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Equity
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024
Equity [Abstract]  
Equity
19. Equity
Preferred Stock
Preferred stock authorized, issued and outstanding was as follows at both December 31, 2024 and 2023:
SeriesShares AuthorizedShares Issued and Outstanding
Series A preferred stock
27,600,000 24,000,000 
Series D preferred stock
500,000 500,000 
Series E preferred stock
32,200 32,200 
Series F preferred stock40,000 40,000 
Series G preferred stock1,000,000 1,000,000 
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
10,000,000 — 
Not designated
160,827,800 — 
Total200,000,000 25,572,200 
The outstanding preferred stock ranks senior to MetLife, Inc.’s common stock with respect to the payment of dividends and distributions upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up. Holders of the outstanding preferred stock are entitled to receive dividend payments only when, as and if declared by MetLife, Inc.’s Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof. Dividends on the preferred stock are not cumulative or mandatory. Accordingly, if dividends are not declared on the preferred stock of the applicable series for any dividend period, then any accrued dividends for that dividend period will cease to accrue and be payable. If a dividend is not declared before the dividend payment date for any such dividend period, MetLife, Inc. will have no obligation to pay dividends accrued for such dividend period whether or not dividends are declared for any future period. No dividends may be paid or declared on MetLife, Inc.’s common stock (or any other securities ranking junior to the preferred stock) and MetLife, Inc. may not purchase, redeem, or otherwise acquire its common stock (or other such junior stock) unless the full dividends for the latest completed dividend period on all outstanding shares of preferred stock, and any parity stock, have been declared and paid or provided for.
The table below presents the dividend rates of MetLife, Inc.’s preferred stock outstanding at December 31, 2024:
SeriesPer Annum Dividend Rate
A
Three-month CME Term SOFR plus a spread adjustment of 0.26161% + 1.000%, with floor of 4.000%, payable quarterly in March, June, September and December
D
5.875% from issuance date to, but excluding, March 15, 2028, payable semiannually in March and September; three-month CME Term SOFR plus a spread adjustment of 0.26161% + 2.959% payable quarterly in March, June, September and December, thereafter
E
5.625% from issuance date, payable quarterly in March, June, September and December
F
4.750% from issuance date, payable quarterly in March, June, September and December
G
3.850% from issuance date, but excluding, September 15, 2025, payable semiannually in March and September; five-year treasury rate, reset every five years, + 3.576% payable semiannually in March and September, thereafter
In the table above, dividends on each series of preferred stock are payable in arrears for the periods specified, if declared.
MetLife, Inc. is prohibited from declaring dividends on the Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A (the “Series A preferred stock”) if it fails to meet specified capital adequacy, net income and stockholders’ equity levels. See “— Dividend Restrictions — MetLife, Inc.”
Holders of the preferred stock do not have voting rights except in certain circumstances, including where the dividends have not been paid for a specified number of dividend payment periods whether or not those periods are consecutive. Under such circumstances, the holders of the preferred stock have certain voting rights with respect to members of the Board of Directors of MetLife, Inc.
The preferred stock is not subject to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund, retirement fund, purchase fund or similar provisions.
The Series A preferred stock is redeemable at MetLife, Inc.’s option in whole or in part, at a redemption price of $25 per share of Series A preferred stock, plus declared and unpaid dividends.
MetLife, Inc. may, at its option, redeem the 5.875% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series D (the “Series D preferred stock”), (i) in whole but not in part at any time prior to March 15, 2028, within 90 days after the occurrence of a “rating agency event,” at a redemption price equal to $1,020 per share of Series D preferred stock, plus an amount equal to any dividends per share that have accrued but have not been declared and paid for the then-current dividend period to, but excluding, such redemption date; (ii) in whole but not in part, at any time prior to March 15, 2028, within 90 days after the occurrence of a “regulatory capital event;” and (iii) in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, on or after March 15, 2028, in the case of (ii) or (iii), at a redemption price equal to $1,000 per share of Series D preferred stock, plus an amount equal to any dividends per share that have accrued but have not been declared and paid for the then-current dividend period to, but excluding, such redemption date.
MetLife, Inc. may, at its option, redeem the 5.625% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series E (the “Series E preferred stock”), in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time at a redemption price equal to $25,000 per share of Series E preferred stock (equivalent to $25 per depositary share, each Series E depositary share representing a 1/1,000th interest in a share of the Series E preferred stock), plus an amount equal to any dividends per share that have accrued but have not been declared and paid for the then-current dividend period to, but excluding, such redemption date.
MetLife, Inc. may, at its option, redeem the 4.75% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series F (the “Series F preferred stock”), (i) in whole but not in part at any time prior to March 15, 2025, within 90 days after the occurrence of a “rating agency event,” at a redemption price equal to $25,500 per share of Series F preferred stock (equivalent to $25.50 per Series F Depositary Share), plus an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends per share that have accrued but have not been declared and paid for the then-current dividend period to, but excluding, the redemption date, (ii) in whole but not in part, at any time prior to March 15, 2025, within 90 days after the occurrence of a “regulatory capital event;” and (iii) in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time, on or after March 15, 2025, in the case of (ii) or (iii), at a redemption price equal to $25,000 per share of Series F preferred stock (equivalent to $25 per Series F Depositary Share), plus an amount equal to any dividends per share that have accrued but have not been declared and paid for the then-current dividend period to, but excluding, such redemption date.
MetLife, Inc. may, at its option, redeem the 3.85% Fixed Rate Reset Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series G (the “Series G preferred stock”), (a) in whole but not in part, at any time, within 90 days after the conclusion of any review or appeal process instituted by the Company following the occurrence of a “rating agency event” or, in the absence of any such review or appeal process, from such “rating agency event,” at a redemption price equal to $1,020 per share of Series G preferred stock, plus an amount equal to any dividends per share that have accrued but have not been declared and paid for the then-current dividend period to, but excluding, such redemption date and (b)(i) in whole but not in part, at any time, within 90 days after the occurrence of a “regulatory capital event,” or (ii) in whole or in part, on any dividend payment date, on or after September 15, 2025, in each case, at a redemption price equal to $1,000 per share of Series G preferred stock, plus an amount equal to any dividends per share that have accrued but have not been declared and paid for the then-current dividend period to, but excluding, such redemption date.
A “rating agency event” means that any nationally recognized statistical rating organization that then publishes a rating for MetLife, Inc. amends, clarifies or changes the criteria used to assign equity credit to securities like the Series D preferred stock, Series E preferred stock, Series F preferred stock or Series G preferred stock, which results in the lowering of the equity credit assigned to the security, or shortens the length of time that the security is assigned a particular level of equity credit. A “regulatory capital event” could occur as a result of a change or proposed change in laws, rules, regulations or regulatory standards, including capital adequacy rules (or the interpretation or application thereof) of the United States or any political subdivision thereof, including any capital regulator, including but not limited to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve Board”), the Federal Insurance Office, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”) or any state insurance regulator as may then have group-wide oversight of MetLife, Inc.’s regulatory capital, from those laws, rules, regulations or regulatory standards (or the interpretation or application thereof) in effect as of March 22, 2018, in the case of the Series D preferred stock, June 4, 2018, in the case of the Series E preferred stock, January 15, 2020, in the case of the Series F preferred stock, or September 10, 2020, in the case of the Series G preferred stock, that would create a more than insubstantial risk, as determined by MetLife, Inc., that the security would not be treated as “Tier 1 capital” or as capital with attributes similar to those of Tier 1 capital, except that a “regulatory capital event” will not include a change or proposed change (or the interpretation or application thereof) that would result in the adoption of any criteria substantially the same as the criteria in the capital adequacy rules of the Federal Reserve Board applicable to bank holding companies as of March 22, 2018, in the case of the Series D preferred stock, June 4, 2018, in the case of the Series E preferred stock, January 15, 2020, in the case of the Series F preferred stock, or September 10, 2020, in the case of the Series G preferred stock.
The per share and aggregate dividends declared for MetLife, Inc.’s preferred stock were as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
202420232022
SeriesPer ShareAggregatePer ShareAggregatePer ShareAggregate
(In millions, except per share data)
A$1.659 $39 $1.577 $37 $1.033 $24 
D$58.750 29 $58.750 29 $58.750 29 
E$1,406.252 45 $1,406.252 45 $1,406.252 45 
F$1,187.500 48 $1,187.500 48 $1,187.500 48 
G$38.500 39 $38.500 39 $38.500 39 
Total$200 $198 $185 
Common Stock
Issuances
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, MetLife, Inc. issued 2,344,977 shares, 1,992,180 shares and 3,290,998 shares of its common stock for $105 million, $110 million and $156 million, respectively, in connection with stock option exercises and other stock-based awards. There were no shares of common stock issued from treasury stock for any of the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 or 2022.
Repurchase Authorizations
MetLife, Inc. announced that its Board of Directors authorized common stock repurchases as follows:
Announcement DateAuthorization Amount
Authorization Remaining at
December 31, 2024 (1)
(In millions)
May 1, 2024$3,000 $1,925 
May 25, 2023$1,000 $— 
May 3, 2023$3,000 $— 
May 4, 2022$3,000 $— 
_________________
(1)The Inflation Reduction Act, signed into law on August 16, 2022, imposes a one percent excise tax, net of any allowable offsets, on certain corporate stock buybacks made after December 31, 2022. The authorization remaining at December 31, 2024 does not reflect the applicable excise tax payable.
Under these authorizations, MetLife, Inc. may purchase its common stock from the MetLife Policyholder Trust, in the open market (including pursuant to the terms of a pre-set trading plan meeting the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), and in privately negotiated transactions. Common stock repurchases are subject to the discretion of MetLife, Inc.’s Board of Directors and will depend upon the Company’s capital position, liquidity, financial strength and credit ratings, general market conditions, the market price of MetLife, Inc.’s common stock compared to management’s assessment of the stock’s underlying value, applicable regulatory approvals, and other legal and accounting factors.
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, MetLife, Inc. repurchased 43,955,023 shares, 50,269,483 shares and 49,732,851 shares of its common stock, respectively, through open market purchases for $3.2 billion, $3.1 billion, and $3.3 billion, respectively, excluding applicable excise tax. The excise tax is reflected in treasury stock as part of the cost basis of the common stock repurchased.
Dividends
For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, MetLife, Inc. paid dividends on its common stock of $1.5 billion, $1.6 billion and $1.6 billion, respectively. The payment of dividends by MetLife, Inc. to its shareholders is subject to restrictions. See “— Dividend Restrictions — MetLife, Inc.”
The funding of the cash dividends and operating expenses of MetLife, Inc. is primarily provided by cash dividends from MetLife, Inc.’s insurance subsidiaries. The statutory capital and surplus, or net assets, of MetLife, Inc.’s insurance subsidiaries are subject to regulatory restrictions except to the extent that dividends are allowed to be paid in a given year without prior regulatory approval. Dividends exceeding these limitations can generally be made subject to regulatory approval. The nature and amount of these dividend restrictions, as well as the statutory capital and surplus of MetLife, Inc.’s U.S. insurance subsidiaries, are disclosed in “— Statutory Equity and Income” and “— Dividend Restrictions — Insurance Operations.” MetLife, Inc.’s principal non-U.S. insurance operations are branches or subsidiaries of American Life Insurance Company (“American Life”), a U.S. insurance subsidiary of the Company.
Stock-Based Compensation Plans
Plans for Employees and Agents
Under the MetLife, Inc. 2015 Stock and Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2015 Stock Plan”), MetLife, Inc. may grant awards to employees and agents in the form of Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Shares or Performance Share Units, Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, Cash-Based Awards and Stock-Based Awards (each, as applicable, as defined in the 2015 Stock Plan with reference to shares of MetLife, Inc. common stock (“Shares”)). Awards under the 2015 Stock Plan and its predecessor plan, the MetLife, Inc. 2005 Stock and Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2005 Stock Plan”), were outstanding at December 31, 2024. MetLife, Inc. granted all awards to employees and agents in 2024 under the 2015 Stock Plan.
The aggregate number of Shares available for issuance under the 2015 Stock Plan at December 31, 2024 was 29,284,184.
MetLife recognizes compensation expense related to each award under the 2005 Stock Plan or 2015 Stock Plan in one of two ways:
For cash-settled awards, MetLife remeasures the compensation expense quarterly.
For other awards, MetLife recognizes an expense based on the number of awards it expects to vest, which represents the awards granted less expected forfeitures over the life of the award, as estimated at the date of grant. Unless MetLife observes a material deviation from the assumed forfeiture rate during the term in which the awards are expensed, MetLife recognizes any adjustment necessary to reflect differences in actual experience in the period the award becomes payable or exercisable.
Compensation expense related to awards under the 2005 Stock Plan principally relates to the issuance of Stock Options. Under the 2015 Stock Plan, compensation expense principally relates to Stock Options, Unit Options, Performance Shares, Performance Units, Restricted Stock Units and Restricted Units. MetLife, Inc. granted the majority of each year’s awards under the 2005 Stock Plan prior to 2015, and under the 2015 Stock Plan in 2015 and later in the first quarter of the year.
Awards that have become payable in Shares but the issuance of which has been deferred (“Deferred Shares”), payable to employees or agents related to awards under all plans equaled 627,849 Shares at December 31, 2024.
MetLife granted cash-settled awards based in whole or in part on the price of Shares or changes in the price of Shares (“Phantom Stock-Based Awards”) under the MetLife, Inc. International Unit Option Incentive Plan, the MetLife International Performance Unit Incentive Plan, and the MetLife International Restricted Unit Incentive Plan prior to 2015, and under the 2015 Stock Plan in 2015 and later.
Plans for Non-Management Directors
Under the MetLife, Inc. 2015 Non-Management Director Stock Compensation Plan (the “2015 Director Stock Plan”), MetLife, Inc. may grant non-management Directors of MetLife, Inc. awards in the form of nonqualified Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, or Stock-Based Awards (each, as applicable, as defined in the 2015 Director Stock Plan with reference to Shares).
The only awards MetLife, Inc. granted under the 2015 Director Stock Plan and its predecessor plan, the MetLife, Inc. 2005 Non-Management Director Stock Compensation Plan (the “2005 Director Stock Plan”), through December 31, 2024 were Stock-Based Awards that vested immediately. As a result, no awards under the 2005 Director Stock Plan or 2015 Director Stock Plan remained outstanding at December 31, 2024.
The aggregate number of Shares available for issuance under the 2015 Director Stock Plan at December 31, 2024 was 1,376,777.
MetLife recognizes compensation expense related to awards under the 2015 Director Stock Plan based on the number of Shares awarded.
Deferred Shares payable to Directors related to awards under the 2005 Director Stock Plan, 2015 Director Stock Plan, or earlier applicable plans equaled 315,652 Shares at December 31, 2024.
Compensation Expense Related to Stock-Based Compensation
The components of compensation expense related to stock-based compensation includes compensation expense related to Phantom Stock-Based Awards and excludes the insignificant compensation expense related to the 2015 Director Stock Plan. Those components were:
Years Ended December 31,
202420232022
(In millions)
Stock Options and Unit Options
$$$
Performance Shares and Performance Units (1)
87 98 108 
Restricted Stock Units and Restricted Units
74 66 69 
Total compensation expense
$168 $171 $184 
Income tax benefit
$35 $36 $39 
__________________
(1)The Company may further adjust the number of Performance Shares and Performance Units it expects to vest, and the related compensation expense, if management changes its estimate of the most likely final performance factor.
The following table presents the total unrecognized compensation expense related to stock-based compensation and the expected weighted average period over which these expenses will be recognized at:
December 31, 2024
ExpenseWeighted Average
Period
(In millions)(Years)
Stock Options
$1.79
Performance Shares
$25 1.69
Restricted Stock Units
$35 1.94
Equity Awards
Stock Options
Stock Options are the contingent right of award holders to purchase Shares at a stated price for a limited time. All Stock Options have an exercise price equal to the closing price of a Share reported on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) on the date of grant and have a maximum term of 10 years. The majority of Stock Options that MetLife, Inc. has granted have become or will become exercisable at a rate of one-third of each award on each of the first three anniversaries of the grant date. Other Stock Options have become or will become exercisable on the third anniversary of the grant date. Vesting is subject to continued service, except for employees who meet specified age and service criteria and in certain other limited circumstances.
Stock Option Activity
A summary of the activity related to Stock Options was as follows:
Shares
Under
Option
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value (1)
(Years)(In millions)
Outstanding at January 1, 20243,500,006 $52.04 5.21$53 
Granted
384,796 $69.16 
Exercised
(855,101)$46.23 
Expired (2)
(12,033)$45.15 
Forfeited (3)
(23,297)$69.97 
Outstanding at December 31, 20242,994,371 $55.79 5.51$78 
Vested and expected to vest at December 31, 20242,987,964 $55.76 5.50$78 
Exercisable at December 31, 20242,247,683 $51.07 4.52$69 
__________________
(1)The intrinsic value of each Stock Option is the closing price on a particular date less the exercise price of the Stock Option, so long as the difference is greater than zero. The aggregate intrinsic value of all outstanding Stock Options is computed using the closing Share price on December 31, 2024 of $81.88 and December 31, 2023 of $66.13, as applicable.
(2)Expired options were exercisable, but unexercised, as of their expiration date.
(3)Forfeited awards were either (a) unvested or unexercisable at the end of the awardholder’s employment, where the awardholder did not meet the criteria for post-employment award continuation; or (b) held by awardholders the Company terminated from employment for cause as defined in the terms of the awards.
MetLife estimates the fair value of Stock Options on the date of grant using a binomial lattice model. The significant assumptions the Company uses in its binomial lattice model include: expected volatility of the price of Shares; risk-free rate of return; dividend yield on Shares; exercise multiple; and the post-vesting termination rate.
MetLife bases expected volatility on an analysis of historical prices of Shares and call options on Shares traded on the open market. The Company uses a weighted-average of the implied volatility for publicly traded call options with the longest remaining maturity nearest to the money as of each valuation date and the historical volatility, calculated using monthly closing prices of Shares. The Company chose a monthly measurement interval for historical volatility as this interval reflects the Company’s view that employee option exercise decisions are based on longer-term trends in the price of the underlying Shares rather than on daily price movements.
The Company’s binomial lattice model incorporates different risk-free rates based on the imputed forward rates for U.S. Treasury Strips for each year over the contractual term of the option. The table below presents the full range of rates that were used for options granted during the respective periods.
The Company determines dividend yield based on historical dividend distributions compared to the price of the underlying Shares as of the valuation date and held constant over the life of the Stock Option.
The Company’s binomial lattice model incorporates the term of the Stock Options, expected exercise behavior and a post-vesting termination rate, or the rate at which vested options are exercised or expire prematurely due to termination of employment. From these factors, the model derives an expected life of the Stock Option. The model’s exercise behavior is a multiple that reflects the ratio of stock price at the time of exercise over the exercise price of the Stock Option at the time the model expects holders to exercise. The model derives the exercise multiple from actual exercise activity. The model determines the post-vesting termination rate from actual exercise experience and expiration activity under the Incentive Plans.
The following table presents the weighted average assumptions, with the exception of risk-free rate (which is expressed as a range), that the model uses to determine the fair value of unexercised Stock Options:
Years Ended December 31,
202420232022
Dividend yield
3.01%2.79%2.78%
Risk-free rate of return
5.03% - 4.22%
5.02% - 3.47%
1.17% - 1.97%
Expected volatility
26.36%25.73%26.67%
Exercise multiple
1.451.451.45
Post-vesting termination rate
3.33%3.47%3.58%
Contractual term (years)
101010
Expected life (years)
666
Weighted average exercise price of stock options granted
$69.16$71.73$68.96
Weighted average fair value of stock options granted
$17.13$17.56$15.18
The following table presents a summary of Stock Option exercise activity:
Years Ended December 31,
202420232022
(In millions)
Total intrinsic value of stock options exercised
$25 $$40 
Cash received from exercise of stock options
$40 $11 $48 
Income tax benefit realized from stock options exercised
$$$
Performance Shares
Performance Shares are units that, if they vest, are multiplied by a performance factor to produce a number of final Shares payable. MetLife accounts for Performance Shares as equity awards. MetLife, Inc. does not credit Performance Shares with dividend-equivalents for dividends paid on Shares. Performance Share awards normally vest in their entirety at the end of the three-year performance period. Vesting is subject to continued service, except for employees who meet specified age and service criteria and in certain other limited circumstances.
For awards granted for the 2019 – 2021 and later performance periods in progress through December 31, 2024, the vested Performance Shares will be multiplied by a performance factor of 0% to 175% that the MetLife, Inc. Compensation Committee will determine by (a) the Company’s annual adjusted return on equity performance over the three-year period compared to the Company’s three-year business plan goal; (b) the Company’s total shareholder return over the same three-year period compared to a peer group of companies; and (c) a cap of 100% if the Company’s total shareholder return for the three-year period is zero or less. The Compensation Committee will exclude the impact of a “Significant Event” from the Company’s adjusted return on equity or the business plan goal, to the extent the Committee determines in its informed judgment that the event changed the adjusted return on equity performance factor component. “Significant Events” include accounting changes, business combinations, restructuring, nonrecurring tax events, common share issuance or repurchases, catastrophes, litigation and regulatory settlements, asbestos and environmental events, certain specified classes of non-coupon investments, and other significant nonrecurring, infrequent, or unusual items.
The performance factor for the 2021 - 2023 performance period was 147.5%.
Restricted Stock Units
Restricted Stock Units are units that, if they vest, are payable in an equal number of Shares. MetLife accounts for Restricted Stock Units as equity awards. MetLife, Inc. does not credit Restricted Stock Units with dividend-equivalents for dividends paid on Shares. Accordingly, the estimated fair value of Restricted Stock Units is based upon the closing price of Shares on the date of grant, reduced by the present value of estimated dividends to be paid on that stock.
The majority of Restricted Stock Units normally vest in thirds on or shortly after the first three anniversaries of their grant date. Other Restricted Stock Units normally vest in their entirety on the third or later anniversary of their grant date. Vesting is subject to continued service, except for employees who meet specified age and service criteria and in certain other limited circumstances.
Performance Share and Restricted Stock Unit Activity
The following table presents a summary of Performance Share and Restricted Stock Unit activity:
Performance SharesRestricted Stock Units
SharesWeighted
Average
Fair Value (1)
UnitsWeighted
Average
Fair Value (1)
Outstanding at January 1, 2024
2,913,498 $59.65 1,849,617 $61.68 
Granted1,007,673 $62.87 1,014,399 $63.44 
Forfeited (2)(118,051)$63.73 (144,583)$63.42 
Payable (3)(1,048,303)$51.37 (907,842)$59.29 
Outstanding at December 31, 2024
2,754,817 $63.80 1,811,591 $63.72 
Vested and expected to vest at December 31, 2024
2,717,853 $63.80 1,779,539 $63.72 
__________________
(1)Values for awards outstanding at January 1, 2024, represent weighted average number of awards multiplied by their fair value per Share at December 31, 2023. Otherwise, all values represent weighted average of number of awards multiplied by the fair value per Share at December 31, 2024. Fair value of Performance Shares and Restricted Stock Units on December 31, 2024 was equal to Grant Date fair value.
(2)Forfeited awards were either (a) unvested or unexercisable at the end of the awardholder’s employment, where the awardholder did not meet the criteria for post-employment award continuation; or (b) held by awardholders the Company terminated from employment for cause as defined in the terms of the awards.
(3)Includes both Shares paid and Deferred Shares.
Performance Share amounts above represent aggregate awards at target, and do not reflect potential increases or decreases that may result from the performance factor. At December 31, 2024, the performance period for the 2022 - 2024 Performance Share grants was completed, but the performance factor had not yet been determined. Included in the immediately preceding table are 873,665 outstanding Performance Shares to which the 2022 - 2024 performance factor will be applied.
Liability Awards (Phantom Stock-Based Awards)
Certain MetLife subsidiaries have a liability for Phantom Stock-Based Awards in the form of Unit Options, Performance Units, and/or Restricted Units. These Share-based cash settled awards are recorded as liabilities until MetLife makes payment. The fair value of unsettled or unvested liability awards is re-measured at the end of each reporting period based on the change in fair value of one Share. The liability and corresponding expense are adjusted accordingly until the award is settled.
Unit Options
Unit Options are the contingent right of award holders to receive a cash payment equal to the closing price of a Share on the exercise date, less the closing price on the grant date, if the difference is greater than zero, for a limited time. All Unit Options have an exercise price equal to the closing price of a Share reported on the NYSE on the date of grant and have a maximum term of 10 years. The majority of Unit Options have become or will become eligible for exercise at a rate of one-third of each award on each of the first three anniversaries of the grant date. Other Unit Options have become or will become eligible for exercise on the third anniversary of the grant date. Vesting is subject to continued service, except for employees who meet specified age and service criteria and in certain other limited circumstances.
Performance Units
Performance Units are units that, if they vest, are multiplied by a performance factor to produce a number of final Performance Units which are payable in cash equal to the closing price of a Share on a date following the last day of the three-year performance period. Performance Units are accounted for as liability awards. MetLife, Inc. does not credit them with dividend-equivalents for dividends paid on Shares. Accordingly, the estimated fair value of Performance Units is based upon the closing price of a Share on the date of grant, reduced by the present value of estimated dividends to be paid on that stock during the performance period. MetLife determines each performance period’s performance factor in the same way it does for the same performance period’s Performance Shares.
See “— Equity Awards — Performance Shares” for a discussion of the Performance Shares vesting period and performance factor calculation, which are also used for Performance Units.
Restricted Units
Restricted Units are units that, if they vest, are payable in cash equal to the closing price of a Share on the last day of the restriction period. The majority of Restricted Units normally vest in thirds on or shortly after the first three anniversaries of their grant date. Other Restricted Units normally vest in their entirety on the third or later anniversary of their grant date. Vesting is subject to continued service, except for employees who meet specified age and service criteria and in certain other limited circumstances. Restricted Units are accounted for as liability awards. MetLife, Inc. does not credit Restricted Units with dividend-equivalents for dividends paid on Shares. Accordingly, the estimated fair value of Restricted Units is based upon the closing price of a Share on the date of grant, reduced by the present value of estimated dividends to be paid on that stock during the performance period.
Liability Award Activity
The following table presents a summary of Liability Awards activity:
Unit
Options
Performance
Units
Restricted
Units
Outstanding at January 1, 202439,152 339,541 389,491 
Granted
14,699 138,397 224,743 
Exercised
(9,202)— — 
Expired (1)
(3,911)— — 
Forfeited (2)
— (12,829)(19,812)
Paid
— (118,848)(195,472)
Outstanding at December 31, 202440,738 346,261 398,950 
Vested and expected to vest at December 31, 202440,173 338,603 390,822 
__________________
(1)Expired options were exercisable, but unexercised, as of their expiration date.
(2)Forfeited awards were either (a) unvested or unexercisable at the end of the awardholder’s employment, where the awardholder did not meet the criteria for post-employment award continuation; or (b) held by awardholders the Company terminated from employment for cause as defined in the terms of the awards.
Performance Units amounts above represent aggregate awards at target, and do not reflect potential increases or decreases that may result from the performance factor. At December 31, 2024, the performance period for the 2022 - 2024 Performance Unit grants was completed, but the performance factor had not yet been determined. Included in the immediately preceding table are 102,582 outstanding Performance Units to which the 2022 - 2024 performance factor will be applied.
Statutory Equity and Income
The states of domicile of MetLife, Inc.’s U.S. insurance subsidiaries each impose risk-based capital (“RBC”) requirements that were developed by the NAIC. American Life does not write business in Delaware or any other U.S. state and, as such, is exempt from RBC requirements by Delaware law. Regulatory compliance is determined by a ratio of a company’s total adjusted capital, calculated in the manner prescribed by the NAIC (“TAC”), to its authorized control level RBC, calculated in the manner prescribed by the NAIC (“authorized control level RBC”), based on the statutory-based financial statements. Companies below specific trigger levels or ratios are classified by their respective levels, each of which requires specified corrective action. The minimum level of TAC before corrective action commences is twice authorized control level RBC (“Company Action Level RBC”). While not required by or filed with insurance regulators, the Company also calculates an internally defined combined RBC ratio (“Statement-Based Combined RBC Ratio”), which is determined by dividing the sum of TAC for MetLife, Inc.’s principal U.S. insurance subsidiaries, excluding American Life, by the sum of Company Action Level RBC for such subsidiaries. The Company’s Statement-Based Combined RBC Ratio was in excess of 360% and in excess of 380% at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. In addition, all non-exempted U.S. insurance subsidiaries individually exceeded Company Action Level RBC for all periods presented.
MetLife, Inc.’s foreign insurance operations are regulated by applicable authorities of the jurisdictions in which each entity operates and are subject to minimum capital and solvency requirements in those jurisdictions before corrective action commences. At both December 31, 2024 and 2023, the adjusted capital of American Life’s insurance subsidiary in Japan, the Company’s largest foreign insurance operation, was in excess of three times the 200% solvency margin ratio that would require corrective action. Excluding Japan, the aggregate required and actual capital and surplus of the Company’s other foreign insurance operations was $4.0 billion and $11.0 billion, respectively, as of the date of the most recent fiscal year-end capital adequacy calculation for each jurisdiction, exceeding the respective minimum capital and solvency requirements.
MetLife, Inc.’s insurance subsidiaries prepare statutory-basis financial statements in accordance with statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the insurance department of the state of domicile or applicable foreign jurisdiction. The NAIC has adopted the Codification of Statutory Accounting Principles (“Statutory Codification”). Statutory Codification is intended to standardize regulatory accounting and reporting to state insurance departments. However, statutory accounting principles continue to be established by individual state laws and permitted practices. Modifications by the various state insurance departments may impact the effect of Statutory Codification on the statutory capital and surplus of MetLife, Inc.’s U.S. insurance subsidiaries.
Statutory accounting principles differ from GAAP primarily by charging policy acquisition costs to expense as incurred, establishing FPBs using different actuarial assumptions, reporting surplus notes as surplus instead of debt and valuing securities on a different basis.
In addition, certain assets are not admitted under statutory accounting principles and are charged directly to surplus. The most significant assets not admitted by the Company are net deferred income tax assets resulting from temporary differences between statutory accounting principles basis and tax basis not expected to reverse and become recoverable within three years. Further, statutory accounting principles do not give recognition to purchase accounting adjustments. MetLife, Inc.’s U.S. insurance subsidiaries have no material state prescribed accounting practices, except as described below.
New York has adopted certain prescribed accounting practices, primarily consisting of the continuous Commissioners’ Annuity Reserve Valuation Method, which impacts deferred annuities, and the New York Special Considerations Letter, which mandates certain assumptions in asset adequacy testing. The collective impact of these prescribed accounting practices decreased the statutory capital and surplus of MLIC by $1.5 billion and $1.4 billion at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, compared to what capital and surplus would have been had it been measured under NAIC guidance.
American Life calculates its policyholder reserves on insurance written in each foreign jurisdiction in accordance with the reserve standards required by such jurisdiction. Additionally, American Life’s insurance subsidiaries are valued based on each respective subsidiary’s underlying local statutory equity, adjusted in a manner consistent with the reporting prescribed for its branch operations. The prescribed practice exempts American Life from calculating and disclosing the impact to its statutory capital and surplus.
The tables below present amounts for MetLife, Inc.’s U.S. insurance subsidiaries, prepared in accordance with statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the insurance department of the state of domicile.
Statutory net income (loss) was as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
CompanyState of Domicile202420232022
(In millions)
MLIC
New York$2,457 $3,407 $2,737 
American Life
Delaware$365 $767 $824 
Metropolitan Tower Life Insurance Company (“MTL”)
Nebraska$361 $411 $232 
Other
Various$65 $53 $91 
Statutory capital and surplus was as follows at:
December 31,
Company20242023
(In millions)
MLIC
$9,787 $11,593 
American Life
$7,555 $8,272 
MTL
$2,247 $2,461 
Other
$347 $358 
The Company’s U.S. captive life reinsurance subsidiaries, which reinsure risks including the closed block, level premium term life and ULSG assumed from other MetLife subsidiaries, have no state prescribed accounting practices, except for MRV.
MRV, with the explicit permission of the Commissioner of Insurance of the State of Vermont, has included, as admitted assets, the value of letters of credit serving as collateral for reinsurance credit taken by various affiliated cedants, in connection with reinsurance agreements entered into between MRV and the various affiliated cedants, which resulted in higher statutory capital and surplus of $2.0 billion at both December 31, 2024 and 2023. MRV’s RBC would have triggered a regulatory event without the use of the state prescribed practice.
The combined statutory net income (loss) of MetLife, Inc.’s U.S. captive life reinsurance subsidiaries was $92 million, $63 million and $44 million for the years ended December 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and the combined statutory capital and surplus, reflecting the aforementioned prescribed accounting practice, was $655 million and $723 million at December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
Dividend Restrictions
Insurance Operations
The table below sets forth the dividends permitted to be paid by MetLife, Inc.’s primary insurance subsidiaries without insurance regulatory approval and the actual dividends paid:
202520242023
CompanyPermitted Without
Approval (1)
Paid (2)Paid (2)
(In millions)
MLIC
$2,732 $3,476 $2,471 
American Life
$751 $1,485 $1,887 
MTL
$358 $373 $189 
__________________
(1)Reflects dividend amounts that may be paid by the end of 2025 without prior regulatory approval.
(2)Reflects all amounts paid, including those where regulatory approval was obtained as required.
Under the New York State Insurance Law, MLIC is permitted, without prior insurance regulatory clearance, to pay stockholder dividends to MetLife, Inc. in any calendar year based on either of two standards. Under one standard, MLIC is permitted, without prior insurance regulatory clearance, to pay dividends out of earned surplus (defined as positive unassigned funds (surplus), excluding 85% of the change in net unrealized capital gains or losses (less capital gains tax), for the immediately preceding calendar year), in an amount up to the greater of: (i) 10% of its surplus to policyholders as of the end of the immediately preceding calendar year, or (ii) its statutory net gain from operations for the immediately preceding calendar year (excluding realized capital gains), not to exceed 30% of surplus to policyholders as of the end of the immediately preceding calendar year. In addition, under this standard, MLIC may not, without prior insurance regulatory clearance, pay any dividends in any calendar year immediately following a calendar year for which its net gain from operations, excluding realized capital gains, was negative. Under the second standard, if dividends are paid out of other than earned surplus, MLIC may, without prior insurance regulatory clearance, pay an amount up to the lesser of: (i) 10% of its surplus to policyholders as of the end of the immediately preceding calendar year, or (ii) its statutory net gain from operations for the immediately preceding calendar year (excluding realized capital gains). In addition, MLIC will be permitted to pay a dividend to MetLife, Inc. in excess of the amounts allowed under both standards only if it files notice of its intention to declare such a dividend and the amount thereof with the New York Superintendent of Financial Services (the “Superintendent”) and the Superintendent either approves the distribution of the dividend or does not disapprove the dividend within 30 days of its filing. Under the New York State Insurance Law, the Superintendent has broad discretion in determining whether the financial condition of a stock life insurance company would support the payment of such dividends to its stockholder.
Under the Delaware Insurance Code, American Life is permitted, without prior insurance regulatory clearance, to pay a stockholder dividend to MetLife, Inc. as long as the amount of the dividend, when aggregated with all other dividends in the preceding 12 months, does not exceed the greater of: (i) 10% of its surplus to policyholders as of the end of the immediately preceding calendar year, or (ii) its statutory net gain from operations for the immediately preceding calendar year (excluding realized capital gains), not including pro rata distributions of American Life’s own securities. American Life will be permitted to pay a dividend to MetLife, Inc. in excess of the greater of such two amounts only if it files notice of the declaration of such a dividend and the amount thereof with the Delaware Commissioner of Insurance (the “Delaware Commissioner”) and the Delaware Commissioner either approves the distribution of the dividend or does not disapprove the dividend within 30 days of its filing. In addition, any dividend that exceeds earned surplus (defined as “unassigned funds (surplus)”) as of the immediately preceding calendar year requires insurance regulatory approval. Under the Delaware Insurance Code, the Delaware Commissioner has broad discretion in determining whether the financial condition of a stock life insurance company would support the payment of such dividends to its stockholders.
Under the Nebraska Insurance Code, MTL is permitted, without prior insurance regulatory clearance, to pay a stockholder dividend to MetLife, Inc. as long as the amount of the dividend, when aggregated with all other dividends in the preceding 12 months, does not exceed the greater of: (i) 10% of its surplus to policyholders as of the end of the immediately preceding calendar year, or (ii) its statutory net gain from operations for the immediately preceding calendar year (excluding realized capital gains), not including pro rata distributions of MTL’s own securities. MTL will be permitted to pay a dividend to MetLife, Inc. in excess of the greater of such two amounts only if it files notice of the declaration of such a dividend and the amount thereof with the Director of the Nebraska Department of Insurance (the “Nebraska Director”) and the Nebraska Director either approves the distribution of the dividend or does not disapprove the dividend within 30 days of its filing. In addition, any dividend that exceeds earned surplus (defined as “unassigned funds (surplus)” excluding unrealized capital gains) as of the immediately preceding calendar year requires insurance regulatory approval. Under the Nebraska Insurance Code, the Nebraska Director has broad discretion in determining whether the financial condition of a stock life insurance company would support the payment of such dividends to its stockholders.
MetLife, Inc.
The declaration and payment of dividends are subject to the discretion of MetLife, Inc.’s Board of Directors and will depend on its financial condition, results of operations, cash requirements, future prospects, regulatory restrictions on the payment of dividends by MetLife, Inc.’s insurance subsidiaries and other factors deemed relevant by the Board of Directors. In addition, the payment of dividends on MetLife, Inc.’s common stock, and MetLife, Inc.’s ability to repurchase its common stock, may be subject to restrictions described below arising under the terms of MetLife, Inc.’s Series A preferred stock and its junior subordinated debentures in situations where MetLife, Inc. may be experiencing financial stress, as described below. For purposes of this discussion, “junior subordinated debentures” are deemed to include MetLife, Inc.’s Fixed-to-Floating Rate Exchangeable Surplus Trust Securities, as discussed in Note 18.
“Dividend Stopper” Provisions in the Preferred Stock and Junior Subordinated Debentures
If MetLife, Inc. has not paid the full dividends on its preferred stock for the latest completed dividend period, MetLife, Inc. may not repurchase or pay dividends on instruments junior to those instruments, including its common stock, during a dividend period under so-called “dividend stopper” provisions. Further, MetLife, Inc.’s Series A preferred stock and its junior subordinated debentures contain provisions that would suspend the payment of preferred stock dividends and interest on junior subordinated debentures if MetLife, Inc. fails to meet certain RBC ratio, net income and stockholders’ equity tests at specified times, except to the extent of the net proceeds from the issuance of certain securities during specified periods. If Series A preferred stock dividends or interest on junior subordinated debentures are not paid, certain provisions in those instruments (including under “dividend stopper” provisions) may restrict MetLife, Inc. from repurchasing its common or preferred stock or paying dividends on its common or preferred stock and interest on its junior subordinated debentures.
The junior subordinated debentures further provide that MetLife, Inc. may, at its option and provided that certain conditions are met, defer payment of interest without giving rise to an event of default for periods of up to 10 years. In that case, after five years MetLife, Inc. would be obligated to use commercially reasonable efforts to sell equity securities to raise proceeds to pay the interest. MetLife, Inc. would not be subject to limitations on the number of deferral periods that MetLife, Inc. could begin, so long as all accrued and unpaid interest is paid with respect to prior deferral periods. If MetLife, Inc. were to defer payments of interest, the “dividend stopper” provisions in the junior subordinated debentures would thus prevent MetLife, Inc. from repurchasing or paying dividends on its common stock or other capital stock (including the preferred stock) during the period of deferral, subject to exceptions.
MetLife, Inc. is a party to certain RCCs which limit its ability to eliminate these restrictions through the repayment, redemption or purchase of junior subordinated debentures by requiring MetLife, Inc., with some limitations, to receive cash proceeds during a specified period from the sale of specified replacement securities prior to any repayment, redemption or purchase. See Note 18 for a description of such covenants.
AOCI
Information regarding changes in the balances of each component of AOCI attributable to MetLife, Inc. was as follows:
Unrealized
Investment Gains
(Losses), Net of
Related Offsets (1)
Deferred Gains
(Losses) on
Derivatives
FPBs Discount Rate Remeasurement Gains (Losses)
MRBs Instrument-Specific Credit Risk
Remeasurement
Gains (Losses)
Foreign
Currency
Translation
Adjustments
Defined
Benefit
Plans
Adjustment
Total
(In millions)
Balance at December 31, 2021
$20,919 $1,629 $(18,559)$279 $(5,121)$(1,598)$(2,451)
OCI before reclassifications(58,093)(583)31,755 (219)(1,625)188 (28,577)
Deferred income tax benefit (expense)13,298 89 (7,116)47 (18)(39)6,261 
AOCI before reclassifications, net of income tax(23,876)1,135 6,080 107 (6,764)(1,449)(24,767)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI1,607 498 — — — 93 2,198 
Deferred income tax benefit (expense)(368)(76)— — — (19)(463)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of income tax1,239 422 — — — 74 1,735 
Sale of subsidiaries, net of income tax (2)
(9)— 35 — 387 (2)411 
Balance at December 31, 2022
(22,646)1,557 6,115 107 (6,377)(1,377)(22,621)
OCI before reclassifications7,820 (1,106)(4,361)(102)296 (207)2,340 
Deferred income tax benefit (expense)(1,666)267 904 22 (77)45 (505)
AOCI before reclassifications, net of income tax(16,492)718 2,658 27 (6,158)(1,539)(20,786)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI2,523 (705)— — — 119 1,937 
Deferred income tax benefit (expense)(537)170 — — — (26)(393)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of income tax1,986 (535)— — — 93 1,544 
Balance at December 31, 2023
(14,506)183 2,658 27 (6,158)(1,446)(19,242)
OCI before reclassifications(7,280)(549)4,997 (124)(858)(123)(3,937)
Deferred income tax benefit (expense)1,809 144 (1,126)26 (154)31 730 
AOCI before reclassifications, net of income tax(19,977)(222)6,529 (71)(7,170)(1,538)(22,449)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI752 760 — — — 128 1,640 
Deferred income tax benefit (expense)(177)(168)— — — (32)(377)
Amounts reclassified from AOCI, net of income tax575 592 — — — 96 1,263 
Balance at December 31, 2024
$(19,402)$370 $6,529 $(71)$(7,170)$(1,442)$(21,186)
__________________
(1)Primarily unrealized gains (losses) on fixed maturity securities.
(2)See Note 3 for information on the Company’s business dispositions.
Information regarding amounts reclassified out of each component of AOCI was as follows:
Years Ended December 31,
202420232022
AOCI ComponentsAmounts Reclassified from AOCIConsolidated Statements of
Operations Locations
(In millions)
Unrealized investment gains (losses):
Unrealized investment gains (losses)
$(784)$(2,620)$(1,802)
Net investment gains (losses)
Unrealized investment gains (losses)
Net investment income
Unrealized investment gains (losses)
30 89 188 
Net derivative gains (losses)
Unrealized investment gains (losses), before income tax
(752)(2,523)(1,607)
Income tax (expense) benefit
177 537 368 
Unrealized investment gains (losses), net of income tax
(575)(1,986)(1,239)
Deferred gains (losses) on derivatives — cash flow hedges:
Interest rate derivatives
33 50 59 
Net investment income
Interest rate derivatives
(5)90 41 
Net investment gains (losses)
Interest rate derivatives
— — 
Other expenses
Foreign currency exchange rate derivatives
Net investment income
Foreign currency exchange rate derivatives
(794)558 (609)
Net investment gains (losses)
Foreign currency exchange rate derivatives
Other expenses
Credit derivatives
— 
Net investment gains (losses)
Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges, before income tax
(760)705 (498)
Income tax (expense) benefit
168 (170)76 
Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges, net of income tax
(592)535 (422)
Defined benefit plans adjustment: (1)
Amortization of net actuarial gains (losses)
(139)(130)(104)
Amortization of prior service (costs) credit
11 11 11 
Amortization of defined benefit plan items, before income tax
(128)(119)(93)
Income tax (expense) benefit
32 26 19 
Amortization of defined benefit plan items, net of income tax
(96)(93)(74)
Total reclassifications, net of income tax
$(1,263)$(1,544)$(1,735)
__________________
(1)These AOCI components are included in the computation of net periodic benefit costs. See Note 21.