MetLife 2009 Annual Report Download - page 8

As used in this Annual Report, “MetLife,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer to MetLife, Inc., a Delaware corporation incorporated in
1999 (the “Holding Company”), and its subsidiaries, including Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MLIC”).
Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Annual Report, including the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, may contain or
incorporate by reference information that includes or is based upon forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements give expectations or forecasts of future events. These statements can be
identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They use words such as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,”
“project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe” and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with a discussion of future operating or
financial performance. In particular, these include statements relating to future actions, prospective services or products, future performance
or results of current and anticipated services or products, sales efforts, expenses, the outcome of contingencies such as legal proceedings,
trends in operations and financial results. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
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 MetLife’s actual future results. These statements are based on
current expectations and the current economic environment. They involve a number of risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict.
These statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied in the
forward-looking statements. Risks, uncertainties, and other factors that might cause such differences include the risks, uncertainties and
other factors identified in MetLife, Inc.’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). These factors include:
(i) difficult and adverse conditions in the global and domestic capital and credit markets; (ii) continued volatility and further deterioration of the
capital and credit markets, which may affect the Company’s ability to seek financing or access its credit facilities; (iii) uncertainty about the
effectiveness of the U.S. government’s plan to stabilize the financial system by injecting capital into financial institutions, purchasing large
amounts of illiquid, mortgage-backed and other securities from financial institutions, or otherwise; (iv) exposure to financial and capital market
risk; (v) changes in general economic conditions, including the performance of financial markets and interest rates, which may affect the
Company’s ability to raise capital, generate fee income and market-related revenue and finance statutory reserve requirements and may
require the Company to pledge collateral or make payments related to declines in value of specified assets; (vi) potential liquidity and other
risks resulting from MetLife’s participation in a securities lending program and other transactions; (vii) investment losses and defaults, and
changes to investment valuations; (viii) impairments of goodwill and realized losses or market value impairments to illiquid assets; (ix) defaults
on the Company’s mortgage loans; (x) the impairment of other financial institutions; (xi) MetLife’s ability to identify and consummate on
successful terms any future acquisitions, and to successfully integrate acquired businesses with minimal disruption; (xii) economic, political,
currency and other risks relating to the Company’s international operations; (xiii) 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; (xiv) downgrades in MetLife, Inc.’s and its affiliates’ claims paying ability, financial strength or credit ratings; (xv) inef-
fectiveness of risk management policies and procedures, including with respect to guaranteed benefits (which may be affected by fair value
adjustments arising from changes in our own credit spread) on certain of the Company’s variable annuity products; (xvi) availability and
effectiveness of reinsurance or indemnification arrangements; (xvii) discrepancies between actual claims experience and assumptions used
in setting prices for the Company’s products and establishing the liabilities for the Company’s obligations for future policy benefits and claims;
(xviii) catastrophe losses; (xix) heightened competition, including with respect to pricing, entry of new competitors, consolidation of
distributors, the development of new products by new and existing competitors and for personnel; (xx) unanticipated changes in industry
trends; (xxi) changes in accounting standards, practices and/or policies; (xxii) changes in assumptions related to deferred policy acquisition
costs (“DAC”), value of business acquired (“VOBA”) or goodwill; (xxiii) increased expenses relating to pension and postretirement benefit
plans; (xxiv) deterioration in the experience of the “closed block” established in connection with the reorganization of MLIC; (xxv) adverse
results or other consequences from litigation, arbitration or regulatory investigations; (xxvi) discrepancies between actual experience and
assumptions used in establishing liabilities related to other contingencies or obligations; (xxvii) regulatory, legislative or tax changes that may
affect the cost of, or demand for, the Company’s products or services; (xxviii) the effects of business disruption or economic contraction due
to terrorism, other hostilities, or natural catastrophes; (xxix) the effectiveness of the Company’s programs and practices in avoiding giving its
associates incentives to take excessive risks; and (xxx) other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in MetLife, Inc.’s filings with
the SEC.
MetLife, Inc. does not undertake any obligation to publicly correct or update any forward-looking statement if MetLife, Inc. later becomes
aware that such statement is not likely to be achieved. Please consult any further disclosures MetLife, Inc. makes on related subjects in
reports to the SEC.
2MetLife, Inc.