CONTACT: Dennis Schain, 860-524-7313
dennis.schain@po.state.ct.us
John Calagna, 212-578-6252
jcalagna@metlife.com
GOVERNOR RELL AND METLIFE'S BENMOSCHE
ANNOUNCE NEW JOB-SAVING AGREEMENT
NEW YORK, April 15, 2005 - Governor M. Jodi Rell and MetLife Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer Robert H. Benmosche today announced an agreement to keep 1,310
jobs in Hartford following the acquisition by MetLife of Travelers Life &
Annuity. The announcement comes after three weeks of intensive talks between
representatives of Governor Rell's office and MetLife.
Governor Rell said that the job losses, which stood at 1,200 when the talks
began, will now total 490.
"This was an important fight, and we saved a lot of jobs," Governor Rell said.
"But our efforts to turn around our economy and create jobs elsewhere continue.
"Frankly, I am concerned by the loss of any job," the Governor said. "My role is
to protect the interests of Connecticut and the employees, and MetLife has been
responsive to our concerns. In a perfect world this acquisition would be
accomplished without any cutbacks. In the real world job losses are sometimes
unavoidable.
"For me this is about the workers and their families, and the quality of life we
enjoy in Connecticut," Governor Rell said. "My goal from the beginning has been
to ease the effects on the hard-working men and women of Travelers, and on the
countless businesses large and small that feel the ripple effects of an economic
change such as this.
"I do appreciate the efforts of Bob Benmosche and his MetLife team," Governor
Rell said. "I look forward to having MetLife in Hartford. Their presence
reinforces Hartford's reputation as 'Insurance Capital of the World' and I am
confident MetLife will be a responsible employer and good neighbor who will
invest in community groups and organizations."
MetLife has guaranteed that 1,310 jobs will be preserved for at least one year
following the official closing of the deal. Moreover, MetLife has promised that
there will be no change, apart from attrition, to the approximately 1,200
positions it currently has in Connecticut, including the towns of Glastonbury,
Rocky Hill, Shelton and Westport.
"We are pleased that through negotiations with the Governor and our own
comprehensive review we have arrived at a job level that will enable us to
complete this transaction in a way that benefits all of our constituencies,"
said MetLife Chairman Benmosche. "I am confident that the Travelers acquisition
will be viewed for MetLife, the state of Connecticut in general, and
Hartford in particular, as an example of business and government working
together for the benefit of all."
Governor Rell expressed her appreciation to Attorney General Richard Blumenthal
and Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez for their efforts during the negotiations.
Talks between the Governor's office and MetLife officials began shortly after
Governor Rell and CEO Benmosche met in her office on March 7. MetLife announced
on January 31 that it planned to acquire Travelers Life & Annuity for $11.5
billion from Citigroup.
MetLife's application for approval of the transaction is pending before the
state Department of Insurance. The state will offer its comments during the
regulatory approval process but the Governor has asked, and the Attorney General
has agreed, to withdraw Connecticut's petition for intervenor status in the
review.
"I will continue to closely monitor the acquisition and approval process -
asking questions about the details of the deal and issues relating to the public
interest," Blumenthal said. "Our strongly stated intention to intervene opposing
the deal hopefully helped persuade MetLife to retain more Connecticut jobs.
There is no satisfaction in the loss of any jobs - but this number is far better
than MetLife's initial plans. I am grateful for the Governor's effective
efforts, which we were pleased to join and support."
MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a
leading provider of insurance and other financial services to individual and
institutional customers. The MetLife companies serve individuals in
approximately 13 million households in the U.S. and provide benefits to 37
million employees and family members through their plan sponsors. Outside the
U.S., the MetLife companies serve approximately 9 million customers through
direct insurance operations in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, China, Hong Kong,
India, Indonesia, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan and Uruguay. For more information
about MetLife, please visit the company's Web site at www.metlife.com.
# # #
This release contains statements which constitute forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995,
including statements relating to trends in the company's operations and
financial results and the business and the products of the company and its
subsidiaries, as well as other statements including words such as "anticipate,"
"believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend" and other similar expressions.
Forward-looking statements are made based upon management's current expectations
and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effects on the
company. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future
performance.
Actual results may differ materially from those included in the forward-looking
statements as a result of risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to
the following: (i) changes in general economic conditions, including the
performance of financial markets and interest rates; (ii) heightened
competition, including with respect to pricing, entry of new competitors and the
development of new products by new and existing competitors; (iii) unanticipated
changes in industry trends; (iv) the company's primary reliance, as a holding
company, on dividends from its subsidiaries to meet debt payment obligations and
the applicable regulatory restrictions on the ability of the subsidiaries to pay
such dividends; (v) deterioration in the experience of the "closed block"
established in connection with the reorganization of Metropolitan Life Insurance
Company; (vi) catastrophe losses; (vii) adverse results or other consequences
from litigation, arbitration or regulatory investigations; (viii) regulatory,
accounting or tax changes that may affect the cost of, or demand for, the
company's products or services; (ix) downgrades in the company's and its
affiliates' claims paying ability, financial strength or credit ratings; (x)
changes in rating agency policies or practices; (xi) discrepancies between
actual claims experience and assumptions used in setting prices for the
company's products and establishing the liabilities for the company's
obligations for future policy benefits and claims; (xii) discrepancies between
actual experience and assumptions used in establishing liabilities related to
other contingencies or obligations; (xiii) the effects of business disruption or
economic contraction due to terrorism or other hostilities; (xiv) the company's
ability to identify and consummate on successful terms any future acquisitions,
and to successfully integrate acquired businesses with minimal disruption; and
(xv) other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in the company's
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its S-1 and S-3
registration statements. The company specifically disclaims any obligation to
update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new
information, future developments or otherwise.