Exhibit 99.2
| Contacts: | For Media: | John Calagna | ||
| (212) 578-6252 | ||||
| For Investors: | Conor Murphy | |||
| (212) 578-7788 |
METLIFE BOARD OF DIRECTORS PROVIDES NEW $1 BILLION STOCK
REPURCHASE AUTHORIZATION; DECLARES DATE FOR 2008 ANNUAL
SHAREHOLDERS MEETING
REPURCHASE AUTHORIZATION; DECLARES DATE FOR 2008 ANNUAL
SHAREHOLDERS MEETING
NEW YORK, January 15, 2008 – MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) announced today that its board of directors has authorized an additional $1 billion in common stock repurchases. The company can repurchase stock under this authorization after the completion of an earlier $1 billion authorization that was announced on September 25, 2007 and of which approximately $61 million currently remains.
Common stock repurchases may be made through purchases from the MetLife Policyholder Trust, in the open market and through privately negotiated transactions. The timing of open market and privately negotiated purchases will be dependent upon market conditions and other corporate considerations. The common stock repurchase program may be modified, extended or terminated by the board of directors at any time.
The board of directors also announced today that the company will hold its 2008 annual shareholders meeting on Tuesday, April 22, 2008. The board of directors established February 28, 2008 as the record date for determining shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting, which will begin at 10:30 a.m. (ET) and take place in New York City.
MetLife, Inc. is a leading provider of insurance and financial services with operations throughout the United States and the Latin America, Europe and Asia Pacific regions. Through its domestic and international subsidiaries and affiliates, MetLife, Inc. reaches more than 70 million customers around the world and MetLife is the largest life insurer in the United States (based on life insurance in-force). The MetLife companies offer life insurance, annuities, auto and home 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. For more information, please visit www.metlife.com.
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This release contains statements which constitute 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 the company 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 management’s current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on the company. 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; (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; (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 the company’s products and establishing the liabilities for the company’s 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 the company’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, the company’s 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 the company’s international operations; (xvii) the effects of business disruption or economic contraction due to terrorism or other hostilities; (xviii) the company’s 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 MetLife, Inc.’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company specifically disclaims any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
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