MetLife 2011 Annual Report Download - page 6

As used in this Annual Report, “MetLife,” the “Company,” “we,” “our” and “us” refer to MetLife, Inc., a Delaware corporation incorporated in 1999, its
subsidiaries and affiliates.
Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This Annual Report, including 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) concerns over U.S. fiscal policy and the trajectory of the national debt of the U.S., as well as rating agency downgrades of U.S. Treasury
securities; (3) uncertainty about the effectiveness of governmental and regulatory actions to stabilize the financial system, the imposition of fees relating
thereto, or the promulgation of additional regulations; (4) increased volatility and disruption of the capital and credit markets, which may affect our ability
to seek financing or access our credit facilities; (5) impact of comprehensive financial services regulation reform on us; (6) economic, political, legal,
currency and other risks relating to our international operations, including with respect to fluctuations of exchange rates; (7) exposure to financial and
capital market risk, including as a result of the disruption in Europe and possible withdrawal of one or more countries from the Euro zone; (8) 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; (9) potential liquidity and other risks resulting from our participation in a securities lending program and other
transactions; (10) investment losses and defaults, and changes to investment valuations; (11) impairments of goodwill and realized losses or market
value impairments to illiquid assets; (12) defaults on our mortgage loans; (13) the defaults or deteriorating credit of other financial institutions that could
adversely affect us; (14) our ability to address unforeseen liabilities, asset impairments, or rating actions arising from acquisitions or dispositions,
including our acquisition of American Life Insurance Company and Delaware American Life Insurance Company (collectively, “ALICO”) and to
successfully integrate and manage the growth of acquired businesses with minimal disruption; (15) uncertainty with respect to the outcome of the
closing agreement entered into with the United States Internal Revenue Service in connection with the acquisition of ALICO; (16) the dilutive impact on
our stockholders resulting from the settlement of common equity units issued in connection with the acquisition of ALICO or otherwise; (17) 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; (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 assumptions related to investment valuations, deferred policy acquisition costs, deferred sales inducements, value of business acquired
or goodwill; (26) changes in accounting standards, practices and/or policies; (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; (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, or increase the
cost or administrative burdens of providing benefits to employees; (34) the effects of business disruption or economic contraction due to disasters such
as terrorist attacks, cyberattacks, other hostilities, or natural catastrophes, including any related impact on our disaster recovery systems, cyber- or other
information security systems and management continuity planning; (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 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.