MetLife 2013 Annual Report Download - page 9

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, or are tied to future periods, 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 servicesor
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 meet liquidity needs and access capital,
including through our credit facilities, generate fee income and market-related revenue and finance statutory reserve requirements and may requireusto
pledge collateral or make payments related to declines in value of specified assets, including assets supporting risks ceded to certain of our captive
reinsurers or hedging arrangements associated with those risks; (3) exposure to financial and capital market risks, including as a result of the disruption
in Europe; (4) impact of comprehensive financial services regulation reform on us, as a potential non-bank systemically important financial institution, or
otherwise; (5) numerous rulemaking initiatives required or permitted by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act which may
impact how we conduct our business, including those compelling the liquidation of certain financial institutions; (6) regulatory, legislative or tax changes
relating to our insurance, international, or other operations that may affect the cost of, or demand for, our products or services, or increase the costor
administrative burdens of providing benefits to employees; (7) adverse results or other consequences from litigation, arbitration or regulatory
investigations; (8) potential liquidity and other risks resulting from our participation in a securities lending program and other transactions; (9) investment
losses and defaults, and changes to investment valuations; (10) changes in assumptions related to investment valuations, deferred policy acquisition
costs, deferred sales inducements, value of business acquired or goodwill; (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) economic, political, legal, currency and other risks relating to our international operations, including with respect to fluctuations
of exchange rates; (15) downgrades in our claims paying ability, financial strength or credit ratings; (16) a deterioration in the experience of the “closed
block” established in connection with the reorganization of Metropolitan Life Insurance Company; (17) availability and effectiveness of reinsurance or
indemnification arrangements, as well as any default or failure of counterparties to perform; (18) differences between actual claims experience and
underwriting and reserving assumptions; (19) ineffectiveness of risk management policies and procedures; (20) catastrophe losses; (21) increasing cost
and limited market capacity for statutory life insurance reserve financings; (22) 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; (23) 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; (24) our ability to address
difficulties, unforeseen liabilities, asset impairments, or rating agency actions arising from business acquisitions, including our acquisition of American Life
Insurance Company and Delaware American Life Insurance Company, and integrating and managing the growth of such acquired businesses, or arising
from dispositions of businesses or legal entity reorganizations; (25) the dilutive impact on our stockholders resulting from the settlement of our
outstanding common equity units; (26) regulatory and other restrictions affecting MetLife, Inc.’s ability to pay dividends and repurchase common stock;
(27) 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; (28) the possibility that MetLife, Inc.’s Board of Directors may influence the
outcome of stockholder votes through the voting provisions of the MetLife Policyholder Trust; (29) changes in accounting standards, practices and/or
policies; (30) increased expenses relating to pension and postretirement benefit plans, as well as health care and other employee benefits; (31) inability
to protect our intellectual property rights or claims of infringement of the intellectual property rights of others; (32) inability to attract and retain sales
representatives; (33) provisions of laws and our incorporation documents may delay, deter or prevent takeovers and corporate combinations involving
MetLife; (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 the value of our investment portfolio, 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.
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