SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14a-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(a) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO. __)
Filed by Registrant (X)
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ( )
Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[ ] Confidential, for use of the Commission only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[ X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-12
METLIFE INVESTORS USA SEPARATE ACCOUNT A
(Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
Payment of filing fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(4)
and 0-11.
1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on
which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
5) Total fee paid:
[ ] Fee paid with preliminary materials.
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the
offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous filing by
registration statement number, of the Form or Schedule and
the date of its filing.
1) Amount Previously Paid:
2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
3) Filing Party:
4) Date Filed:
METLIFE INVESTORS USA INSURANCE COMPANY
IMPORTANT NEWS FOR CONTRACT OWNERS
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
We encourage you to read the attached voting information statement in full;
however, the following questions and answers represent some typical concerns you
might have regarding this document.
Q: What is this document and why did we send it to you?
A: This voting information statement is being furnished to you in connection
with the solicitation of votes by MetLife Investors USA Insurance Company
("MetLife Investors USA") from owners of Capital Strategist and Foresight
variable annuity contracts issued by MetLife Investors USA ("Contracts").
MetLife Investors USA is proposing to substitute the Lord Abbett Growth and
Income Portfolio, a series of Met Investors Series Trust (referred to in this
document as "Lord Abbett Growth and Income" or the "Replacement Portfolio"), in
place of the following portfolios that are currently funding options under each
Contract:
AIM V.I. Premier Equity Fund
Federated American Leaders Fund II
Federated Equity Income Fund II
Oppenheimer Main Street Fund/VA
Van Kampen Growth and Income Portfolio
These current funding options are referred to as "Current Portfolios" in
this document. You have previously selected one or more of these Current
Portfolios to support contract value or fund benefits payable under your
Contract.
Your Contract requires that MetLife Investors USA obtain:
(a) approval of the substitution by the Securities and Exchange Commission
("Commission") and
(b) approval of Contract owners investing in a Current Portfolio to allow
the substitution of the account value invested in such Current
Portfolio into the Replacement Portfolio.
The substitution of the Replacement Portfolio must be approved separately
with respect to each Current Portfolio. For each Contract, the vote required to
substitute the Replacement Portfolio for each Current Portfolio is an
affirmative vote by Contract owners representing a majority of outstanding
accumulation units in the subaccount investing in that Current Portfolio (the
"Subaccounts"). You may only vote with respect to the Current Portfolios in
which your current Contract value is invested.
Commission approval for the substitution was received on February 24, 2004.
Q: How will this proposed substitution benefit me?
A: The substitution is expected to provide significant benefits to you as a
Contract owner, including:
o Potential for Better Performance: MetLife Investors USA believes
that based on the historical performance records of the
Replacement Portfolio and the Current Portfolios, over the long
term the performance of the Replacement Portfolio should
(although no guarantee can be given) exceed that of each of the
Current Portfolios. See page 23.
o Cost Savings: The Replacement Portfolio's annual operating
expenses are lower than those of each of the Current Portfolios,
which in turn could result in potential greater returns.
The annual net operating expense ratios for the Replacement Fund and
the Current Portfolios for the 2002 fiscal year were:
Lord Abbett Growth and Income 0.67%
AIM V.I. Premier Equity Fund 0.85%
Federated American Leaders Fund II 0.88%
Federated Equity Income Fund II 1.07%
Oppenheimer Main Street Fund/VA 0.69%
Van Kampen Growth and Income Portfolio 0.71%
o Operating Efficiencies: Upon the substitution of the Replacement
Portfolio for each of the Current Portfolios, operating
efficiencies may be achieved by the Replacement Portfolio because
it will have a greater level of assets. Economies of scale could
be achieved through the spreading of certain costs over a larger
base of shareholders, including reduction in portfolio general
expenses such as legal, accounting, printing of prospectuses and
trustees fees.
Additional benefits include:
o Lower management fees at the Portfolio level.
o Improved selection of portfolio managers. MetLife Investors USA
believes that the investment adviser to the Replacement Portfolio
is better positioned to potentially provide consistent
above-average performance than the investment advisers to the
Current Portfolios.
o Guaranteed cap on total separate account and Replacement
Portfolio expenses: As a condition of the substitution, total
combined annualized subaccount and Replacement Portfolio net
expenses may not exceed the sum of the 2002 fiscal year combined
net expenses for each Current Portfolio and its corresponding
Subaccount for two years following the substitution.
o No increase in Contract fees and expenses for a period of two
years following the substitution, including mortality and
expenses risk fees and administration and distribution fees
charged to Separate Account A.
o Simplification of fund offerings through the elimination of
overlapping funding options.
o No tax liability to Contract owners from the substitution.
Q: How will the substitution be carried out?
A: MetLife Investors USA will purchase shares of Lord Abbett Growth and Income
to support contract values or fund benefits payable under your Contract in place
of the Current Portfolio(s) that are funding your Contract.
The proposed substitution will not be treated as a transfer of Contract
value or an exchange of annuity units for purposes of assessing transfer charges
or for determining the number of remaining permissible transfers (or exchanges)
in a Contract year. In addition, you may make one transfer of Contract value (or
annuity exchange) out of Lord Abbett Growth and Income within 30 days following
the proposed substitution without the transfer (or exchange) counting as a
transfer of Contract value (or an annuity unit exchange) for purposes of
assessing transfer charges or for determining the number of remaining
permissible transfers (or exchanges) in a Contract year.
Q: Why is MetLife Investors USA proposing this change?
A: The proposed substitution is part of an effort by Metropolitan Life Insurance
Company and its affiliates, including MetLife Investors USA, to make their
variable contracts more efficient to administer and oversee, and therefore more
attractive to their customers. MetLife Investors USA believes that since the
Replacement Portfolio's prospects for improved performance and lower costs are
better than for the Current Portfolios, the proposed substitution is in your
best interest.
As described later, the Replacement Portfolio's performance generally is
better than and its total operating expenses are lower than those of each of the
Current Portfolios. Please note that past performance is not an indication of
future results.
Q: What effect will the substitution have on fees and expenses? Is there a
benefit to me?
A: Yes, the substitution will benefit you as a Contract owner. Both the gross
and the net expenses of the Replacement Portfolio will be LOWER than the current
gross and net expense ratios of each of the Current Portfolios. Lower expenses
have the potential for generating increased portfolio returns.
Q: Are there differences in the investment objectives of the Current Portfolios
and the Replacement Portfolio?
A: The Current Portfolios and the Replacement Portfolio have substantially
similar investment objectives.
Q: What happens if the substitution is not approved by Contract owners with
respect to one or more of the Current Portfolios?
A: In the event that sufficient votes are not received to approve the proposed
substitution with respect to one or more of the Current Portfolios for the
Contract that you hold, the account value you have invested in the Current
Portfolio will remain invested in such Current Portfolio(s). However, effective
May 1, 2004, the Current Portfolios will no longer be available as investment
options under the Contracts for allocation of additional purchase payments or
transfers of Contract value. You will be unable to increase your accumulation
units in the Subaccounts investing in the Current Portfolios after that date.
Q: Who will bear the cost of any expenses associated with carrying out the
proposed substitution?
A: MetLife Investors USA will pay all of the costs associated with the proposed
substitution. YOU WILL NOT BEAR ANY OF THESE COSTS.
Q: Whom do I call for more information or to place my vote?
A: You may call MetLife Investors USA at 1-800-284-4536, if you have any
questions or for more information.
You can vote in one of four ways:
1) Use the enclosed Voting Instruction Card to record your vote of For,
Against or Abstain, then return the card in the postage-paid envelope
provided.
or
2) Call 1-866-235-4258 and record your vote by telephone. Please have your
Voting Instruction Card at hand when you call and enter the 14-digit
control number found on the card, then follow the simple instructions.
or
3) Fax your completed and signed Voting Instruction Card (both front and back
sides) to our vote tabulator at 1-888-796-9932.
or
4) Visit our website at https://vote.proxy-direct.com and follow the
instructions for voting via Internet.
Q: How does MetLife Investors USA Insurance Company recommend that I vote?
A: MetLife Investors USA recommends that you vote FOR the proposed substitution
with respect to each Current Portfolio in which your contract value is invested.
Q: Will my vote make a difference?
A: Yes, your vote is very important. Your vote is needed to ensure that the
substitution can be carried out for each Current Portfolio in which your
Contract value is invested. Your immediate response on the enclosed Voting
Instruction Card will help to save on the costs of any further solicitations for
Contract owner votes.
We urge you to vote FOR the proposed substitution. Please note that an
abstaining vote is in effect a "no" vote since an affirmative vote of more than
50% of account value in a Current Portfolio is required to approve the
substitution.
Q: What is the deadline for voting?
A: In order for your vote to count, we will need to receive your vote no later
than April 23, 2004.
Q: How do I sign the Voting Instruction Card?
A: Please see "Instructions for Signing Voting Instruction Cards" on the next
page.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR SIGNING VOTING INSTRUCTION CARDS
The following general rules for signing Voting Instruction Cards may be of
assistance to you.
1. Individual Accounts: Sign your name exactly as it appears in the
registration on the Voting Instruction Card form.
2. Joint Accounts: Either party may sign, but the name of the party signing
should conform exactly to the name shown in the registration on the Voting
Instruction Card.
3. All Other Accounts: The capacity of the individual signing the Voting
Instruction Card should be indicated unless it is reflected in the form of
registration. For example:
Registration Valid Signature
Corporate Accounts
(1) ABC Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ABC Corp.
(2) ABC Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Doe, Treasurer
(3) ABC Corp.
c/o John Doe, Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Doe
(4) ABC Corp. Profit Sharing Plan . . . . . . . . . . John Doe, Trustee
Trust Accounts
(1) ABC Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jane B. Doe, Trustee
(2) Jane B. Doe, Trustee
u/t/d 12/28/78 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jane B. Doe
Custodial or Estate Accounts
(1) John B. Smith, Cust.
f/b/o John B. Smith, Jr. UGMA . . . . . . . . . . John B. Smith
(2) Estate of John B. Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . John B. Smith, Jr., Executor
METLIFE INVESTORS USA INSURANCE COMPANY
22 Corporate Plaza Drive
Newport Beach, California 92660
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUESTED
Dear Contract Owner:
You are the owner of a variable annuity contract (a "Contract") issued by
MetLife Investors USA Insurance Company ("MetLife Investors USA" or "we"). At
your previous direction, MetLife Investors USA through its Separate Account A
purchased shares of one or more of the following portfolios (the "Current
Portfolios") to support contract values or fund benefits payable under your
Contract:
AIM V.I. Premier Equity Fund
Federated American Leaders Fund II
Federated Equity Income Fund II
Oppenheimer Main Street Fund/VA
Van Kampen Growth and Income Portfolio
MetLife Investors USA seeks your approval to substitute Class A shares of
Lord Abbett Growth and Income Portfolio, a series of Met Investors Series Trust,
for the shares of each of the Current Portfolios listed above held to fund your
Contract or the benefits payable under such Contract. The proposed substitution
is part of an effort by MetLife Investors USA to make its variable contracts
more efficient to administer and oversee, and therefore more attractive to its
customers.
In proposing to substitute the Lord Abbett Growth and Income Portfolio, we
believe that this exchange will potentially result in better long-term
performance, will reduce expenses for current Contract owners, allow Separate
Account A's assets to be more efficiently managed and potentially lead to
improved returns due to economies of scale. Accordingly, such a substitution
would be beneficial to you and other Contract owners.
Separate Account A of MetLife Investors USA is the record owner of the
shares of each of the Current Portfolios. However, as a Contract owner, you are
entitled to vote the number of accumulation units you own in the subaccount(s)
of Separate Account A that invests in the Current Portfolio(s).
MetLife Investors USA recommends that you vote FOR the proposed
substitution with respect to each Current Portfolio in which your contract value
is currently invested.
We realize that this voting information statement will take time to review,
but your vote is very important. We ask that you cast your vote in order that we
may effect the proposed substitution.
We have made every effort to make the voting process easy. You may cast
your vote by:
(1) filling out the enclosed Voting Instruction Card and returning it
in the enclosed postage-paid envelope; or
(2) using our toll-free telephone voting facility (1-866-235-4258); or
(3) visiting our website https://vote.proxy-direct.com; or
(4) faxing your completed Voting Instruction Card to 1-888-796-9932.
Please read the enclosed voting information statement carefully for details
about the proposed substitution. In order for your vote to be given effect, we
must receive a properly executed Voting Instruction Card or a telephone, fax, or
website vote no later than April 23, 2004 at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
Please complete, sign, and date the enclosed Voting Instruction Card and
promptly return it in the enclosed postage-paid envelope or complete the
telephone or facsimile voting or website voting process by following the
instructions available at each facility. If we do not receive your completed
Voting Instruction Card after a few weeks, you may be contacted by our vote
solicitor, Alamo Direct. The vote solicitor will remind you to vote. We
apologize in advance for this potential disruption of your affairs but this vote
is important to future benefits under your Contract.
Your vote and participation are very important, and we appreciate your
return of the form as soon as possible. You may call MetLife Investors USA at
1-800-284-4536, if you have any questions.
Thank you for your cooperation and for participating in this important
process.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Richard C. Pearson
Richard C. Pearson
Secretary
MetLife Investors USA Insurance Company
METLIFE INVESTORS USA SEPARATE ACCOUNT A
A Separate Account of MetLife Investors USA Insurance Company
22 Corporate Plaza Drive
Newport Beach, California 92660
VOTING INFORMATION STATEMENT
What is this document and why did we send it to you?
MetLife Investors USA Insurance Company ("MetLife Investors USA" or "we"),
on behalf of its MetLife Investors USA Separate Account A ("Separate Account
A"), is furnishing this Voting Information Statement to you in connection with
the solicitation of proxies from owners of Capital Strategist and Foresight
variable annuity contracts (the "Contracts") issued by MetLife Investors USA
having contract values allocated to the subacccounts of Separate Account A (each
a "Subaccount") investing in shares of one or more of the following portfolios
(the "Current Portfolios") as of January 30, 2004 (the "Record Date"):
Series I shares of AIM V.I. Premier Equity Fund, a series of AIM Variable
Insurance Funds ("AIM Premier Equity")
Primary shares of Federated American Leaders Fund II, a series of Federated
Insurance Series ("Federated American Leaders")
Shares of Federated Equity Income Fund II, a series of Federated Insurance
Series ("Federated Equity Income Fund")
Shares of Oppenheimer Main Street Fund/VA, a series of Oppenheimer Variable
Account Funds ("Oppenheimer Main Street") and
Class I shares of Growth and Income Portfolio, a series of Van Kampen Life
Investment Trust ("Van Kampen Growth and Income")
This Voting Information Statement contains information that you should
consider before voting on the proposals before you relating to the substitution
of Class A shares of the Lord Abbett Growth and Income Portfolio, a series of
Met Investors Series Trust ("Lord Abbett Growth and Income" or the "Replacement
Portfolio", and together with the Current Portfolios, the "Portfolios"), for the
Current Portfolios as an investment option under your Contract. Please read it
carefully.
This Voting Information Statement is being mailed to you and the other
Contract owners with Contract values allocated to the Subaccounts as of the
Record Date on or about March 5, 2004.
What are the proposals that I am being asked to consider?
MetLife Investors USA requests that you consider the following proposals
relating to each Current Portfolio in which you have Contract value invested:
Proposal #1 (for Contract owners with Contract value invested in AIM Premier
Equity.)
"To approve the substitution of Class A shares of the Lord Abbett Growth
and Income Portfolio, a series of Met Investors Series Trust, for Series I
shares of AIM V.I. Premier Equity Fund, a portfolio currently included as an
investment option under certain variable insurance contracts offered by MetLife
Investors USA Insurance Company."
Proposal #2 (for Contract owners with Contract value invested in Federated
American Leaders.)
"To approve the substitution of Class A shares of the Lord Abbett Growth
and Income Portfolio, a series of Met Investors Series Trust, for Primary shares
of Federated American Leaders Fund II, a portfolio currently included as an
investment option under certain variable insurance contracts offered by MetLife
Investors USA Insurance Company."
Proposal #3 (for Contract owners with Contract value invested in Federated
Equity Income.)
"To approve the substitution of Class A shares of the Lord Abbett Growth
and Income Portfolio, a series of Met Investors Series Trust, for shares of
Federated Equity Income Fund II, a portfolio currently included as an investment
option under certain variable insurance contracts offered by MetLife Investors
USA Insurance Company."
Proposal #4 (for Contract owners with Contract value invested in Oppenheimer
Main Street.)
"To approve the substitution of Class A shares of the Lord Abbett Growth
and Income Portfolio, a series of Met Investors Series Trust, for shares of
Oppenheimer Main Street Fund/VA, a portfolio currently included as an investment
option under certain variable insurance contracts offered by MetLife Investors
USA Insurance Company."
Proposal #5 (for Contract owners with Contract value invested in Van Kampen
Growth and Income.)
"To approve the substitution of Class A shares of the Lord Abbett Growth
and Income Portfolio, a series of Met Investors Series Trust, for Class I shares
of Van Kampen Growth and Income Portfolio, a portfolio currently included as an
investment option under certain variable insurance contracts offered by MetLife
Investors USA Insurance Company."
You will be asked to vote on each proposal above relating to a Current
Portfolio in which you have Contract value invested as of the Record Date. Your
Voting Instruction Card will list the proposals for which you are eligible to
vote.
Why is my vote being solicited?
As a Contract owner having accumulation units representing an investment of
Contract value in one or more Subaccounts as of the close of business on the
Record Date, you are entitled to vote such accumulation units on the proposed
substitution.
Each Contract and the prospectus for such Contract condition MetLife
Investors USA's ability to carry out the proposed substitution for each Current
Portfolio on its obtaining the approval of the Contract owners representing the
majority of the outstanding accumulation units in the corresponding Subaccount
as of the Record Date, as well as the approval of the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission"). The substitution of the Replacement Portfolio
must be approved with respect to each Current Portfolio for each Contract
separately. The Commission approved the substitution on February 24, 2004.
SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTION
This section summarizes the primary features and consequences of the
substitution. It may not contain all of the information that is important to
you. To understand the substitution, you should read this entire Voting
Information Statement.
This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the additional
information contained elsewhere in this Voting Information Statement.
Why is MetLife Investors USA proposing the substitution?
MetLife Investors USA believes that the proposed substitution will
potentially result in better performance, will reduce expenses for current
Contract owners, allow Separate Account A's assets to be more efficiently
managed and potentially could lead to improved returns due to economies of
scale.
The substitution is part of a restructuring designed to eliminate the
offering of overlapping funds with similar investment objectives and similar
investment strategies that serve as funding vehicles for insurance contracts
issued by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company ("MetLife") and its affiliates.
The proposed substitution is part of an effort by MetLife and its affiliates,
including MetLife Investors USA, to standardize investment options across
similar products thereby making its variable contracts more efficient to
administer and oversee, and therefore more attractive to its customers. MetLife
Investors USA believes that because the Replacement Portfolio's prospects for
improved performance and lower costs are better than for the Current Portfolios,
the proposed substitution is in your best interests as a Contract owner.
MetLife Investors USA considered the fact that Lord Abbett Growth and
Income's historical performance has exceeded that of each of the Current
Portfolios (with the exception of Van Kampen Growth and Income) for the one-,
three- and five-year periods ended December 31, 2003. With respect to Van Kampen
Growth and Income, although its historical performance for the three- and
five-year periods ended December 31, 2003 slightly exceeded that of Lord Abbett
Growth and Income for the same period, Lord Abbett Growth and Income's more
recent performance has been better than that of Van Kampen Growth and Income.
The performance of Lord Abbett Growth and Income exceeded that of Van Kampen
Growth and Income for the one-year period ended December 31, 2003. Please note
that past performance is not an indication of future results.
MetLife Investors USA also considered the fact that total expenses for Lord
Abbett Growth and Income are lower than those of each of the Current Portfolios.
MetLife Investors USA also noted that the current expense waivers in effect for
Federated American Leaders and Federated Equity Income are not contractual
obligations. There is no guarantee that these expense waivers will remain in
effect in the future. The gross expenses for these Portfolios without such
expense waivers would have been 1.13% for Federated American Leaders and 1.58%
for Federated Equity Income compared to 0.67% for Lord Abbett Growth and Income.
MetLife Investors USA also considered the future growth prospects of the
Replacement Portfolio. At the current time, various variable life insurance and
variable annuity contracts being actively marketed by MetLife and its affiliates
offer the Replacement Portfolio. Similarly, as part of the standardization
process, the Replacement Portfolio is also being substituted for various other
mutual funds invested in by subaccounts of other MetLife affiliates. This
should, along with the proposed substitution, further increase the Replacement
Portfolio's net assets, which are currently at approximately $2.25 billion as of
December 31, 2003. Economies of scale could be achieved through the spreading of
certain costs over a larger base of shareholders, including reduction in
portfolio general expenses such as legal, accounting, printing of prospectuses
and trustees fees.
In contrast, MetLife Investors USA believes that there is little likelihood
that significant additional assets, if any, will be allocated to the Current
Portfolios under the Contracts. Because of the cost of maintaining such
Portfolios as investment options under the Contracts, it is therefore in the
interest of Contract owners to substitute Lord Abbett Growth and Income with its
potential for economies of scale. Further, in the event that the proposed
substitution does not occur with respect to one or more of the Current
Portfolios under your Contract (because Contract owners do not approve it or for
another reason), the corresponding Subaccount(s) will no longer be available
under your Contract for allocation of purchase payments or transfers of Contract
value as of May 1, 2004. Therefore, you will be unable to increase your
accumulation units in the Subaccounts investing in the Current Portfolios after
that date.
Though not a principal reason for the proposed substitution, the
substitution would have the effect of transferring Contract values to an
investment portfolio managed by an affiliated person of MetLife Investors USA,
thereby increasing the management fees received by that affiliated person.
How will the substitution be accomplished?
The substitution will take place at relative net asset value with no change
in the amount of your Contract's value, cash value or death benefit or in the
dollar value of your investment in Separate Account A. The shares of the Current
Portfolios will be either redeemed for cash or for portfolio securities, which
will be used to purchase Class A shares of the Replacement Portfolio. MetLife
Investors USA will pay all of the costs associated with the substitution,
including the costs of solicitation such as the preparation and mailing of this
Voting Information Statement and the Voting Information Card, the solicitation
of votes, and legal and other expenses. YOU WILL NOT BEAR ANY OF THESE COSTS.
The substitution is expected to be completed on or about April 30, 2004.
How will the substitution affect me?
It is anticipated that the substitution will provide certain benefits to
you.
The most significant of these benefits are as follows:
o POTENTIAL FOR BETTER PERFORMANCE: MetLife Investors USA believes that
based on the historical performance records of Lord Abbett Growth and
Income and the Current Portfolios, over the long term the performance
of Lord Abbett Growth and Income should (although no guarantee can be
given) exceed that of each of the Current Portfolios.
o COST SAVINGS: The annual operating expenses of Lord Abbett Growth and
Income are less than those of each of the Current Portfolios. For the
year ended December 31, 2002, Lord Abbett Growth and Income's annual
net operating expense ratio was 0.67% for its Class A shares compared
to 0.85% for AIM Premier Equity, 0.88% for Federated American Leaders,
1.07% for Federated Equity Income, 0.69% for Oppenheimer Main Street
and 0.71% for Van Kampen Growth and Income, respectively.
o OPERATING EFFICIENCIES: Upon the substitution of Lord Abbett Growth
and Income for the Current Portfolios, operating efficiencies may be
achieved by Lord Abbett Growth and Income because it will have a
greater level of assets. As of December 31, 2003, Lord Abbett Growth
and Income's total net assets were approximately $2.25 billion.
Economies of scale may be achieved through the spreading of certain
costs over a larger base of shareholders, including reduction in
portfolio general expenses such as legal, accounting, printing of
prospectuses and trustees fees.
Other benefits resulting from the substitution include:
o Lord Abbett Growth and Income's management fee is lower than the
management fee of each of the Current Portfolios.
o You will not incur any fees or charges as a result of the
substitution.
o You will have no tax liability resulting from the substitution.
o The substitution will result in an improved selection of portfolio
managers. MetLife Investors USA believes that the investment adviser
to the Replacement Portfolio is better positioned to potentially
provide consistent above-average performance than the investment
advisers to the Current Portfolios.
o As a condition of the substitution, combined annualized net expenses
of Separate Account A (or the subaccount) and the Replacement
Portfolio may not exceed the total combined 2002 fiscal year net
expenses for each Current Portfolio and the Separate Account A (or the
Subaccounts) for two years following the substitution.
o No increase in Contract fees and expenses for a period of two years
following the substitution, including mortality and expenses risk fees
and administration and distribution fees charged to Separate Account
A.
o Simplification of fund offerings through the elimination of
overlapping funding options.
The substitution will not cause your Contract rights or MetLife Investors
USA's responsibilities under the Contracts to be altered in any way. The value
of your Contract, the amount of your death benefit and the dollar value of your
investments in any of the subaccounts of Separate Account A will remain the same
immediately following the substitution. Your Contract values will remain
allocated to Separate Account A, which will invest in Lord Abbett Growth and
Income after the substitution. After the substitution your Contract values will
depend on the performance of Lord Abbett Growth and Income rather than that of
each of the Current Portfolios in which your accumulation units are presently
invested.
Like the Current Portfolios, Lord Abbett Growth and Income will declare and
pay dividends from net investment income and will distribute net realized
capital gains, if any, to Separate Account A (not to you) once a year. These
dividends and distributions will continue to be reinvested by MetLife Investors
USA in additional Class A shares of Lord Abbett Growth and Income.
What will be the primary federal tax consequences of the substitution?
We believe that you will not be subjected to any federal tax liabilities as
a result of the substitution.
SUMMARY OF PORTFOLIO INFORMATION
The following discussion is primarily a summary of certain parts of the
prospectuses for the Current Portfolios and the Replacement Portfolio. As a
Contract owner invested in one or more of the Current Portfolios, you should
already have a current prospectus for each such Current Portfolio. You may
request the current prospectus for the Replacement Portfolio, free of charge, by
calling MetLife Investors USA at 1-800-284-4536, or by writing to MetLife
Investors USA at 22 Corporate Plaza Drive, Newport Beach, California 92660.
Information contained in this Voting Information Statement is qualified by more
complete information set forth in such prospectuses, which are incorporated by
reference herein.
How do the Portfolios' investment objectives, principal investment strategies
and risks compare?
The investment objective of Lord Abbett Growth and Income is substantially
similar to that of each of the Current Portfolios, and the investment strategies
and risks of each such Portfolio are similar.
The investment objective of each Portfolio (except for Oppenheimer Main
Street and Van Kampen Growth and Income) is non-fundamental, which means that it
may be changed by vote of its respective Board of Trustees without shareholder
approval. The investment objectives of Oppenheimer Main Street and Van Kampen
Growth and Income are fundamental objectives and may only be changed with the
approval of shareholders.
The following tables summarize a comparison of Lord Abbett Growth and
Income to the Current Portfolios with respect to their investment objectives and
principal investment strategies, as set forth in each Portfolio's prospectus and
statement of additional information.
----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lord Abbett Growth and Income (the Replacement Portfolio)
----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Objective Long-term growth of capital and income without excessive fluctuation in
market value.
----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Principal Investment Normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities of
Strategies large (at least $5 billion of market capitalization), seasoned, U.S. and
multinational companies believed to be undervalued.
The Portfolio's adviser attempts to invest in securities selling at
reasonable prices in relation to the adviser's assessment of their
potential value.
----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
AIM Premier Equity
----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Objective To achieve long-term growth of capital. Income is a secondary objective.
----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Principal Investment Normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in equity securities.
Strategies
The Portfolio may also invest in preferred stocks and debt instruments
that have prospects for growth of capital and may invest up to 25% of
its total assets in foreign securities.
The portfolio managers focus on undervalued securities.
----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Federated American Leaders
----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Objective To seek long-term growth of capital. The Portfolio's secondary objective
is to provide income.
----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Principal Investment Uses the value style of investing to select primarily equity securities
Strategies of large capitalization companies that are in the top 25% of their
industry sectors in terms of revenues, are characterized by sound
management and have the ability to finance expected growth.
Up to 20% of the Portfolio's assets may be invested in American
Depositary Receipts.
----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Federated Equity Income
----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Objective To provide above average income and capital appreciation.
----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Principal Investment Invests primarily in income-producing equity securities including
Strategies securities convertible into common stocks. The Portfolio may also
purchase securities for their superior growth prospects regardless of
dividends, therefore a portion of its assets are invested in
non-dividend paying stocks.
The Portfolio's holdings ordinarily will be in large and mid-cap
companies. The Portfolio's investment adviser ordinarily uses a "blend"
style of investing.
----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oppenheimer Main Street
----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Objective Seeks high total return (which includes growth in the value of its
shares as well as current income) from equity and debt securities.
----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Principal Investment Currently invests mainly in common stocks of U.S. companies of different
Strategies capitalization ranges, presently focusing on large capitalization
issuers. The Portfolio does not currently emphasize investments in debt
securities.
----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Van Kampen Growth and Income
----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Investment Objective To seek long-term growth of capital and income.
----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
Principal Investment Normally, the Portfolio invests primarily in income-producing equity
Strategies securities including common stocks and convertible securities.
Investments may also be made in non-convertible preferred stocks and
debt securities.
The Portfolio focuses primarily on the security's potential for capital
growth and income. The Portfolio's adviser may focus on larger
capitalization companies which it believes possesses characteristics for
improved evaluation.
Up to 25% of the Portfolio's total assets may be invested in foreign
securities.
----------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
The principal risks of investing in Lord Abbett Growth and Income are
similar to those of investing in each of the Current Portfolios. They include:
o Market risk - a Portfolio's share price can fall because of weakness
in the broad market, a particular industry, or specific holdings
o Market capitalization risk - investments primarily in issuers in one
market capitalization category (large, medium or small) carry the risk
that due to current market conditions that category may be out of
favor; larger more established companies may be unable to respond
quickly to new competitive challenges such as changes in technology
and consumer tastes and may not be able to obtain the high growth rate
of successful smaller companies; investments in medium and small
capitalization companies may be subject to special risks which cause
them to be subject to greater price volatility and more significant
declines in market downturns than securities of larger companies
o Investment style risk - different investment styles such as growth or
value investing tend to shift in or out of favor, depending on market
and economic conditions as well as investor sentiment; growth stocks
may be more volatile than other stocks and may lack the dividends of
value stocks that can cushion stock prices in a falling market; value
stocks carry the risk that the market will not recognize a security's
inherent value for a long time, or that a stock judged to be
undervalued may actually be appropriately priced or overvalued
Each of the Portfolios, with the exception of Federated Equity Income, may
invest in foreign securities and are therefore also subject to foreign
investment risk. AIM Premier Equity and Van Kampen Growth and Income may each
invest up to 25% of their total assets in foreign securities. Federated American
Leaders may invest up to 20% of its assets in American Depositary Receipts.
Foreign investment risk is therefore considered a principal risk of AIM Premier
Equity, Federated American Leaders and Van Kampen Growth and Income. Foreign
investment risk is not considered a principal risk of Lord Abbett Growth and
Income or of Oppenheimer Main Street as both of these Portfolios invest
primarily in securities of U.S companies. Investments in foreign securities
involve risks relating to political, social and economic developments abroad, as
well as risks resulting from differences between the regulations to which U.S.
and foreign issuers and markets are subject.
Each of the Current Portfolios and the Replacement Portfolio may invest
some or all of their assets in money market instruments or utilize other
investment strategies as a temporary defensive measure during, or in
anticipation of, adverse market conditions. This strategy, which would be
employed only in seeking to avoid losses, is inconsistent with the Portfolios'
principal investment objectives and strategies, and could result in lower
returns and loss of market opportunities.
For a detailed discussion of the Portfolios' risks, see the section
entitled "Risks of the Portfolios" below.
The Portfolios have other investment policies, practices and restrictions
which, together with their related risks, are also set forth in each Portfolio's
prospectus and statement of additional information.
How do the Portfolios' fees and expenses compare?
Lord Abbett Growth and Income has both a lower gross and a lower net
expense ratio than the Current Portfolios, including a lower management fee.
You will not incur any fees or charges as a result of the substitution.
The following tables allow you to compare the various fees and expenses
that you would pay as a result of Separate Account A buying and holding shares
of each of the Portfolios.
The amounts for the shares of the Portfolios set forth in the following
tables and in the examples are based on the expenses for the Portfolios for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2002 as adjusted to reflect any current expense
waivers, as applicable, and are expressed as a percentage of each Portfolio's
average daily net assets.
The shares of the Current Portfolios and of the Class A shares of the
Replacement Portfolio are not charged any initial or deferred sales charge, or
any other transaction fees. None of the Portfolios' shares involved in the
substitution (with the exception of the shares of Federated Equity Income) have
Rule 12b-1 fees. The shares of Federated Equity Income are subject to a Rule
12b-1 fee of 0.25% and to a shareholder services fee of 0.25%, which are
currently being waived by the distributor and shareholder services provider,
respectively, and therefore not being charged to shareholders of the Portfolio.
The Primary shares of Federated American Leaders are subject to a shareholder
services fee of 0.25%, which is currently being waived by the shareholder
services provider, and therefore not being charged to shareholders of the
Portfolio.
THESE TABLES DO NOT REFLECT THE CHARGES AND FEES ASSESSED BY METLIFE INVESTORS
USA UNDER YOUR CONTRACT.
Fees and Expenses (as a percentage of average daily net assets)
- -------------------------- ------------ ------------- -------------- ----------------- ------------ -------------
AIM Federated Federated Oppenheimer Van Kampen Lord Abbett
Premier American Equity Main Street Growth and Growth and
Equity Leaders Income Income Income
(shares)
(Series I (Primary (shares) (Class I (Class A
shares) shares) shares) shares)
- -------------------------- ------------ ------------- -------------- ----------------- ------------ -------------
- -------------------------- ------------ ------------- -------------- ----------------- ------------ -------------
Management Fees 0.61% 0.75% 0.75%(1) 0.68% 0.60% 0.58%
- -------------------------- ------------ ------------- -------------- ----------------- ------------ -------------
- -------------------------- ------------ ------------- -------------- ----------------- ------------ -------------
12b-1 Fees ---- ---- 0.25%(2) ---- ---- ----
- -------------------------- ------------ ------------- -------------- ----------------- ------------ -------------
- -------------------------- ------------ ------------- -------------- ----------------- ------------ -------------
Shareholder Services Fee ---- 0.25%(3) 0.25%(3) ---- ---- ----
- -------------------------- ------------ ------------- -------------- ----------------- ------------ -------------
- -------------------------- ------------ ------------- -------------- ----------------- ------------ -------------
Other Expenses 0.24% 0.13% 0.33% 0.01% 0.11% 0.09%
- -------------------------- ------------ ------------- -------------- ----------------- ------------ -------------
- -------------------------- ------------ ------------- -------------- ----------------- ------------ -------------
Total Annual Portfolio 0.85% 1.13% 1.58% 0.69% 0.71% 0.67%
Operating Expenses
Before Expense Waiver /
Reimbursement
- -------------------------- ------------ ------------- -------------- ----------------- ------------ -------------
- -------------------------- ------------ ------------- -------------- ----------------- ------------ -------------
Expense Waiver / ___ 0.25%(5) 0.51%(4) ___ ___ ___
Reimbursement
- -------------------------- ------------ ------------- -------------- ----------------- ------------ -------------
- -------------------------- ------------ ------------- -------------- ----------------- ------------ -------------
Total Net Annual 0.85% 0.88% 1.07% 0.69% 0.71% 0.67%
Portfolio Operating
Expenses After Expense
Waiver / Reimbursement
- -------------------------- ------------ ------------- -------------- ----------------- ------------ -------------
(1) Federated Equity Income's investment adviser voluntarily waived a portion
of its management fee. The investment adviser can terminate this voluntary
waiver at any time. The management fee paid by the Portfolio (after this
voluntary waiver) was 0.74% for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002.
(2) Federated Equity Income did not pay or accrue the distribution (12b-1) fee
during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002 or during the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2003. MetLife Investors USA believes that the Portfolio
has no present intention of paying or accruing the distribution (12b-1) fee
during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004.
(3) Federated Equity Income and Federated American Leaders did not pay or
accrue the shareholder services fee during the fiscal year ended December
31, 2002 or during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003. MetLife
Investors USA believes that the Portfolios have no present intention of
paying or accruing the shareholder services fee during the fiscal year
ended December 31, 2004.
(4) Although not contractually obligated to do so, Federated Equity Income's
investment adviser, distributor and shareholder services provider waived
certain fees as indicated above.
(5) Although not contractually obligated to do so, Federated American Leaders'
shareholder services provider waived its fee as indicated above.
The tables below show examples of the total expenses you would pay on a
$10,000 investment over one-, three-, five- and ten-year periods. The examples
are intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Current Portfolios
versus Lord Abbett Growth and Income. The examples assume a 5% average annual
return, that you redeem all of your shares at the end of each time period and
that you reinvest all of your dividends. The following tables also assume that
total annual operating expenses remain the same. The examples are for
illustration only, and your actual costs may be higher or lower.
THE EXAMPLES DO NOT REFLECT THE FEES, EXPENSES OR WITHDRAWAL CHARGES
IMPOSED BY YOUR CONTRACT. IF THOSE FEES AND EXPENSES HAD BEEN INCLUDED, YOUR
COSTS WOULD BE HIGHER.
Examples of Portfolio Expenses
----------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lord Abbett Growth and Income
One Year Three Years Five Years Ten Years
Class A $69 $215 $374 $837
shares
----------------- -------------------- ------------------- -------------------- -------------------
----------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AIM Premier Equity
One Year Three Years Five Years Ten Years
Series I shares $87 $271 $471 $1,049
----------------- -------------------- ------------------- -------------------- -------------------
----------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Federated American Leaders
One Year Three Years Five Years Ten Years
Primary shares* $115 $359 $622 $1,375
----------------- -------------------- ------------------- -------------------- -------------------
*Assumes that the Primary shares' operating expenses are before waivers.
----------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Federated Equity Income
One Year Three Years Five Years Ten Years
shares* $161 $499 $860 $1,878
----------------- -------------------- ------------------- -------------------- -------------------
*Assumes that the shares' operating expenses are before waivers.
----------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oppenheimer Main Street
One Year Three Years Five Years Ten Years
shares $70 $221 $384 $859
----------------- -------------------- ------------------- -------------------- -------------------
----------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Van Kampen Growth and Income
One Year Three Years Five Years Ten Years
Class I shares $73 $227 $395 $883
----------------- -------------------- ------------------- -------------------- -------------------
How do the Portfolios' performance records compare?
Lord Abbett Growth and Income's performance has exceeded that of each of
the Current Portfolios (with the exception of Van Kampen Growth and Income) for
the one-, three- and five-year periods ended December 31, 2003. With respect to
Van Kampen Growth and Income, although its performance for the three- and
five-year periods ended December 31, 2003 slightly exceeded that of Lord Abbett
Growth and Income for the same period, Lord Abbett Growth and Income's more
recent performance has been better than that of Van Kampen Growth and Income.
For the one-year period ended December 31, 2003, the historical performance of
Lord Abbett Growth and Income exceeded that of Van Kampen Growth and Income.
The following table shows how the Class A shares of Lord Abbett Growth and
Income and the corresponding shares of the Current Portfolios have performed in
the past. Past performance is not an indication of future results.
PERFORMANCE DOES NOT REFLECT THE FEES, EXPENSES OR WITHDRAWAL CHARGES
IMPOSED BY YOUR CONTRACT. IF THOSE FEES AND EXPENSES HAD BEEN INCLUDED,
PERFORMANCE WOULD BE LOWER.
The table lists the average annual total return of the Class A shares of
Lord Abbett Growth and Income and the Series I shares of AIM Premier Equity for
the past one, three, five and ten years and of the Primary shares of Federated
American Leaders, the shares of Federated Equity Income, the shares of
Oppenheimer Main Street and the Class I shares of Van Kampen Growth and Income
for the past one, three, and five years and since inception through December 31,
2003. This table includes the effects of portfolio expenses and is intended to
provide you with some indication of the risks of investing in each Portfolio by
comparing its performance with the S&P 500 Index, a widely recognized unmanaged
index that measures the stock performance of 500 large- and medium-sized
companies and that is often used to indicate the performance of the overall
stock market. An index does not reflect fees or expenses. It is not possible to
invest directly in an index.
Average Annual Total Return (for the period ended 12/31/2003)
------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ --------------- --------------
1 Year 3 Years 5 Years 10 Years From Inception
Ended Ended Ended Ended Inception to Date
--- ----
12/31/03 12/31/03 12/31/03 12/31/03 12/31/03
-------- -------- -------- -------- --------
------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ --------------- --------------
------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ --------------- --------------
Lord Abbett Growth and 31.06% 0.46% 6.27% 11.75% -- 12/11/89
Income-- Class A shares
------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ --------------- --------------
------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ --------------- --------------
S&P 500 Index 28.69% -4.05% -0.57% 11.07% --
------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ --------------- --------------
------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ --------------- --------------
AIM Premier 25.08% -8.63% -3.30% 8.49% -- 05/05/93
Equity--Series I shares
------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ --------------- --------------
------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ --------------- --------------
S&P 500 Index 28.69% -4.05% -0.57% 11.07% --
------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ --------------- --------------
------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ --------------- --------------
------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ --------------- --------------
------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ --------------- --------------
Federated American 27.69% -0.81% 1.28% n/a 10.47% 02/10/94
Leaders--Primary shares
------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ --------------- --------------
------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ --------------- --------------
S&P 500 Index 28.69% -4.05% -0.57% -- 10.79%(1)
------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ --------------- --------------
------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ --------------- --------------
------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ --------------- --------------
------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ --------------- --------------
Federated Equity 27.27% -3.52% -1.14% n/a 3.87% 02/10/94
Income--shares
------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ --------------- --------------
------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ --------------- --------------
S&P 500 Index 28.69% -4.05% -0.57% -- 10.79%(2)
------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ --------------- --------------
------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ --------------- --------------
------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ --------------- --------------
------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ --------------- --------------
Oppenheimer Main 26.72% -2.58% 0.52% n/a 10.66% 07/05/95
Street--shares
------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ --------------- --------------
------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ --------------- --------------
S&P 500 Index 28.69% -4.05% -0.57% -- 10.55%(3)
------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ --------------- --------------
------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ --------------- --------------
------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ --------------- --------------
------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ --------------- --------------
Van Kampen Growth and 28.03% 1.02% 6.81% n/a 10.80% 12/23/96
Income--Class I shares
------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ --------------- --------------
------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ --------------- --------------
S&P 500 Index 28.69% -4.05% -0.57% -- 7.17%(4)
------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ --------------- --------------
(1) Date of Index performance is from 02/01/94.
(2) Date of Index performance is from 02/01/94.
(3) Date of Index performance is from 07/01/95.
(4) Date of Index performance is from 12/01/96.
--------------------
For a detailed discussion of the manner of calculating total return, please
see each Portfolio's statement of additional information. Generally, the
calculations of total return assume the reinvestment of all dividends and
capital gain distributions on the reinvestment date and the deduction of all
recurring expenses that were charged to shareholders' accounts.
Will I be able to purchase and redeem shares, change my investment options,
annuitize and receive distributions the same way?
The substitution will not affect your right to purchase and redeem shares,
to change among MetLife Investors USA's subaccount options, to annuitize, and to
receive distributions as permitted by your Contract. After the substitution, you
will be able under your current Contract to purchase additional Class A shares
of Lord Abbett Growth and Income.
MetLife Investors USA will not exercise any right it may have under the
Contracts to impose restrictions or additional restrictions on, or charges for,
Contract value transfers or annuity unit exchanges made under the Contracts for
a period of at least 30 days following the proposed substitution (other than
with respect to market timing activity).
In addition, you will:
o before the proposed substitution occurs, be permitted to make a transfer of
Contract value (or annuity unit exchange) from the Subaccounts to any other
subaccount without charge and without that transfer (or exchange) counting
towards the number permitted or the number permitted without charge under
your Contract; and
o during the 30 days after the proposed substitution, be permitted to make a
transfer of Contract value (or annuity unit exchange) from the subaccount
investing in Lord Abbett Growth and Income to any other subaccount without
charge and without that transfer (or exchange) counting towards the number
permitted or the number permitted without charge under your Contract.
Effective May 1, 2004, the Subaccounts investing in the Current Portfolios
will no longer be available under the Contracts for allocation of additional
purchase payments or transfers of Contract value regardless of whether or not
the substitution is approved.
Who will be the Adviser and Portfolio Manager of my Portfolio after the
substitution? What will the management and advisory fees be after the
substitution?
The types of investment advisory and administrative services provided to
the Replacement Portfolio are comparable to the types of investment advisory and
administrative services provided to the Current Portfolios.
Management of the Portfolios
The overall management of Lord Abbett Growth and Income is the
responsibility of, and is supervised by, the Board of Trustees of Met Investors
Series Trust.
Manager
Met Investors Advisory LLC (the "Manager") is the investment manager for
Lord Abbett Growth and Income. The Manager selects and pays the fees of Lord,
Abbett & Co. LLC (Lord Abbett Growth and Income's investment adviser) and
monitors its investment program.
Facts about the Manager:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Manager is an affiliate of MetLife.
The Manager manages a family of investment portfolios sold to separate
accounts of MetLife and its affiliates to fund variable life insurance
contracts and variable annuity certificates and contracts, with assets
of approximately $8.38 billion as of December 31, 2003.
The Manager is located at 22 Corporate Plaza Drive, Newport Beach,
California 92660.
----------------------------------------------------------
The Manager and Met Investors Series Trust have received an exemptive order
from the Commission that permits the Manager, subject to certain conditions, and
without the approval of shareholders to: (a) employ a new unaffiliated
investment adviser for a portfolio of Met Investors Series Trust (including Lord
Abbett Growth and Income) pursuant to the terms of a new investment advisory
agreement, in each case either as a replacement for an existing investment
adviser or as an additional investment adviser; (b) change the terms of any
investment advisory agreement; and (c) continue the employment of an existing
investment adviser on the same advisory contract terms where a contract has been
assigned because of a change in control of the investment adviser. In such
circumstances, Contract owners would receive notice of such action, including
the information concerning the new investment adviser that normally is provided
in a proxy statement.
The substitution will permit the Manager, under this exemptive order, to
hire, monitor and replace sub-advisers as necessary to seek optimal performance
and to ensure a consistent investment style.
Adviser
Lord, Abbett & Co. LLC (the "Adviser") is the investment adviser to Lord
Abbett Growth and Income. Pursuant to an Advisory Agreement with the Manager,
the Adviser continuously furnishes an investment program for Lord Abbett Growth
and Income, makes day-to-day investment decisions on behalf of the Portfolio,
and arranges for the execution of Portfolio transactions.
Facts about the Adviser:
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The Adviser has been an investment manager for over 70 years.
The Adviser had assets under management of approximately $72 billion
as of December 31, 2003.
The Adviser is located at 90 Hudson Street, Jersey City, New Jersey
07302.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Portfolio Management
The Adviser uses a team of investment managers and analysts acting together
to manage Lord Abbett Growth and Income's investments. The investment management
team is headed by Robert G. Morris, W. Thomas Hudson and Eli Salzman. Messrs.
Morris, Hudson and Salzman, Partners of the Adviser, have been with the Adviser
for more than five years.
Management Fees
For its management and supervision of the daily business affairs of Lord
Abbett Growth and Income, the Manager is entitled to receive a monthly fee at
the annual rate of 0.60% of the Portfolio's average daily net assets up to $800
million, plus 0.55% of such assets over $800 million up to $1.5 billion, plus
0.45% of such assets over $1.5 billion.
Advisory Fees
Under the terms of the Advisory Agreement, the Adviser is paid by the
Manager for providing advisory services to Lord Abbett Growth and Income. The
Portfolio does not pay a fee to the Adviser.
THE PROPOSED SUBSTITUTION
How will the substitution be carried out?
MetLife Investors USA and Separate Account A submitted an application to
the Commission requesting approval of the proposed substitution of Class A
shares of Lord Abbett Growth and Income for shares of each of the Current
Portfolios. If completed, the proposed substitution will result in MetLife
Investors USA's redemption, in cash or "in-kind", of shares of the Current
Portfolios. MetLife Investors USA will then use the proceeds (either cash or
portfolio securities) of such redemption to purchase shares of Lord Abbett
Growth and Income. The Commission approved the substitution on February 24,
2004.
If approved, the proposed substitution will take place at relative net
asset value with no change in the amount of your Contract value or death benefit
or in the dollar value of your investment in the Subaccount(s) that are
presently invested in the Current Portfolios. You will not incur any fees or
charges as a result of the proposed substitution and your rights and MetLife
Investors USA's obligations under your Contract will not be altered in any way.
All applicable expenses incurred in connection with the proposed substitution
will be paid by MetLife Investors USA. In addition, the proposed substitution
will not subject you to any federal income tax liability.
The fees and charges that you pay under your Contract will not increase as
a result of the proposed substitution. To the extent that the annualized
expenses of Lord Abbett Growth and Income during the twenty-four months
following the substitution exceeds, for each fiscal period, the 2002 net expense
level of any of the Current Portfolios, MetLife Investors USA will reduce
Separate Account A (or subaccount) expenses under the Contracts. Therefore, for
two years following the proposed substitution, combined net expenses for Lord
Abbett Growth and Income and Separate Account A (or the subaccount invested in
the Portfolio) will be no greater than the sum of the net expenses of any of the
Current Portfolios and of Separate Account A (or the corresponding Subaccount)
for the 2002 fiscal year. Nonetheless, after two years following the proposed
substitution, the net expense levels for Lord Abbett Growth and Income could be
but are not anticipated to be higher than the 2002 net expense level for the
Current Portfolios, but would not be offset by a reduction in subaccount
expenses. In such an event, you may bear greater expenses than you would had the
proposed substitution not occurred.
You are entitled to approve or disapprove the proposed substitution with
respect to each Current Portfolio in which you have Contract value invested. For
each Subaccount, the proposed substitution will not take place for any Contract
without the approval of Contract owners representing a majority of the
accumulation units of that Subaccount for that Contract as of the Record Date.
MetLife Investors USA intends to effect the proposed substitution on or
about April 30, 2004, following the approval of the proposed substitution by
Contract owners and any approval required by state insurance regulators.
RISKS OF THE PORTFOLIOS
Are the risk factors for the Portfolios similar?
Yes. The risk factors are similar due to the substantially similar
investment objectives and similar investment policies of the Current Portfolios
and the Replacement Portfolio. The risks of the Replacement Portfolio are
described in greater detail in the Portfolio's prospectus.
What are the primary risks of investing in each Portfolio?
An investment in each Portfolio is subject to certain risks. There is no
assurance that investment performance of either Portfolio will be positive or
that the Portfolios will meet their investment objectives. The following tables
and discussions highlight the primary risks associated with investment in each
of the Portfolios.
- ------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Each of the Portfolios is subject to Market Risk.
- ------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Lord Abbett Growth and Income Normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in equity
securities.
- ------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------------
AIM Premier Equity Normally invests at least 80% of its net assets in equity
securities.
- ------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Federated American Leaders Selects primarily equity securities.
- ------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Federated Equity Income Invests primarily in income-producing equity securities including
securities convertible into common stocks.
- ------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Oppenheimer Main Street Currently invests mainly in common stocks of U.S. companies.
- ------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Van Kampen Growth and Income Normally invests primarily in income-producing securities including
common stocks and convertible securities.
- ------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------------------
A Portfolio's share price can fall because of weakness in the broad market,
a particular industry, or specific holdings. The market as a whole can decline
for many reasons, including disappointing corporate earnings, adverse political
or economic developments here or abroad, changes in investor psychology, or
heavy institutional selling. The prospects for an industry or a company may
deteriorate. In addition, an assessment by a Portfolio's investment adviser of
particular companies may prove incorrect, resulting in losses or poor
performance by those holdings, even in a rising market. A Portfolio could also
miss attractive investment opportunities if its investment adviser underweights
fixed income markets or industries where there are significant returns, and
could lose value if the investment adviser overweights fixed income markets or
industries where there are significant declines.
- ------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Each of the Portfolios is subject to Market Capitalization Risk.
- ------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lord Abbett Growth and Income Normally invests in equity securities of large (at least $5 billion of market
capitalization) companies.
- ------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AIM Premier Equity Normally focuses on large capitalization companies.
- ------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Federated American Leaders Selects primarily equity securities of large capitalization companies that are
in the top 25% of their industry sectors in terms of revenues.
- ------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Federated Equity Income Holdings will ordinarily be in large and mid-cap companies.
- ------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oppenheimer Main Street Currently invests mainly in common stocks of U.S. companies of different
capitalization ranges, presently focusing on large capitalization issuers.
- ------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Van Kampen Growth and Income Focuses primarily on the security's potential for capital growth and income.
The Portfolio's adviser may focus on larger capitalization companies which it
believes possesses characteristics for improved evaluation.
- ------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stocks fall into three broad market capitalization categories--large,
medium and small. Investing primarily in one category carries the risk that due
to current market conditions that category may be out of favor. If valuations of
large capitalization companies appear to be greatly out of proportion to the
valuations of small or medium capitalization companies, investors may migrate to
the stocks of small and mid-sized companies causing a Portfolio that invests in
these companies to increase in value more rapidly than a Portfolio that invests
in larger, fully-valued companies. Larger, more established companies may also
be unable to respond quickly to new competitive challenges such as changes in
technology and consumer tastes. Many larger companies also may not be able to
attain the high growth rate of successful smaller companies, especially during
extended periods of economic expansion. Investing in medium and small
capitalization companies may be subject to special risks associated with
narrower product lines, more limited financial resources, smaller management
groups, and a more limited trading market for their stocks as compared with
larger companies. Securities of smaller capitalization issuers may therefore be
subject to greater price volatility and may decline more significantly in market
downturns than securities of larger companies.
- ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------
Each of the Portfolios is subject to Investment Style
Risk.
- ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------
Lord Abbett Growth and Income Invests in securities of companies believed to be
undervalued.
- ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------
AIM Premier Equity Portfolio managers focus on undervalued securities.
- ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------
Federated American Leaders Uses the value style of investing to select securities.
- ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------
Federated Equity Income Uses a "blend" style of investing.
- ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------
Oppenheimer Main Street Uses a "blend" style of investing.
- ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------
Van Kampen Growth and Income Focuses primarily on the security's potential for
capital growth and income. The Portfolio's adviser may
focus on larger capitalization companies which it
believes possesses characteristics for improved
evaluation.
- ------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------------------------------
Different investment styles tend to shift in and out of favor depending
upon market and economic conditions as well as investor sentiment. A Portfolio
may outperform or underperform other funds that employ a different investment
style. A Portfolio may also employ a combination of styles that impact its risk
characteristics. Examples of different investment styles include growth and
value investing. Growth stocks may be more volatile than other stocks because
they are more sensitive to investor perceptions of the issuing company's growth
of earnings potential. Also, since growth companies usually invest a high
portion of earnings in their business, growth stocks may lack the dividends of
value stocks that can cushion stock prices in a falling market. Growth oriented
funds will typically underperform when value investing is in favor. Value stocks
are those which are undervalued in comparison to their peers due to adverse
business developments or other factors. Value investing carries the risk that
the market will not recognize a security's inherent value for a long time, or
that a stock judged to be undervalued may actually be appropriately priced or
overvalued. Value oriented funds will typically underperform when growth
investing is in favor.
Are there any other risks of investing in each Portfolio?
Foreign investment risk. Each of the Portfolios, with the exception of
Federated Equity Income, may invest in foreign securities. Investments in
foreign securities involve risks relating to political, social and economic
developments abroad, as well as risks resulting from the differences between the
regulations to which U.S. and foreign issuers and markets are subject. These
risks may include the seizure by the government of company assets, excessive
taxation, withholding taxes on dividends and interest, limitations on the use or
transfer of portfolio assets, and political or social instability. Enforcing
legal rights may be difficult, costly and slow in foreign countries, and there
may be special problems enforcing claims against foreign governments. Foreign
companies may not be subject to accounting standards or governmental supervision
comparable to U.S. companies, and there may be less public information about
their operations. Foreign markets may be less liquid and more volatile than U.S.
markets. Foreign securities often trade in currencies other than the U.S.
dollar, and a Portfolio may directly hold foreign currencies and purchase and
sell foreign currencies. Changes in currency exchange rates will affect a
Portfolio's net asset value, the value of dividends and interest earned, and
gains and losses realized on the sale of foreign securities. An increase in the
strength of the U.S. dollar relative to these other currencies may cause the
value of a Portfolio to decline. Certain foreign currencies may be particularly
volatile, and foreign governments may intervene in the currency markets, causing
a decline in value or liquidity of a Portfolio's foreign currency or securities
holdings. Costs of buying, selling and holding foreign securities, including
brokerage, tax and custody costs, may be higher than those involved in domestic
transactions.
AIM Premier Equity and Van Kampen Growth and Income may each invest up to
25% of their total assets in foreign securities. Federated American Leaders may
invest up to 20% of its assets in American Depositary Receipts. Foreign
investment risk is therefore considered a principal risk of AIM Premier Equity,
Federated American Leaders (as a result of its investments in American
Depositary Receipts), and Van Kampen Growth and Income. Foreign investment risk
is not considered a principal risk of Lord Abbett Growth and Income or of
Oppenheimer Main Street as both of these Portfolios invest primarily in
securities of U.S companies.
Derivative risk. Van Kampen Growth and Income is also subject to the risks
of using derivative instruments such as options, futures contracts and options
on futures contracts. These risks include imperfect correlation between the
value of the instruments and the underlying assets; risks of default by the
other party to certain transactions; risks that the transactions may result in
losses that partially or completely offset gains in portfolio positions; and
risks that the transactions may not be liquid. Lord Abbett Growth and Income
does not use derivatives.
The Portfolios have other investment policies, practices and restrictions
which, together with their related risks, are also set forth in the prospectuses
and statements of additional information of the Portfolios.
GENERAL VOTING INFORMATION
Who is eligible to vote?
A Contract owner is entitled to one vote for each accumulation unit that
the owner owns in each Subaccount.
As of the Record Date, the total number of accumulation units held in each
Subaccount for each Contract and entitled to vote was:
- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
Contract Subaccount Number of Subaccount Units
- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
Capital Strategist AIM Premier Equity............ 52,880.48
Federated American Leaders.... 23,341.12
Federated Equity Income....... 20,644.13
Oppenheimer Main Street....... 70,175.64
Van Kampen Growth and Income.. 18,268.76
- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
Foresight AIM Premier Equity............ 372,914.39
Federated American Leaders.... 116,913.71
Federated Equity Income....... 60,623.10
Oppenheimer Main Street....... 328,098.26
Van Kampen Growth and Income.. 43,279.06
- ---------------------------------------- -------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
For each Contract, approval of the proposed substitution with respect to
each Subaccount requires the affirmative vote of a majority of each Subaccount's
outstanding accumulation units on the Record Date.
To MetLife Investors USA's knowledge, the following persons beneficially
owned, directly or indirectly, a Contract representing more than 5% of the
accumulation units in one or more Subaccounts for their Contract as of the
Record Date:
- ----------------- --------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------------- -----------------
Contract Subaccount Name and Address of Beneficial Owner Number of Percent of
Subaccount units Subaccount for
the Contract
- ----------------- --------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------------- -----------------
- ----------------- --------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------------- -----------------
Capital Federated Equity Income Mr. David Pullin 5,219.59 25.28%
Strategist 21 Staten Drive
Hockessin, Delaware 19707-1338
Mr. Frank Neely
170 Steubenville Pike 4,677.91 22.66%
Burgettstown, Pennsylvania 15021
- ----------------- --------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------------- -----------------
- ----------------- --------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------------- -----------------
Van Kampen Growth and Mr. George Bierly 12,762.27 69.86%
Income 1169 Eastern Parkway
Louisville, Kentucky 40217-1417
- ----------------- --------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------------- -----------------
- ----------------- --------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------------- -----------------
- ----------------- --------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------------- -----------------
- ----------------- --------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------------- -----------------
Foresight AIM Premier Equity Mr. Carl Maphies 23,305.08 6.24%
c/o Tara Securro, Conservator
1061 Newhaven Drive
Uniontown, Ohio 44685
- ----------------- --------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------------- -----------------
- ----------------- --------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------------- -----------------
Federated American Leaders Ms. Viola Baggetta 11,290.90 9.65%
27010 Grand Central Parkway
Apartment 6C
Floral Park, New York 11005-1102
- ----------------- --------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------------- -----------------
- ----------------- --------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------------- -----------------
Federated Equity Income Mr. John Schoessel 5,120.60 8.45%
3211 Laura Lane
Westlake, Ohio 44145-5472
Ms. Linda Tallieu 4,411.66 7.28%
1707 S. Whitney Road
Beaverton, Michigan 48612-9492
Mr. Russell Cramer
12 Park Lane 9,116.16 15.04%
Pocono Manner, Pennsylvania 18349
Mr. Ronald Kerpet
3332 Havenwood Circle
Lake Michigan 48632-9257 4,829.48 7.97%
Ms. Bernice Washington
32895 S. Roundhead Drive
Solon, Ohio 44139-4854 6,955.74 11.47%
- ----------------- --------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------------- -----------------
- ----------------- --------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------------- -----------------
Oppenheimer Main Street Mr. Richard Reed 22,873.30 6.97%
Fund/VA 36500 Euclid Avenue
Apartment 154
Willoughby, Ohio 44094-4469
- ----------------- --------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------------- -----------------
- ----------------- --------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------------- -----------------
Van Kampen Growth and Mr. William McBride 8,348.74 19.29%
Income 22201 Highway 45
Hackett, Arizona 72937-4967
Ms. Patricia Belstra 7,809.21 18.04%
1453 West Country Road 1000 N
Wheatfield, Indiana 46392
Ms. Nancy White
3870 Stelter Farm Drive 6,800.93 15.71%
Bridgman, Michigan 49106-9764
- ----------------- --------------------------- -------------------------------------- ------------------- -----------------
To the knowledge of MetLife Investors USA, none of the directors or
officers of MetLife Investors USA, individually or as a group, beneficially
owned, directly or indirectly, over 1% of the outstanding accumulation units of
any Subaccount as of the Record Date. Any beneficial financial interest that
MetLife Investors USA may have in the Subaccounts is immaterial in relation to
the interests of owners and MetLife Investors USA will not cast any votes.
How do I vote on the substitution proposal?
If you properly execute and return the enclosed Voting Instruction Card to
Vote Tabulator, P.O. Box 9043, Smithtown, New York 11787-9841 by April 23, 2004
at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time (the "Voting Deadline"), MetLife Investors USA will
count your vote when calculating the results of the solicitation. MetLife
Investors USA may disregard any Voting Instruction Cards received after the
Voting Deadline. Votes attributable to Voting Instruction Cards that are
properly executed and returned but are not marked "For" or "Against" the
proposed substitution, will be counted as "For." A vote to "Abstain" will have
the effect of a vote "Against" the proposed substitution.
You also may vote by telephone by calling 1-866-235-4258 and following the
instructions, faxing your Voting Instruction Card (both front and back) to
1-888-796-9932, or by visiting our voting agent's website
https://vote.proxy-direct.com and following the instructions. If you cast your
telephone, facsimile or website vote by the Voting Deadline, MetLife Investors
USA will count your vote when calculating the results of the solicitation.
MetLife Investors USA may disregard any votes cast by telephone or facsimile or
at the website after the Voting Deadline (or any extension of the Voting
Deadline). MetLife Investors USA or its voting agent will use reasonable
procedures (such as requiring an identification number) to verify the
authenticity of voters using the telephone, facsimile or website voting
facilities. Your voting authentication number is found on the accompanying
Voting Instruction Card.
Can I change my vote after I have submitted it?
Any Contract owner who has submitted a Voting Instruction Card has the
right to change his or her vote at any time prior to the Voting Deadline by
submitting a letter requesting the change or a later-dated Voting Instruction
Card that MetLife Investors USA receives at the above address on or before the
Voting Deadline. If, for any Contract, MetLife Investors USA does not receive
sufficient votes to approve the proposals with respect to each of the Current
Portfolios, it may extend the Voting Deadline and conduct a further solicitation
of votes.
MetLife Investors USA will solicit votes primarily by mail, but may
supplement this effort by telephone calls, telegrams, e-mails, personal
interviews, and other communications by officers, employees, and agents of
MetLife Investors USA or its affiliates. In addition, Alamo Direct has been
retained to assist in the solicitation of votes. It is expected that the cost of
retaining Alamo Direct for such solicitation will be approximately $1,572.00.
The costs for solicitation of votes, like the other costs associated with the
substitution, will be borne by MetLife Investors USA.
METLIFE INVESTORS USA INSURANCE COMPANY RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE TO
"APPROVE" THE PROPOSED SUBSTITUTION FOR EACH OF THE CURRENT PORTFOLIOS IN WHICH
YOUR CONTRACT VALUE IS INVESTED.
GENERAL INFORMATION
MetLife Investors USA Insurance Company
MetLife Investors USA is a stock life insurance company organized under
Delaware Law in 1960. MetLife Investors USA is authorized to transact the
business of life insurance, including annuities, in the District of Columbia and
all states except New York. Its principal executive offices are located at 22
Corporate Plaza Drive, Newport Beach, California 92660.
MetLife Investors USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MetLife Investors
Group, Inc. MetLife Investors Group, Inc., in turn, is an indirect wholly-owned
subsidiary of MetLife, Inc., the parent of MetLife. MetLife, Inc. is listed on
the New York Stock Exchange and, through its affiliates, is a leading provider
of insurance and other financial products and services to individuals and
groups.
MetLife Investors USA Separate Account A
Separate Account A is a separate investment account of MetLife Investors
USA established under Delaware law on May 29, 1980. Each subaccount invests in a
corresponding portfolio of an open-end management investment company. The
variable annuity contracts that invest in the Current Portfolios, including your
Contract, have been issued through Separate Account A and interests in Separate
Account A offered through such variable annuity contracts have been registered
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"). Separate Account
A is registered with the Commission under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (the "1940 Act") as a unit investment trust type of investment company.
Met Investors Series Trust
Shares of Met Investors Series Trust are sold exclusively to insurance
company separate accounts to fund benefits under variable annuity contracts and
variable life insurance policies sponsored by MetLife Investors USA and its
affiliates, or employer pension and profit sharing plans. Met Investors Series
Trust is a Delaware statutory trust organized on July 27, 2000. Met Investors
Series Trust is registered under the 1940 Act as an open-end management
investment company of the series type, and its securities are registered under
the 1933 Act. Met Investors Series Trust currently offers 21 series.
Service Providers
MetLife Investors Distribution Company, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary
of MetLife Investors Group, Inc. located at 22 Corporate Plaza Drive, Newport
Beach, California 92660, is the principal underwriter for Separate Account A and
for Met Investors Series Trust.
Owner Proposals
Contract owners have no rights under the Contracts to put voting proposals
before the owners.
Prospectuses and Annual Reports
Upon request, MetLife Investors USA will furnish, without charge, a copy of
the most recent annual and semi-annual shareholder reports and current
prospectuses and statements of additional information for the Replacement
Portfolio and for the Current Portfolios, respectively. These are: (i) the
prospectus and statement of additional information for the Replacement Portfolio
dated May 1, 2003; (ii) the annual report for the Replacement Portfolio dated
December 31, 2002 and the semi-annual report for the Replacement Portfolio dated
June 30, 2003 (and the annual report for the Replacement Portfolio dated
December 31, 2003, if available); (iii) the prospectuses and statements of
additional information for AIM Premier Equity and Oppenheimer Main Street, each
dated May 1, 2003; (iv) the prospectuses and statements of additional
information for Federated American Leaders, Federated Equity Income and Van
Kampen Growth and Income, each dated April 30, 2003; and (v) the annual report
for each Current Portfolio, each dated December 31, 2002 and the semi-annual
report for each Current Portfolio, each dated June 30, 2003 (and the annual
report for each Current Portfolio, dated December 31, 2003, if available). (The
Portfolios' Commission file numbers are as follows: (i) Replacement Portfolio
(File Nos. 333-48456/811-10183); (ii) AIM Premier Equity (File Nos.
033-57340/811-7452); (iii) Federated American Leaders and Federated Equity
Income (File Nos. 033-69268/811-8042); (iv) Oppenheimer Main Street (File Nos.
002-93177/811-4108); and (v) Van Kampen Growth and Income (File Nos.
033-00628/811-4424).)
To request any of these documents, please call MetLife Investors USA at
1-800-284-4536, or write to MetLife Investors USA at 22 Corporate Plaza Drive,
Newport Beach, California 92660. Each of these documents is incorporated by
reference in this document. (This means that it is legally considered to be a
part of this Voting Information Statement.)
You can also obtain copies of any of these documents without charge on the
EDGAR database on the Commission's Internet site at http://www.sec.gov. Copies
are available for a fee by electronic request at the following email address:
publicinfo@sec.gov, or from the Public Reference Branch, Office of Consumer
Affairs and Information Services, Securities and Exchange Commission,
Washington, D.C. 20549.
Dissenter's Rights of Appraisal
Taken together, Delaware Insurance law and the terms of the Contracts do
not appear to provide appraisal rights to investors, such as Contract owners,
beyond their right to receipt of the cash surrender value of their Contracts.
MetLife Investors USA believes that, for transactions such as the proposed
substitution, this requires, in effect, that accumulation units have a value
equal to their net asset value determined as of 4:00 p.m. on the date of the
proposed substitution.
Interpretations of the 1940 Act by the Commission staff limit appraisal
rights of investors in a registered unit investment trust, such as Contract
owners, to those provided by Rule 22c-1 under the 1940 Act. Rule 22c-1, in
effect, requires for transactions such as the proposed substitution, that
accumulation units have a value equal to their net asset value per share
determined as of 4:00 p.m. on the date of the proposed substitution.
You should note, however, that before the proposed substitution occurs,
Contract owners will be permitted to make a transfer of Contract value (or
annuity unit exchange) from the Subaccounts to any other subaccount without
charge and without that transfer (or exchange) counting towards the number
permitted or the number permitted without charge under their Contract. During
the 30 days after the proposed substitution, Contract owners will be permitted
to make a transfer of Contract value (or annuity unit exchange) from the
subaccount investing in the Replacement Portfolio to any other subaccount
without charge and without that transfer (or exchange) counting towards the
number permitted or the number permitted without charge under their Contract.
Inquiries
Owners may make inquiries by contacting their registered representative or
by writing MetLife Investors USA at 22 Corporate Plaza Drive, Newport Beach,
California 92660, or by calling 1-800-284-4536.
Additional Information
The Portfolios are each subject to the information requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the 1940 Act, and in accordance therewith
file reports and other information including proxy material, and charter
documents with the Commission. These items can be inspected and copies obtained
at the Public Reference Facilities maintained by the Commission at 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the Commission's Regional Offices
located at Northwest Atrium Center, 500 West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois
60661-2511 and Woolworth Building, 233 Broadway, New York, New York 10279, at
prescribed rates.
METLIFE INVESTORS USA REQUESTS THAT YOU PROMPTLY EXECUTE AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED
VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD. A PRE-ADDRESSED, POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE IS ENCLOSED FOR
YOUR CONVENIENCE.
FORM OF VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD
YOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT!
PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN THIS
VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD IN THE
ENCLOSED ENVELOPE TODAY!
You may also vote by:
o Telephone:
1. Call toll free 1-866-235-4258.
2. Follow the simple instructions.
o Fax:
After completing and signing this Card, fax it (both
front and back sides) to 1-888-796-9932.
o Internet:
Visit our website at https://vote.proxy-direct.com and
follow the instructions for voting via Internet.
SUBACCOUNT UNITS
========================================================
[Current Subaccount Name] [Number of units]
============================= =========
VOTING METLIFE INVESTORS USA INSURANCE COMPANY VOTING
INSTRUCTION 22 Corporate Plaza Drive INSTRUCTION
Newport Beach, California 92660
I, the undersigned, hereby instruct MetLife Investors USA Insurance Company
("MetLife Investors USA") to count all of the accumulation units that I owned as
of January 30, 2004, in the subaccount(s) of MetLife Investors USA Separate
Account A listed above as being voted as indicated on this Voting Instruction
Card.
ACCUMULATION UNITS LISTED ABOVE WILL BE VOTED AS INDICATED OR AS "FOR" ANY
PROPOSAL FOR WHICH NO CHOICE IS INDICATED. To be counted, Voting Instruction
Cards must be received by MetLife Investors USA no later than Friday, April 23,
2004 at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
VOTE VIA THE INTERNET: https://vote.proxy-direct.com
VOTE VIA THE TELEPHONE: 1-866-235-4258
VOTE VIA FACSIMILE: 1-888-796-9932
[Voting Control Number]
NOTE: PLEASE SIGN EXACTLY AS YOUR NAME(S) APPEAR ON THIS CARD. When signing as
attorney, executor, administrator, trustee, guardian, or as custodian for a
minor, please sign your name and give your full title. If you are signing on
behalf of a corporation, please sign the full corporate name and your name and
indicate your title. If you are a partner signing for a partnership, please sign
the partnership name, your name and indicate your title. Joint owners should
each sign these instructions. Please sign, date and return.
----------------------------------
Signature
----------------------------------
Signature of joint owner, if any
----------------------------------
Date
THESE VOTING INSTRUCTIONS ARE BEING SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF METLIFE INVESTORS
USA. RECEIPT OF THE ACCOMPANYING VOTING INFORMATION STATEMENT(S), AS APPLICABLE,
IS HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGED.
IF THIS VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD IS SIGNED AND RETURNED AND NO SPECIFICATION IS
MADE, METLIFE INVESTORS USA WILL COUNT THE VOTE AS "FOR" ALL OF THE PROPOSALS.
Please note that a vote to "ABSTAIN" will have the same effect as a "NO" vote.
PLEASE VOTE BY FILLING IN THE APPROPRIATE BOXES BELOW. EXAMPLE: |X|
METLIFE INVESTORS USA RECOMMENDS THAT YOU VOTE "FOR" EACH OF THE FOLLOWING:
1. To approve the substitution of Class A shares of the Replacement
Portfolio(s) listed below, for the shares of the corresponding current
Portfolio(s) listed below that is currently included as an investment
option under certain variable insurance contracts offered by MetLife
Investors USA Insurance Company.
|_| To vote all Portfolios FOR ; |_| to vote all Portfolios AGAINST ; |_| to
ABSTAIN votes for all Portfolios; or vote separately by Portfolio below.
CURRENT PORTFOLIO REPLACEMENT PORTFOLIO FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN
[Name of Current Portfolio] [Name of Replacement Portfolio] |_| |_| |_|
IMPORTANT: PLEASE SIGN AND DATE ON THE REVERSE SIDE BEFORE MAILING OR FAXING