Exhibit 99.1


Contacts:  For Media:      John Calagna
                           (212) 578-4072

           For Investors:  John Nadel
                           (212) 578-2085

                         METLIFE COMMENTS ON 10-Q FILING

NEW YORK, August 13, 2003 - MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET) announced today in its
filed 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2003 that the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission has commenced a formal investigation of New England
Securities Corporation, an indirect subsidiary of New England Life Insurance
Company ("NES"), in response to NES informing the SEC that certain systems and
controls relating to one NES advisory program were not operating effectively.
NES is cooperating fully with the SEC and is continuing to research the effect,
if any, of this issue upon approximately 6,000 active and closed accounts.

In commenting about this investigation, the company clarified that the NES
administrative system for this advisory program did not correctly rebalance
asset allocations within certain investment manager accounts. The company
intends to make affected clients whole and currently estimates a pre-tax cost of
between $3 million and $11 million to do so. The company also added that it
believes it is appropriately reserved for this matter.

MetLife, Inc., through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading provider of
insurance and other financial services to individual and institutional
customers. The MetLife companies serve approximately 12 million individuals 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 have insurance
operations in 12 countries serving approximately 8 million customers.

                                      # # #

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 litigation or arbitration
results; (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 debt
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; and (xiv) 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.