
)
|
|
|
(1,382
|
)
|
|
|
(86
|
)
|
|
|
175
|
|
|
|
(551
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues (2)
|
|
|
26,741
|
|
|
|
26,128
|
|
|
|
53,011
|
|
|
|
48,258
|
|
|
|
44,633
|
|
|
|
38,708
|
|
|
|
35,099
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Policyholder benefits and claims
|
|
|
15,458
|
|
|
|
13,628
|
|
|
|
27,828
|
|
|
|
26,431
|
|
|
|
25,506
|
|
|
|
22,662
|
|
|
|
20,811
|
|
Interest credited to policyholder account balances
|
|
|
2,576
|
|
|
|
2,841
|
|
|
|
5,741
|
|
|
|
5,171
|
|
|
|
3,887
|
|
|
|
2,997
|
|
|
|
3,035
|
|
Policyholder dividends
|
|
|
876
|
|
|
|
856
|
|
|
|
1,726
|
|
|
|
1,701
|
|
|
|
1,679
|
|
|
|
1,666
|
|
|
|
1,731
|
|
Other expenses
|
|
|
5,639
|
|
|
|
5,730
|
|
|
|
11,673
|
|
|
|
10,783
|
|
|
|
9,264
|
|
|
|
7,813
|
|
|
|
7,168
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total expenses
|
|
|
24,549
|
|
|
|
23,055
|
|
|
|
46,968
|
|
|
|
44,086
|
|
|
|
40,336
|
|
|
|
35,138
|
|
|
|
32,745
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from continuing operations before provision for income tax
|
|
|
2,192
|
|
|
|
3,073
|
|
|
|
6,043
|
|
|
|
4,172
|
|
|
|
4,297
|
|
|
|
3,570
|
|
|
|
2,354
|
|
Provision for income tax (2)
|
|
|
598
|
|
|
|
892
|
|
|
|
1,760
|
|
|
|
1,099
|
|
|
|
1,223
|
|
|
|
993
|
|
|
|
583
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from continuing operations
|
|
|
1,594
|
|
|
|
2,181
|
|
|
|
4,283
|
|
|
|
3,073
|
|
|
|
3,074
|
|
|
|
2,577
|
|
|
|
1,771
|
|
Income from discontinued operations, net of
income tax (2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1
|
)
|
|
|
34
|
|
|
|
3,220
|
|
|
|
1,640
|
|
|
|
267
|
|
|
|
472
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before cumulative effect of a change in accounting, net
of income tax
|
|
|
1,594
|
|
|
|
2,180
|
|
|
|
4,317
|
|
|
|
6,293
|
|
|
|
4,714
|
|
|
|
2,844
|
|
|
|
2,243
|
|
Cumulative effect of a change in accounting, net of income
tax (3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(86
|
)
|
|
|
(26
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
|
1,594
|
|
|
|
2,180
|
|
|
|
4,317
|
|
|
|
6,293
|
|
|
|
4,714
|
|
|
|
2,758
|
|
|
|
2,217
|
|
Preferred stock dividends
|
|
|
64
|
|
|
|
68
|
|
|
|
137
|
|
|
|
134
|
|
|
|
63
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Charge of conversion of company-obligated mandatorily redeemable
securities of a subsidiary trust
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
21
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income available to common shareholders
|
|
$
|
1,530
|
|
|
$
|
2,112
|
|
|
$
|
4,180
|
|
|
$
|
6,159
|
|
|
$
|
4,651
|
|
|
$
|
2,758
|
|
|
$
|
2,196
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S-12
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of June 30,
|
|
|
As of December 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
|
(In millions)
|
|
|
Balance Sheet Data (1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General account assets
|
|
$
|
406,086
|
|
|
$
|
398,403
|
|
|
$
|
383,350
|
|
|
$
|
353,776
|
|
|
$
|
270,039
|
|
|
$
|
251,085
|
|
Separate account assets
|
|
|
149,701
|
|
|
|
160,159
|
|
|
|
144,365
|
|
|
|
127,869
|
|
|
|
86,769
|
|
|
|
75,756
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets (2)
|
|
$
|
555,787
|
|
|
$
|
558,562
|
|
|
$
|
527,715
|
|
|
$
|
481,645
|
|
|
$
|
356,808
|
|
|
$
|
326,841
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Life and health policyholder liabilities (4)
|
|
$
|
286,822
|
|
|
$
|
278,246
|
|
|
$
|
267,146
|
|
|
$
|
257,258
|
|
|
$
|
193,612
|
|
|
$
|
177,947
|
|
Property and casualty policyholder liabilities (4)
|
|
|
3,316
|
|
|
|
3,324
|
|
|
|
3,453
|
|
|
|
3,490
|
|
|
|
3,180
|
|
|
|
2,943
|
|
Short-term debt
|
|
|
623
|
|
|
|
667
|
|
|
|
1,449
|
|
|
|
1,414
|
|
|
|
1,445
|
|
|
|
3,642
|
|
Long-term debt
|
|
|
9,694
|
|
|
|
9,628
|
|
|
|
9,129
|
|
|
|
9,489
|
|
|
|
7,412
|
|
|
|
5,703
|
|
Collateral financing arrangements
|
|
|
5,847
|
|
|
|
5,732
|
|
|
|
850
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Junior subordinated debt securities
|
|
|
5,224
|
|
|
|
4,474
|
|
|
|
3,780
|
|
|
|
2,533
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payables for collateral under securities loaned and other
transactions
|
|
|
45,979
|
|
|
|
44,136
|
|
|
|
45,846
|
|
|
|
34,515
|
|
|
|
28,678
|
|
|
|
27,083
|
|
Other
|
|
|
16,040
|
|
|
|
17,017
|
|
|
|
17,899
|
|
|
|
15,976
|
|
|
|
12,888
|
|
|
|
12,618
|
|
Separate account liabilities
|
|
|
149,701
|
|
|
|
160,159
|
|
|
|
144,365
|
|
|
|
127,869
|
|
|
|
86,769
|
|
|
|
75,756
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities (2)
|
|
|
523,246
|
|
|
|
523,383
|
|
|
|
493,917
|
|
|
|
452,544
|
|
|
|
333,984
|
|
|
|
305,692
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock, at par value (2)
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock, at par value
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
|
8
|
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
|
|
17,647
|
|
|
|
17,098
|
|
|
|
17,454
|
|
|
|
17,274
|
|
|
|
15,037
|
|
|
|
14,991
|
|
Retained earnings (5)
|
|
|
21,441
|
|
|
|
19,884
|
|
|
|
16,574
|
|
|
|
10,865
|
|
|
|
6,608
|
|
|
|
4,193
|
|
Treasury stock, at cost
|
|
|
(4,047
|
)
|
|
|
(2,890
|
)
|
|
|
(1,357
|
)
|
|
|
(959
|
)
|
|
|
(1,785
|
)
|
|
|
(835
|
)
|
Accumulated other comprehensive income (6)
|
|
|
(2,509
|
)
|
|
|
1,078
|
|
|
|
1,118
|
|
|
|
1,912
|
|
|
|
2,956
|
|
|
|
2,792
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total stockholders equity
|
|
|
32,541
|
|
|
|
35,179
|
|
|
|
33,798
|
|
|
|
29,101
|
|
|
|
22,824
|
|
|
|
21,149
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities and stockholders equity
|
|
$
|
555,787
|
|
|
$
|
558,562
|
|
|
$
|
527,715
|
|
|
$
|
481,645
|
|
|
$
|
356,808
|
|
|
$
|
326,841
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S-13
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Six Months
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ended June 30,
|
|
|
Years Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
|
(In millions, except per share data)
|
|
|
Other Data (1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income available to common shareholders
|
|
$
|
1,530
|
|
|
$
|
2,112
|
|
|
$
|
4,180
|
|
|
$
|
6,159
|
|
|
$
|
4,651
|
|
|
$
|
2,758
|
|
|
$
|
2,196
|
|
Return on common equity (7)
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
13.0
|
%
|
|
|
21.9
|
%
|
|
|
18.5
|
%
|
|
|
12.5
|
%
|
|
|
11.4
|
%
|
Return on common equity, excluding accumulated other
comprehensive income
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
13.2
|
%
|
|
|
22.6
|
%
|
|
|
20.4
|
%
|
|
|
14.4
|
%
|
|
|
13.0
|
%
|
Earnings Per Share Data (1)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from Continuing Operations Available to Common
Shareholders Per Common Share
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$
|
2.14
|
|
|
$
|
2.82
|
|
|
$
|
5.57
|
|
|
$
|
3.86
|
|
|
$
|
4.02
|
|
|
$
|
3.43
|
|
|
$
|
2.37
|
|
Diluted
|
|
$
|
2.10
|
|
|
$
|
2.76
|
|
|
$
|
5.44
|
|
|
$
|
3.81
|
|
|
$
|
3.99
|
|
|
$
|
3.41
|
|
|
$
|
2.34
|
|
Income from Discontinued Operations Per Common Share
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
0.05
|
|
|
$
|
4.23
|
|
|
$
|
2.19
|
|
|
$
|
0.35
|
|
|
$
|
0.64
|
|
Diluted
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
0.04
|
|
|
$
|
4.18
|
|
|
$
|
2.17
|
|
|
$
|
0.35
|
|
|
$
|
0.63
|
|
Cumulative Effect of a Change in Accounting Per Common Share
(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
(0.11
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.04
|
)
|
Diluted
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
(0.11
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.03
|
)
|
Net Income Available to Common Shareholders Per Common
Share
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$
|
2.14
|
|
|
$
|
2.82
|
|
|
$
|
5.62
|
|
|
$
|
8.09
|
|
|
$
|
6.21
|
|
|
$
|
3.67
|
|
|
$
|
2.97
|
|
Diluted
|
|
$
|
2.10
|
|
|
$
|
2.76
|
|
|
$
|
5.48
|
|
|
$
|
7.99
|
|
|
$
|
6.16
|
|
|
$
|
3.65
|
|
|
$
|
2.94
|
|
Dividends Declared Per Common Share
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
|
N/A
|
|
|
$
|
0.74
|
|
|
$
|
0.59
|
|
|
$
|
0.52
|
|
|
$
|
0.46
|
|
|
$
|
0.23
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
On July 1, 2005, MetLife, Inc. acquired Travelers. 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:
|
Real Estate
In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
(SFAS) No. 144, Accounting for the
Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets
(SFAS 144), income related to real estate
sold or classified as held-for-sale for transactions initiated
on or after January 1, 2002 is presented as discontinued
operations. The following information presents the components of
income from discontinued real estate operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Six Months
|
|
|
|
|
Ended June 30,
|
|
Years Ended December 31,
|
|
|
2008
|
|
2007
|
|
2007
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
2004
|
|
2003
|
|
|
(In millions)
|
|
Investment income
|
|
$
|
3
|
|
|
$
|
10
|
|
|
$
|
20
|
|
|
$
|
241
|
|
|
$
|
403
|
|
|
$
|
657
|
|
|
$
|
727
|
|
Investment expense
|
|
|
(2
|
)
|
|
|
(4
|
)
|
|
|
(8
|
)
|
|
|
(151
|
)
|
|
|
(245
|
)
|
|
|
(392
|
)
|
|
|
(424
|
)
|
Net investment gains (losses)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
|
13
|
|
|
|
4,795
|
|
|
|
2,125
|
|
|
|
146
|
|
|
|
420
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
11
|
|
|
|
25
|
|
|
|
4,885
|
|
|
|
2,283
|
|
|
|
411
|
|
|
|
723
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13
|
|
|
|
4
|
|
Provision for income tax
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
10
|
|
|
|
1,725
|
|
|
|
812
|
|
|
|
141
|
|
|
|
263
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from discontinued operations, net of income tax
|
|
$
|
1
|
|
|
$
|
7
|
|
|
$
|
15
|
|
|
$
|
3,160
|
|
|
$
|
1,471
|
|
|
$
|
257
|
|
|
$
|
456
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S-14
Operations
In September 2007, September 2005 and January 2005, MetLife sold
its MetLife Insurance Limited (MetLife
Australia) annuities and pension businesses,
P.T. Sejabtera (MetLife Indonesia) and
SSRM Holdings, Inc. (SSRM), respectively. In
accordance with SFAS 144, the assets, liabilities and
operations of MetLife Indonesia, SSRM and MetLife Australia have
been reclassified into discontinued operations for all years
presented. The following tables present these discontinued
operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Six Months
|
|
|
|
|
Ended June 30,
|
|
Years Ended December 31,
|
|
|
2008
|
|
2007
|
|
2007
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
2004
|
|
2003
|
|
|
(In millions)
|
|
Revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
52
|
|
|
$
|
71
|
|
|
$
|
100
|
|
|
$
|
74
|
|
|
$
|
333
|
|
|
$
|
235
|
|
Expenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
47
|
|
|
|
58
|
|
|
|
89
|
|
|
|
89
|
|
|
|
310
|
|
|
|
206
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before provision for income tax
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5
|
|
|
|
13
|
|
|
|
11
|
|
|
|
(15
|
)
|
|
|
23
|
|
|
|
29
|
|
Provision for income tax
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
3
|
|
|
|
(2
|
)
|
|
|
13
|
|
|
|
13
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income tax
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
9
|
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
|
(13
|
)
|
|
|
10
|
|
|
|
16
|
|
Net investment gains (losses), net of income tax
|
|
|
(1
|
)
|
|
|
(12
|
)
|
|
|
10
|
|
|
|
52
|
|
|
|
182
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from discounted operations, net of income tax
|
|
$
|
(1
|
)
|
|
$
|
(8
|
)
|
|
$
|
19
|
|
|
$
|
60
|
|
|
$
|
169
|
|
|
$
|
10
|
|
|
$
|
16
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
2004
|
|
2003
|
|
|
|
|
(In millions)
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
$
|
1,563
|
|
|
$
|
1,621
|
|
|
$
|
410
|
|
|
$
|
210
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Life and health policyholder liabilities (4)
|
|
$
|
1,595
|
|
|
|
1,622
|
|
|
$
|
24
|
|
|
$
|
17
|
|
Short-term debt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
225
|
|
|
|
73
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
$
|
1,595
|
|
|
$
|
1,622
|
|
|
$
|
268
|
|
|
$
|
90
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(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
SOP 03-1,
Accounting and Reporting by Insurance Enterprises for Certain
Nontraditional Long-Duration Contracts and for Separate
Accounts. The cumulative effect of a change in accounting, net
of income tax, of $26 million for the year ended
December 31, 2003, resulted from the adoption of
SFAS No. 133 Implementation Issue No. B36,
Embedded Derivatives: Modified Coinsurance Arrangements and Debt
Instruments That Incorporate Credit Risk Exposures That Are
Unrelated or Only Partially Related to the Creditworthiness of
the Obligor under Those Instruments.
|
|
|
(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, net of income
tax, of $329 million, which decreased retained earnings at
January 1, 2007, resulted from $292 million related to
the adoption of Statement of Position (SOP)
05-1,
Accounting by Insurance Enterprises for Deferred Acquisition
Costs in Connection with Modifications or Exchanges of Insurance
Contracts
(SOP 05-1)
and $37 million related to the adoption of Financial
Accounting Standards Board (FASB)
Interpretation (FIN) No. 48, Accounting
for Uncertainty in Income Taxes An Interpretation of
FASB Statement No. 109 (FIN 48).
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(6)
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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, and decreased
accumulated other comprehensive income at December 31, 2006.
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(7)
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Return on common equity is defined as net income available to
common shareholders divided by average common stockholders
equity.
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S-15
RATIO OF
EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
The following table sets forth MetLifes historical ratio
of earnings to fixed charges for the:
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Six Months Ended June 30,
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Years Ended December 31,
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2008
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2007
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2007
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2006
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2005
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2004
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2003
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Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (1)
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1.71
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|
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1.84
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1.80
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1.67
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1.92
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2.03
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1.72
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Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock
Dividends (1)
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1.69
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1.81
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1.78
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1.65
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1.90
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2.03
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1.72
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(1) |
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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.
MetLife, Inc. did not have any preferred stock outstanding prior
to the initial issuances of the (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. |
S-16
USE OF
PROCEEDS
We will not receive any of the proceeds from the remarketing.
Proceeds from the remarketing attributable to the Series A
Debentures that are part of normal Units
(i.e., Units consisting, prior to the settlement of the
remarketing, of a 1/80th interest in the Series A
Debentures, a 1/80th interest in the Series B Trust
Preferred Securities and a stock purchase contract), that
participated in the remarketing will be used as follows:
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to pay the Remarketing Agents a remarketing fee not exceeding
0.35% of the total principal attributable to the Series A
Debentures that are part of normal Units that participated in
the remarketing;
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to satisfy the obligation of holders of normal Units to purchase
common stock of MetLife, Inc. under the stock purchase contract
on the date of settlement of the remarketing; and
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any remaining portion, if any, of the proceeds will be remitted
for the benefit of holders of normal Units participating in the
remarketing.
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Proceeds from the remarketing attributable to
separate Series A Debentures (i.e.,
Series A Debentures not comprising part of normal Units),
if any, that participated in the remarketing will be used as
follows:
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to pay the Remarketing Agents a remarketing fee not exceeding
0.35% of the total principal attributable to separate
Series A Debentures that participated in the
remarketing; and
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to pay the holders of separate Series A Debentures that
participated in the remarketing a portion of the proceeds
attributable to the separate Series A Debentures.
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See Relationship of the Common Equity Units to the
Remarketing.
S-17
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth MetLifes historical and
unaudited pro forma capitalization at June 30, 2008,
(i) on an actual basis and (ii) as adjusted to give
effect to the remarketing and the settlement of the related
stock purchase contracts:
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June 30, 2008
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Actual
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As Adjusted
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(In millions)
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Short-term debt
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$
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623
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$
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623
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Long-term debt (1)
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9,694
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10,729
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Collateral financing arrangements
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5,847
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5,847
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Junior subordinated debt securities
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5,224
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4,157
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Shares subject to mandatory redemption
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159
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159
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Total debt
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21,547
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|
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21,515
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Stockholders Equity:
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Preferred stock, at par value
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1
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1
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Common stock, at par value
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8
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8
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Additional paid-in capital (2)
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17,647
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17,618
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Retained earnings
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21,441
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21,441
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Treasury stock, at cost (2)
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(4,047
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)
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(2,983
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)
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Accumulated other comprehensive loss
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(2,509
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)
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(2,509
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)
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Total stockholders equity
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32,541
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33,576
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Total capitalization
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$
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54,088
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$
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55,091
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(1) |
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Reflects $1,035 million of 6.817% Senior Debt Securities,
Series A, due 2018. Related debt remarketing costs of
$1.3 million will be capitalized and amortized until
August 15, 2018. |
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(2) |
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Reflects 20,244,600 treasury shares with an average cost of
$52.57 per share ($1,064 million) used to settle the
August 15, 2008 stock purchase contracts associated with
the Common Equity Units, at an issue price, as defined by the
stock purchase contracts, of $51.12 per share
($1,035 million). |
S-18
RELATIONSHIP
OF THE COMMON EQUITY UNITS TO THE REMARKETING
In June 2005, we issued 82,800,000 Units in a registered
offering. Each Unit initially consisted of a contract to
purchase shares of MetLife, Inc.s Common Stock in
accordance with the terms of the Unit, as well as a
1/80th or 1.25% undivided beneficial interest in a Series A
Trust Preferred Security and a 1/80th or 1.25%
undivided beneficial ownership interest in Series B Trust
Preferred Security. The Series A Trust Preferred
Securities represented undivided beneficial ownership interest
in the assets of the Trust, which consisted solely of 4.82%
Junior Subordinated Debt Securities, Series A, due 2039,
which are now being remarketed as the Series A Debentures.
In accordance with the terms of the Amended and Restated
Declaration of Trust of MetLife Capital Trust II, dated
June 21, 2005 (the Declaration), we have
dissolved the Trust and distributed Series A Debentures to
the holders of the Series A Trust Preferred Securities
in exchange for Series A Trust Preferred Securities.
Under the terms of the Units, MetLife, Inc. has engaged the
Remarketing Agents to remarket the Series A Debentures on
behalf of the holders (other than those holders who have elected
not to participate in the remarketing), pursuant to the
Remarketing Agreement.
We will not receive any of the proceeds from the remarketing.
See Use of Proceeds. Pursuant to the Remarketing
Agreement, the Remarketing Agents will retain a remarketing fee
not exceeding 35 basis points (0.35%) of the total
principal of the remarketing. A portion of the net proceeds of
the remarketing of the Series A Debentures comprising part
of normal Units (i.e., Units consisting,
prior to the settlement of the remarketing, of a
1/80th interest in the Series A Debentures, a
1/80th interest in the Series B Trust Preferred
Securities, and a stock purchase contract) will be used to
satisfy the obligation of holders of normal Units to purchase
Common Stock of MetLife, Inc. under the stock purchase contract
on the date of settlement of the remarketing. The remaining
portion, if any, of the proceeds will be remitted for the
benefit of holders of normal Units participating in the
remarketing. The net proceeds attributable to the remarketing of
separate Series A Debentures, if any, that participated in
the remarketing, will be remitted to the holders of separate
Series A Debentures.
S-19
DESCRIPTION
OF THE REMARKETED SERIES A DEBENTURES
A description of the specific terms of the Series A
Debentures of MetLife, Inc. being offered in this remarketing is
set forth below. The description is qualified in its entirety by
reference to the Indenture, dated as of June 21, 2005 (the
Base Indenture), between MetLife, Inc. and The Bank
of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (as successor in
interest to J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National
Association), as trustee (the Trustee), as
supplemented by (i) the First Supplemental Indenture, dated
as of June 21, 2005 (the First Supplemental
Indenture) and (ii) the Sixth Supplemental Indenture,
dated as of August 7, 2008 (the Sixth Supplemental
Indenture and together with the Base Indenture and the
First Supplemental Indenture, the Indenture) between
MetLife, Inc. and the Trustee, under which the Series A
Debentures have been issued. The Indenture has been qualified as
an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. The terms of
the Indenture are those provided in the Indenture and those made
part of the Indenture by the Trust Indenture Act. We have
filed a copy of the Indenture with the SEC under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Indenture is
incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration
statement of which this prospectus supplement forms a part. In
accordance with the terms, of the Indenture, in connection with
the dissolution of the Trust, we have entered into the Sixth
Supplemental Indenture with the Trustee, making provision for
the remarketing and reset mechanics on the basis set forth in
the Declaration.
The following description of certain terms of the remarketed
Series A Debentures and certain provisions of the Indenture
in this prospectus supplement supplements the description under
Description of Debt Securities in the accompanying
prospectus. To the extent that the following description is not
consistent with that contained in the accompanying prospectus
under Description of Debt Securities you should rely
on this description. This description is only a summary of the
material terms and does not purport to be complete. We urge you
to read the Indenture in its entirety because it, and not this
description, will define your rights as a beneficial holder of
the Series A Debentures.
Overview
The aggregate principal amount of Series A Debentures to be
remarketed pursuant to this prospectus supplement is
$1,029,805,000.
The Series A Debentures will mature on August 15, 2018.
The Series A Debentures have been issued as a separate
series of senior debt securities under the Indenture, limited to
$1,067,010,000 in aggregate principal amount. In connection with
the dissolution of the Trust, $32.01 million in aggregate
principal amount of the Series A Debentures held by
MetLife, Inc. has been cancelled.
The Series A Debentures are not subject to a sinking fund
provision. The entire principal amount of the Series A
Debentures will mature and become due and payable, together with
any accrued and unpaid interest thereon on August 15, 2018.
Because MetLife, Inc. is principally a holding company, its
right to participate in any distribution of assets of any
subsidiary, upon the subsidiarys liquidation or
reorganization or otherwise (and thus the ability of the holders
of Series A Debentures to benefit indirectly from any such
distribution), 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 Series A
Debentures will be effectively subordinated to all existing and
future liabilities of its subsidiaries, and claimants should
look only to its assets for payment thereunder. The Indenture
does not limit the incurrence or issuance of other secured or
unsecured debt by MetLife, Inc., including senior debt. As of
June 30, 2008, MetLife, Inc. had $7.0 billion of
senior debt outstanding and our subsidiaries had
$8.3 billion of total debt outstanding (excluding
intercompany liabilities).
Under specific limited circumstances, Series A Debentures
may be issued in certificated form in exchange for a global
security. In the case that Series A Debentures are issued
in certificated form, these Series A Debentures will be in
minimum denominations of $1,000 or any integral multiple thereof
and may be transferred or exchanged at the offices described
below. Payments on Series A Debentures issued as a global
security will be made to the depositary, a successor depositary
or, in the case that no depositary is used, to a paying agent
for the Series A Debentures. In the case that Series A
Debentures are issued in certificated form, principal and
interest will be payable, the transfer of the Series A
Debentures will be registerable and Series A Debentures
will be exchangeable for Series A Debentures
S-20
of other denominations of a like aggregate principal amount, at
the corporate trust office or agency of the Trustee in New York,
New York. However, at our option, payment of interest may be
made by check mailed to the address of the entitled holder or by
wire transfer to an account appropriately designated by the
entitled holder.
The Indenture does not contain provisions that afford holders of
the Series A Debentures protection in case we are involved
in a highly leveraged transaction or other similar transaction
that may adversely affect those holders.
Interest
and Maturity
Following the remarketing, the Series A Debentures will
bear interest from August 15, 2008 at the rate of 6.817%
per year, payable semi-annually in arrears on February 15,
and August 15 of each year, commencing February 15, 2009
and ending on August 15, 2018. The interest rate on the
Series A Debentures was reset by the Remarketing Agents as
the rate determined to be sufficient to result in proceeds from
the remarketing of the Series A Debentures, net of the
remarketing fee described under Plan of
Distribution, of 100% of the aggregate principal amount,
plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the remarketing
settlement date, of the Series A Debentures being
remarketed. Interest is payable to the person in whose name each
Series A Debenture is registered, subject to certain
exceptions, at the close of business on the Business Day (as
defined below) next preceding that interest payment date. If
Series A Debentures do not remain in book-entry only form,
we will have the right to select record dates, which shall be
more than one Business Day but less than 60 Business Days prior
to the interest payment date.
The amount of interest payable for any period will be computed
on the basis of a
360-day year
consisting of twelve
30-day
months. The amount of interest payable for any period shorter
than a full semi-annual period for which interest is computed
will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days
elapsed in that
180-day
period. In the case that any date on which interest is payable
on the Series A Debentures is not a Business Day, then
payment of the interest payable on that date will be made on the
next succeeding day that is a Business Day. However, no interest
or other payment shall be paid in respect of the delay but if
that Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, then
that payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business
Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made on
that date.
Business Day means any day other than a day
on which federal or state banking institutions in the Borough of
Manhattan, The City of New York, are authorized or obligated by
law, executive order or regulation to close.
No Option
to Defer Interest Payments Date
We will not have the right to defer the payment of interest on
the Series A Debentures.
Restrictions
on Certain Payments
If there shall have occurred and be continuing any event that,
with the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both, would
be an event of default with respect to Series A Debentures
of which we have actual knowledge and which we have not taken
reasonable steps to cure, then we shall not:
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declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem,
purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to,
any shares of our capital stock;
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make any payment of principal of, or interest premium, if any,
on, or repay, repurchase or redeem our 4.91% Junior Subordinated
Debt Securities, Series B, due 2040 or any other debt
securities issued by us that rank equally with or junior to the
Series A Debentures; or
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make any payment under any guarantee that ranks equal or junior
to our Guarantee, dated as of June 21, 2005, related to the
Series B Trust Preferred Securities.
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The restrictions listed in the first bullet point above do not
apply to:
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any repurchase, redemption or other acquisition of shares of our
capital stock in connection with (1) any employment
contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for
the benefit of any one or more employees, officers, directors,
consultants or independent contractors, (2) a dividend
reinvestment or
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S-21
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stockholder purchase plan, or (3) the issuance of our
capital stock, or securities convertible into or exercisable for
such capital stock, as consideration in an acquisition
transaction entered into prior to the applicable event of
default, default or extension period, as the case may be;
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any exchange, redemption or conversion of any class or series of
our capital stock, or the capital stock of one of our
subsidiaries, for any other class or series, of our capital
stock, or of any class or series of our indebtedness for any
class or series of our capital stock;
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any purchase of, or payment of cash in lieu of, fractional
interests in shares of our 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 equally with
or junior to such stock.
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Optional
Redemption
The Series A Debentures will be redeemable at MetLife,
Inc.s option in whole or in part, at any time, on or after
August 15, 2010, at a redemption price equal to the greater
of 100% of the principal amount to be redeemed plus accrued and
unpaid interest to the date of redemption and the
Make-Whole Redemption Amount (as defined below).
As used in this section:
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 thereon for the principal amount to be redeemed
(not including any portion of those payments of interest accrued
as of the date of redemption), discounted from their respective
scheduled payment dates to the date of redemption on a
semi-annual basis (assuming a
360-day year
consisting of twelve
30-day
months) at the Treasury Rate plus 45 basis points plus, in
each case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of
redemption.
For purposes of the preceding definitions:
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Treasury Rate means, with respect to any
redemption date, the yield, under the heading that represents
the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing in the
most recently published statistical release designated H.15(519)
or any successor publication that is published weekly by the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and that
establishes yields on actively traded U.S. Treasury
securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption
Treasury Constant Maturities, for the maturity corresponding to
the Comparable Treasury Issue (if no maturity is within three
months before or after the Remaining Life, yields for the two
published maturities most closely corresponding to the
Comparable Treasury Issue will be determined and the Treasury
Rate will be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a
straight line basis, rounding to the nearest month); or if such
release (or any successor release) is not published during the
week preceding the calculation date or does not contain such
yields, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent
yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Price, calculated
using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a
percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable
Treasury Issue for such redemption date. The Treasury Rate will
be calculated on the third Business Day preceding the 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
the Redemption Date to August 15, 2018 (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 term.
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S-22
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Comparable Treasury Price means, with respect
to a 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 each of
(1) Banc of America Securities LLC and Barclays Capital
Inc. 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 therefore
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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Ranking
The Series A Debentures are unsecured and rank equally in
right of payment with all of our other senior unsecured debt to
the extent provided in the Indenture.
Events of
Default
An event of default when used in the Indenture with
respect to the Series A Debentures, means any of the
following:
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failure to pay any installment of interest when due and payable
(including any additional interest) on the Series A
Debentures and continuance of such default for a period of 30
days or more:
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failure to pay the principal of the Series A Debentures
when due, whether at maturity, upon redemption or
otherwise; or
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certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of
MetLife, Inc. or appointment of a receiver, liquidator or
trustee of MetLife Bank, National Association, the banking
subsidiary of MetLife.
|
If an event of default under the Indenture occurs and continues
with respect to the Series A Debentures, the Trustee or the
holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding Series A Debentures may declare the entire
principal of and all accrued but unpaid interest on the
outstanding Series A Debentures to be due and payable
immediately. If such declaration occurs, the holders of a
majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding
Series A Debentures can, subject to certain conditions,
rescind the declaration.
The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding Series A Debentures may, on behalf of all
holders of the outstanding Series A Debentures, waive any
past default with respect to the Series A Debentures,
except:
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a default in payment of principal or interest; or
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a default under any provision of the Indenture which itself
cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holders
of the Series A Debentures.
|
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the
Series A Debentures shall have the right to direct the
time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any
remedy available to the Trustee under the Indenture.
We are required to file an officers certificate with the
Trustee each year that states, to the knowledge of the
certifying officer, whether or not any defaults exist under the
terms of the Indenture.
S-23
Book-Entry;
Delivery and Form
Following the remarketing, the Series A 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 Series A 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 Series A Debentures. Unless and until it is
exchanged in whole or in part for Series A 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, Series A Debentures
represented by the Global Security will not be exchangeable for,
and will not otherwise be issuable as, Series A Debentures
in certificated 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 Series A Debentures will be
represented through book-entry accounts of financial
institutions acting on behalf of Beneficial Owners (as defined
below) as Direct 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 Series A
Debentures represented by such Global Security for all purposes
under the Indenture. Except as provided below, the actual owners
of the Series A Debentures represented by a Global Security
(the Beneficial Owners) will not be entitled
to have the Series A Debentures represented by such Global
Security registered in their names, will not receive or be
entitled to receive physical delivery of the Series A
Debentures in definitive form and will not be considered the
owners or holders thereof under the 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 Series A Debentures.
Under existing industry practices, in the event that any action
is requested of holders of the Series A Debentures or that
an owner of a beneficial interest that a holder is entitled to
give or take under the 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 Series A
Debentures. The Series A 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 Series A 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, 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
S-24
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 Series A Debentures under DTCs
system must be made by or through Direct Participants, which
will receive a credit for the Series A 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 Series A 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
Series A Debentures, except in the limited circumstances
that may be provided in the Indenture, as the case may be.
To facilitate subsequent transfers, all Series A Debentures
deposited with DTC are registered in the name of DTCs
partnership nominee, Cede & Co. The deposit of the
Series A 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 Series A 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 Series A 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 Series A 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 Series A 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, offered security
certificates are required to be printed and delivered. MetLife,
Inc. may decide 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 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
S-25
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 Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V.
to facilitate settlement of trades between Clearstream and
Euroclear.
Distributions with respect to the Series A 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 Series A 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.
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
S-26
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 Series A
Debentures to or receiving interests in the Series A
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
Series A 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
Series A 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 Series A
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
Series A 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-27
CERTAIN
UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following is a discussion of certain United States federal
income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and
disposition of Series A Debentures to Holders (as defined
below) who purchase Series A Debentures in the remarketing
at the remarketing offering price and hold the Series A
Debentures as capital assets. This discussion is based upon the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
Code), Treasury regulations (including
proposed Treasury regulations) issued thereunder, Internal
Revenue Service (IRS) rulings and
pronouncements and judicial decisions now in effect, all of
which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect.
This discussion does not purport to be a complete analysis of
all of the tax considerations that may be applicable to a
decision by Holders to acquire the Series A Debentures in
the remarketing and does not address all aspects of United
States federal income taxation that may be relevant to Holders
in light of their particular circumstances, such as Holders who
are subject to special tax treatment (for example,
(1) partnerships, banks, regulated investment companies,
insurance companies, dealers in securities or currencies or
tax-exempt organizations, (2) persons holding Series A
Debentures as part of a straddle, hedge, conversion transaction
or other integrated investment, and (3) persons whose
functional currency is not the U.S. dollar). In addition,
the discussion does not address alternative minimum taxes or
state, local or foreign taxes. If a partnership holds
Series A Debentures, the U.S. federal income tax
treatment of a partner generally will depend upon the status of
the partner and the activities of the partnership. A partner of
a partnership holding Series A Debentures should consult
its tax advisor concerning the U.S. federal income and
other tax consequences.
Prospective investors are urged to consult their own tax
advisors with respect to the United States federal income tax
consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of
Series A Debentures in light of their own particular
circumstances, as well as the effect of any state, local or
foreign tax laws.
For purposes of this discussion, U.S. holder
means a beneficial owner of the Series A Debentures that
is, for United States federal income tax purposes, (1) an
individual citizen or resident of the United States, (2) a
corporation, or other entity treated as a corporation, created
or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any
state thereof or the District of Columbia, (3) an estate,
the income of which is subject to United States federal income
tax regardless of its source, or (4) a trust, if (a) a
court within the United States is able to exercise primary
supervision over its administration, and one or more United
States persons (as determined for United States federal income
tax purposes) have the authority to control all of its
substantial decisions or (b) the trust has a valid election
in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury Regulations to be
treated as a U.S. person. For purposes of this discussion,
Non-U.S. holder
means a beneficial owner of the Series A Debentures that is
not a U.S. holder and U.S. holders and
Non-U.S. holders
shall be referred to collectively as Holders.
By purchasing the Series A Debentures, Holders have agreed
to treat the Series A Debenture as indebtedness for United
States federal income tax purposes. We expect to treat, and will
report accordingly, the Series A Debentures in the same
manner.
Tax
Consequences to U.S. Holders
Interest Income. Interest paid on the
Series A Debentures will be taxable to U.S. holders as
ordinary interest income at the time it is received or accrued,
depending upon the method of accounting applicable to such
U.S. holder.
Sale, Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of the
Series A Debentures. U.S. holders of
the Series A Debentures will recognize capital gain or loss
upon the sale or other taxable disposition of such indebtedness
(except to the extent such amount is attributable to accrued
interest, which will be taxable as ordinary interest income to
the extent such interest has not been previously included in
income). The gain or loss recognized by a U.S. holder will
be equal to the difference between the proceeds received in
exchange for such U.S. holders Series A
Debentures and such U.S. holders adjusted United
States federal income tax basis in such Series A
Debentures. A U.S. holders adjusted tax basis in the
Series A Debentures acquired in the remarketing will equal
the amount that such U.S. holder paid for the Series A
Debentures. Such capital gain or loss will be long-term capital
gain or loss if such debentures were held for more than one year
immediately prior to such disposition. Subject to
S-28
certain exceptions, long-term capital gains of individuals are
generally eligible for reduced rates of taxation. The
deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.
Tax
Consequences to
Non-U.S.
holders
Interest Income. Generally, payments of
interest on the Series A Debentures to a
Non-U.S. holder should not be subject to United States
federal withholding tax provided that:
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Such
Non-U.S. holder
does not actually (or constructively) own 10% or more of the
total combined voting power of all classes of our voting stock
within the meaning of the Code and the Treasury regulations, and
such holder is not a controlled foreign corporation that is
related to us through stock ownership;
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Such
Non-U.S. holder
is not a bank for United States federal income tax purposes
whose receipt of interest is described in
Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code;
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Interest on the Series A Debentures is not contingent
interest within the meaning of Section 871(h)(4)(A) of the
Code; and
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Such
Non-U.S. holder
provides either (a) their name, address and certain other
information on an Internal Revenue Service Form
W-8BEN (or a
suitable substitute form), and certify, under penalties of
perjury, that such holder is not a United States person or
(b) holds its Series A Debentures through certain
foreign intermediaries or certain foreign partnerships and
certain certification requirements are satisfied.
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If a
Non-U.S. holder
cannot satisfy the requirements described above, payments of
interest will be subject to a 30% United States federal income
withholding tax unless a tax treaty applies or the interest
payments are effectively connected with the conduct of a United
States trade or business. If a tax treaty applies to a
Non-U.S. holder
under these circumstances, such holder may be eligible for a
reduced rate of withholding. In order to claim any exemption
from or reduction in the 30% withholding tax under an applicable
treaty, such holder will need to provide a properly executed
Internal Revenue Service
Form W-8BEN
(or suitable substitute form) claiming a reduction of or an
exemption from withholding under an applicable tax treaty.
Interest payments made on the Series A Debentures that are
effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business by
a
Non-U.S. holder
within the United States (and where a tax treaty applies, are
attributable to a United States permanent establishment of the
Non-U.S. holder)
are not subject to the 30% United States federal income
withholding tax, so long as such
Non-U.S. holder
provides a valid IRS
Form W-8ECI
(or an acceptable substitute form). Instead, such
Non-U.S. holder
will be subject to United States federal income tax, on such
payment on a net income basis in the same manner as if such
holder were a U.S. holder. In addition, in certain
circumstances, if such
Non-U.S. holder
is a foreign corporation, such holder may be subject to a 30%
(or, if a tax treaty applies, such lower rate as provided)
branch profits tax.
Sale, Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of the
Series A Debentures. Any gain realized on
the disposition of the Series A Debentures by a
Non-U.S. holder
will generally not be subject to United States federal income
tax unless
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such gain or income is effectively connected with such
holders conduct of a trade or business in the
United States (and, where an applicable tax treaty so
provides, are also attributable to a United States permanent
establishment maintained by you); or
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such holder is an individual who is present in the United States
for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the disposition
and certain other conditions are met.
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If the first bullet point above applies and the Non-U.S. holder
is a foreign corporation, such holder may be subject to a 30%
branch profits tax (or, if a treaty applies, such lower rate as
provided).
S-29
Backup
Withholding and Information Reporting
Unless a U.S. holder is an exempt recipient, such as a
corporation, payments made with respect to the Series A
Debentures may be subject to information reporting and may also
be subject to United States federal backup withholding at the
applicable rate if a holder of the Series A Debentures
fails to comply with applicable United States information
reporting or certification requirements.
Non-U.S. holders
may be required to comply with certain certification procedures
to establish that the holder is not a U.S. person in order
to avoid information reporting and backup withholding tax. Any
amounts so withheld under the backup withholding rules may be
allowed as a credit against a Holders United States
federal income tax liability provided such Holder furnishes the
required information to the IRS.
The preceding discussion of certain material United States
federal income tax consequences is for general information
purposes only and is not being provided as, or intended to
constitute tax advice. Accordingly, you should consult your own
tax advisor as to the particular tax consequences to you of
purchasing, holding or disposing of the Series A
Debentures, including the applicability and effect of any state,
local or
Non-U.S. tax
laws, and of any changes or proposed changes in applicable
law.
S-30
PLAN OF
DISTRIBUTION
The remarketing is being conducted pursuant to the Remarketing
Agreement. Under the Remarketing Agreement, the Remarketing
Agents have agreed to use their commercially reasonable efforts
to remarket the Series A Debentures in this remarketing at
a price which results in proceeds, net of the remarketing fee
described below, of at least 100% of the aggregate principal
amount of the Series A Debentures being remarketed, plus
accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the remarketing
settlement date.
The Remarketing Agents will use a portion of the net proceeds of
the remarketing of Series A Debentures comprising a part of
normal units (i.e., Units consisting, prior to the
settlement of the remarketing, of a
1/80th interest
in the Series A Debentures, a 1/80th interest in the
Series B trust preferred securities of MetLife Capital
Trust III, and a stock purchase contract):
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to pay the Remarketing Agents a remarketing fee not exceeding
0.35% of the total principal attributable to the Series A
Debentures that are part of normal Units that participated in
the remarketing;
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to satisfy the obligation of holders of normal Units to purchase
common stock of MetLife, Inc. under the stock purchase contract
on the date of settlement of the remarketing; and
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any remaining portion, if any, of the proceeds will be remitted
for the benefit of holders of normal Units participating in the
remarketing.
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Proceeds from the remarketing attributable to
separate Series A Debentures (i.e.,
Series A Debentures not comprising part of normal Units),
if any, that participated in the remarketing will be used as
follows:
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to pay the Remarketing Agents a remarketing fee not exceeding
0.35% of the total principal attributable to separate
Series A Debentures that participated in the
remarketing; and
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to pay the holders of separate Series A Debentures that
participated in the remarketing a portion of the proceeds
attributable to the separate Series A Debentures.
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The Remarketing Agents will retain a total remarketing fee not
exceeding 35 basis points (0.35%) of the total principal of
the sale of the Series A Debentures. Neither we nor the
holders of Series A Debentures participating in this
remarketing will otherwise be responsible for any remarketing
fee or commission in connection with this remarketing.
We have been advised by the Remarketing Agents that they propose
initially to remarket the Series A Debentures to investors
at the price to the public set forth on the cover page of this
prospectus supplement.
The Series A Debentures have no established trading market.
The Remarketing Agents have advised us that they intend to make
a market for the Series A 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 Series A
Debentures.
To facilitate the remarketing of the Series A Debentures,
the Remarketing Agents may engage in transactions that
stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the
Series A Debentures. These transactions consist of bids or
purchases for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the
price of the Series A Debentures. In general, purchases of
a security for the purpose of stabilization could cause the
price of the security to be higher than it might be in the
absence of these purchases. We and the Remarketing Agents make
no representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude
of any effect that the transactions described above may have on
the price of the debentures. In addition, we and the Remarketing
Agents make no representation that the Remarketing Agents will
engage in these transactions or that these transactions, once
commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.
We have agreed to indemnify the Remarketing Agents against, or
to contribute to payments that the Remarketing Agents may be
required to make in respect of, certain liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Each of the Remarketing Agents has in the past provided, and may
in the future provide, investment banking and underwriting
services to us and our affiliates for which it has received, or
will receive, customary compensation.
S-31
OFFERING
RESTRICTIONS
The Series A 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 Series A Debentures in any jurisdiction outside the
United States.
Each of the Remarketing Agents 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
Series A 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 Series A Debentures 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 the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
(ERISA), or Section 4975 of the Code, or
who is acting on behalf of or investing the assets of any such
plan or arrangement, unless the acquisition and holding of the
Series A Debentures by such person will not result in a
non-exempt prohibited transaction under Section 406 of
ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.
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 Remarketing Agent
represents that it has not made and will not make an offer of
the Series A Debentures to the public in that relevant
member state, except that it may make an offer of the
Series A 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 joint book-running managers 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 Series A Debentures shall result in a
requirement for the publication by us or any Remarketing Agent
of a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus
Directive.
For the purposes of this section, the expression an offer
of the Series A Debentures to the public in relation
to any Series A 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
Series A Debentures to be offered so as to enable an
investor to decide to purchase or subscribe to purchase the
Series A 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 Remarketing Agent represents that, in connection with the
distribution of the Series A 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 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 Series A
Debentures or any investments representing the Series A
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 Series A
Debentures in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.
Hong
Kong
The Series A 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
S-32
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
Series A 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 Series A
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 Series A 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 Remarketing
Agent has agreed that it will not offer or sell any
Series A 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 Series A Debentures may
not be circulated or distributed, nor may the Series A
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 Series A Debentures are subscribed or purchased
under Section 275 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 Series A
Debentures under Section 275 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),
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-33
LEGAL
OPINIONS
Unless otherwise indicated in this prospectus supplement, the
validity of the Series A Debentures remarketed hereby will
be passed upon for MetLife, Inc. by Dana E. Ladden, Chief
Counsel, General Corporate, of MetLife, Inc. and by
Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP. Ms. Ladden 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. 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
Remarketing Agents in connection with various legal matters.
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP will pass
upon certain legal matters for the Remarketing Agents. 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 consolidated financial
statement schedules, incorporated by reference in this
prospectus supplement from MetLife, Inc.s Annual Report on
Form 10-K,
and the effectiveness of MetLife, Inc.s internal control
over financial reporting, for the years ended December 31,
2007, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an
independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in
their reports (which (1) express an unqualified opinion on
the consolidated financial statements and consolidated financial
statement schedules and include an explanatory paragraph
regarding changes in MetLife, Inc.s method of accounting
for deferred acquisition costs and for income taxes as required
by accounting guidance adopted on January 1, 2007, and its
method of accounting for defined benefit pension and other
postretirement plans as required by accounting guidance adopted
on December 31, 2006, respectively, and (2) express an
unqualified opinion on MetLife, Inc.s 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-34
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
this prospectus. Actual results could differ materially from
those
1
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. |
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
2
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 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. |
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.
3
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
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. |
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
4
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, 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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| |
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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. |
5
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 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.
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.
6
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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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; |
7
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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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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. |
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.
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); |
8
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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. |
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. |
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. |
9
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.
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. |
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; |
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 |
10
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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. |
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
11
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.
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.
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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
12
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.
MetLife, Inc. may exercise its defeasance option with respect to
such debt securities notwithstanding its prior exercise of its
covenant defeasance option.
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. |
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.
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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 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.
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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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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. |
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
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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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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 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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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. |
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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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,
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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. |
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 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.
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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.
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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,
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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. |
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.
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
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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.
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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.
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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 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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
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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. |
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.
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.
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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.
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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. |
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. |
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.
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.
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.
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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. |
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.
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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. |
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 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.
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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.
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. |
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
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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.
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. |
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.
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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.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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. |
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. |
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. |
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. |
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.
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