MetLife 2010 Annual Report Download - page 5

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”), its subsidiaries and affiliates.
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.
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 the actual future results of MetLife, Inc., its subsidiaries and
affiliates. 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: (1) difficult conditions in the global capital markets; (2) increased volatility and disruption of the capital and
credit markets, which may affect our ability to seek financing or access our credit facilities; (3) uncertainty about the effectiveness of the
U.S. government’s programs to stabilize the financial system, the imposition of fees relating thereto, or the promulgation of additional
regulations; (4) impact of comprehensive financial services regulation reform on us; (5) exposure to financial and capital market risk;
(6) changes in general economic conditions, including the performance of financial markets and interest rates, which may affect our ability to
raise capital, generate fee income and market-related revenue and finance statutory reserve requirements and may require us to pledge
collateral or make payments related to declines in value of specified assets; (7) potential liquidity and other risks resulting from our
participation in a securities lending program and other transactions; (8) investment losses and defaults, and changes to investment
valuations; (9) impairments of goodwill and realized losses or market value impairments to illiquid assets; (10) defaults on our mortgage
loans; (11) the impairment of other financial institutions that could adversely affect our investments or business; (12) our ability to address
unforeseen liabilities, asset impairments, loss of key contractual relationships, or rating actions arising from acquisitions or dispositions,
including our acquisition of American Life Insurance Company (“American Life”), a subsidiary of ALICO Holdings LLC (“ALICO Holdings”), and
Delaware American Life Insurance Company (“DelAm,” together with American Life, collectively, “ALICO”) (the “Acquisition”) and to
successfully integrate and manage the growth of acquired businesses with minimal disruption; (13) uncertainty with respect to the outcome
of the closing agreement entered into between American Life and the United States Internal Revenue Service in connection with the
Acquisition; (14) uncertainty with respect to any incremental tax benefits resulting from the planned elections for ALICO and certain of its
subsidiaries under Section 338 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; (15) the dilutive impact on our stockholders resulting
from the issuance of equity securities in connection with the acquisition of ALICO or otherwise; (16) economic, political, currency and other
risks relating to our international operations, including with respect to fluctuations of exchange rates; (17) our primary reliance, as a holding
company, on dividends from our subsidiaries to meet debt payment obligations and the applicable regulatory restrictions on the ability of the
subsidiaries to pay such dividends; (18) downgrades in our claims paying ability, financial strength or credit ratings; (19) ineffectiveness of risk
management policies and procedures; (20) availability and effectiveness of reinsurance or indemnification arrangements, as well as default or
failure of counterparties to perform; (21) 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; (22) catastrophe losses; (23) heightened
competition, including with respect to pricing, entry of new competitors, consolidation of distributors, the development of new products by
new and existing competitors, distribution of amounts available under U.S. government programs, and for personnel; (24) unanticipated
changes in industry trends; (25) changes in accounting standards, practices and/or policies; (26) changes in assumptions related to deferred
policy acquisition costs, deferred sales inducements, value of business acquired or goodwill; (27) increased expenses relating to pension
and postretirement benefit plans, as well as health care and other employee benefits; (28) exposure to losses related to variable annuity
guarantee benefits, including from significant and sustained downturns or extreme volatility in equity markets, reduced interest rates,
unanticipated policyholder behavior, mortality or longevity, and the adjustment for nonperformance risk; (29) deterioration in the experience of
the “closed block” established in connection with the reorganization of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company (“MLIC”); (30) adverse results or
other consequences from litigation, arbitration or regulatory investigations; (31) inability to protect our intellectual property rights or claims of
infringement of the intellectual property rights of others, (32) discrepancies between actual experience and assumptions used in establishing
liabilities related to other contingencies or obligations; (33) regulatory, legislative or tax changes relating to our insurance, banking,
international, or other operations that may affect the cost of, or demand for, our products or services, impair our ability to attract and retain
talented and experienced management and other employees, or increase the cost or administrative burdens of providing benefits to
employees; (34) the effects of business disruption or economic contraction due to terrorism, other hostilities, or natural catastrophes,
including any related impact on our disaster recovery systems and management continuity planning which could impair our ability to conduct
business effectively; (35) the effectiveness of our programs and practices in avoiding giving our associates incentives to take excessive risks;
and (36) 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 we later become 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.