Equity

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Equity [Abstract]

Equity

16.  Equity

Preferred Stock

There are 200,000,000 authorized shares of preferred stock, of which 6,857,000 shares were designated for issuance of convertible preferred stock in connection with the financing of the ALICO Acquisition in 2010. See “— Convertible Preferred Stock” below.

MetLife, Inc. has outstanding 24 million shares of Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A (the “Series A preferred shares”) with a $0.01 par value per share, and a liquidation preference of $25 per share.

MetLife, Inc. has outstanding 60 million shares of 6.50% Non-Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series B (the “Series B preferred shares”), with a $0.01 par value per share, and a liquidation preference of $25 per share.

The preferred stock ranks senior to the common stock with respect to dividends and liquidation rights. Dividends on the preferred stock are not cumulative. Holders of the preferred stock will be entitled to receive dividend payments only when, as and if declared by MetLife, Inc.’s Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee of the Board. If dividends are declared on the Series A preferred shares, they will be payable quarterly, in arrears, at an annual rate of the greater of: (i) 1.00% above three-month LIBOR on the related LIBOR determination date; or (ii) 4.00%. Any dividends declared on the Series B preferred shares will be payable quarterly, in arrears, at an annual fixed rate of 6.50%. Accordingly, in the event that dividends are not declared on the preferred stock for payment on any dividend payment date, then those dividends will cease to accrue and be payable. If a dividend is not declared before the dividend payment date, MetLife, Inc. has no obligation to pay dividends accrued for that dividend period whether or not dividends are declared and paid in future periods. No dividends may, however, be paid or declared on MetLife, Inc.’s common stock — or any other securities ranking junior to the preferred stock — unless the full dividends for the latest completed dividend period on all preferred stock, and any parity stock, have been declared and paid or provided for.

MetLife, Inc. is prohibited from declaring dividends on the preferred stock if it fails to meet specified capital adequacy, net income and equity levels. See “— Dividend Restrictions.”

The preferred stock does not have voting rights except in certain circumstances where the dividends have not been paid for an equivalent of six or more 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 preferred stock is redeemable at MetLife, Inc.’s option in whole or in part, at a redemption price of $25 per share of preferred stock, plus declared and unpaid dividends.

In December 2008, MetLife, Inc. entered into an RCC related to the preferred stock. As part of such RCC, MetLife, Inc. agreed that it will not repay, redeem or purchase the preferred shares on or before December 31, 2018, unless, subject to certain limitations, it has received proceeds during a specified period from the sale of specified replacement securities. The RCC is for the benefit of the holders of the related Covered Debt, which was initially the Senior Notes. As a result of the issuance of the 10.750% JSDs, the 10.750% JSDs became the Covered Debt with respect to, and in accordance with, the terms of the RCC relating to the preferred shares. The RCC will terminate upon the occurrence of certain events, including the date on which MetLife, Inc. has no series of outstanding eligible debt securities.

Information on the declaration, record and payment dates, as well as per share and aggregate dividend amounts, for the Series A and Series B preferred shares was as follows:

			Dividend
Declaration Date	Record Date	Payment Date	Series A   Per Share		Series A   Aggregate		Series B   Per Share		Series B   Aggregate
			(In millions, except per share data)
November 15, 2012	November 30, 2012	December 17, 2012	$	0.253	$	7	$	0.406	$	24
August 15, 2012	August 31, 2012	September 17, 2012	$	0.256		6	$	0.406		24
May 15, 2012	May 31, 2012	June 15, 2012	$	0.256		7	$	0.406		24
March 5, 2012	February 29, 2012	March 15, 2012	$	0.253		6	$	0.406		24
					$	26			$	96
November 15, 2011	November 30, 2011	December 15, 2011	$	0.253	$	7	$	0.406	$	24
August 15, 2011	August 31, 2011	September 15, 2011	$	0.256		6	$	0.406		24
May 16, 2011	May 31, 2011	June 15, 2011	$	0.256		7	$	0.406		24
March 7, 2011	February 28, 2011	March 15, 2011	$	0.250		6	$	0.406		24
					$	26			$	96
November 15, 2010	November 30, 2010	December 15, 2010	$	0.253	$	7	$	0.406	$	24
August 16, 2010	August 31, 2010	September 15, 2010	$	0.256		6	$	0.406		24
May 17, 2010	May 31, 2010	June 15, 2010	$	0.256		7	$	0.406		24
March 5, 2010	February 28, 2010	March 15, 2010	$	0.250		6	$	0.406		24
					$	26			$	96

See Note 23 for information on subsequent dividends declared.

Convertible Preferred Stock

In connection with the financing of the ALICO Acquisition in November 2010, MetLife, Inc. issued to AM Holdings 6,857,000 shares of convertible preferred stock with a $0.01 par value per share, a liquidation preference of $0.01 per share and a fair value of $2.8 billion. On March 8, 2011, MetLife, Inc. repurchased and canceled all of the convertible preferred stock for $3.0 billion in cash, which resulted in a preferred stock redemption premium of $146 million.

For purposes of the earnings per common share calculation, for the year ended December 31, 2010, the convertible preferred stock was assumed converted into shares of common stock for both basic and diluted weighted average common shares. See Note 20.

Common Stock

Issuances

In October 2012, MetLife, Inc. delivered 28,231,956 shares of newly issued common stock for $1.0 billion. The issuance was made in connection with the settlement of the Series C Purchase Contracts. See Note 15.

In March 2011, MetLife, Inc. issued 68,570,000 new shares of its common stock in a public offering at a price of $43.25 per share for gross proceeds of $3.0 billion. In connection with this offering of common stock, $16 million of issuance costs were incurred which have been recorded as a reduction of additional paid-in capital. The proceeds were used to repurchase the convertible preferred stock issued to AM Holdings in November 2010. See Note 3.

In November 2010, MetLife, Inc. issued to AM Holdings in connection with the financing of the ALICO Acquisition 78,239,712 new shares of its common stock at $40.90 per share with a fair value of $3.2 billion.

In August 2010, MetLife, Inc. issued 86,250,000 new shares of its common stock at a price of $42.00 per share for gross proceeds of $3.6 billion. In connection with this offering of common stock, $94 million of issuance costs were incurred which have been recorded as a reduction of additional paid-in capital.

During the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, 5,497,752, 3,549,211 and 2,182,174 new shares of common stock were issued for $171 million, $115 million and $74 million, respectively, to satisfy various stock option exercises and other stock-based awards. There were no shares of common stock issued from treasury stock during the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, while during the year ended December 31, 2010, 332,121 shares of common stock were issued from treasury stock for $18 million to satisfy various stock option exercises and other stock-based awards.

Repurchase Programs

At December 31, 2012, MetLife, Inc. had $1.3 billion remaining under its common stock repurchase program authorizations. During the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010, no shares of common stock were repurchased under these repurchase program authorizations.

Under the aforementioned 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. Any future common stock repurchases will be dependent upon several factors, including the Company’s capital position, its liquidity, its financial strength and credit ratings, general market conditions and the market price of MetLife, Inc.’s common stock compared to management’s assessment of the stock’s underlying value and applicable regulatory approvals, as well as other legal and accounting factors.

Dividends

The table below presents declaration, record and payment dates, as well as per share and aggregate dividend amounts, for common stock:

			Dividend
			Per Share		Aggregate
Declaration Date	Record Date	Payment Date	(In millions, except per share data)
October 23, 2012	November 9, 2012	December 14, 2012	$	0.74	$	811
October 25, 2011	November 9, 2011	December 14, 2011	$	0.74	$	787
October 26, 2010	November 9, 2010	December 14, 2010	$	0.74	$	784	(1)

(1) Includes dividends on convertible preferred stock (see “— Convertible Preferred Stock”)

See Note 23 for information on subsequent dividends declared.

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, a U.S. insurance subsidiary of the Company. In addition, the payment of dividends by MetLife, Inc. to its shareholders is also subject to restrictions. See “— Dividend Restrictions — MetLife, Inc.”

Stock-Based Compensation Plans

Description of Plans for Employees and Agents — General Terms

The MetLife, Inc. 2000 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended (the “2000 Stock Plan”) authorized the granting of awards to employees and agents in the form of options (“Stock Options”) to buy shares of MetLife, Inc. common stock (“Shares”) that either qualify as incentive Stock Options under Section 422A of the Code or are non-qualified. By December 31, 2009 all awards under the 2000 Stock Plan had either vested or been forfeited. No awards have been made under the 2000 Stock Plan since 2005.

Under the MetLife, Inc. 2005 Stock and Incentive Compensation Plan (the “2005 Stock Plan”), awards granted to employees and agents may be in the form of Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, Performance Shares or Performance Share Units, Cash-Based Awards and Stock-Based Awards (each as defined in the 2005 Stock Plan with reference to Shares).

The aggregate number of shares authorized for issuance under the 2005 Stock Plan is 68,000,000, plus those shares available but not utilized under the 2000 Stock Plan and those shares utilized under the 2000 Stock Plan that are recovered due to forfeiture of Stock Options. Each share issued under the 2005 Stock Plan in connection with a Stock Option or Stock Appreciation Right reduces the number of Shares remaining for issuance under that plan by one, and each Share issued under the 2005 Stock Plan in connection with awards other than Stock Options or Stock Appreciation Rights reduces the number of Shares remaining for issuance under that plan by 1.179 Shares. At December 31, 2012, the aggregate number of Shares remaining available for issuance pursuant to the 2005 Stock Plan was 24,715,318. Stock Option exercises and other awards settled in Shares are satisfied through the issuance of Shares held in treasury by the Company or by the issuance of new Shares.

Compensation expense related to awards under the 2005 Stock Plan is recognized based on the number of awards expected to vest, which represents the awards granted less expected forfeitures over the life of the award, as estimated at the date of grant. Unless a material deviation from the assumed forfeiture rate is observed during the term in which the awards are expensed, any adjustment necessary to reflect differences in actual experience is recognized in the period the award becomes payable or exercisable.

Compensation expense related to awards under the 2005 Stock Plan is principally related to the issuance of Stock Options, Performance Shares and Restricted Stock Units. The majority of the awards granted each year under the 2005 Stock Plan are made in the first quarter of each year.

Certain stock-based awards provide solely for cash settlement based on changes in the price of Shares and other factors (“Phantom Stock-Based Awards”). Such awards are made under the MetLife, Inc. International Unit Option Incentive Plan, the MetLife International Performance Unit Incentive Plan, and the MetLife International Restricted Unit Incentive Plan.

Description of Plans for Non-Management Directors — General Terms

The MetLife, Inc. 2000 Directors Stock Plan, as amended (the “2000 Directors Stock Plan”) authorized the granting of awards in the form of Shares, non-qualified Stock Options, or a combination of the foregoing to non-management Directors of MetLife, Inc. At December 31, 2009, all awards under the 2000 Directors Stock Plan had either vested or been forfeited. No awards have been made under the 2000 Directors Stock Plan since 2004.

Under the MetLife, Inc. 2005 Non-Management Director Stock Compensation Plan (the “2005 Directors Stock Plan”), awards granted may be in the form of non-qualified Stock Options, Stock Appreciation Rights, Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units, or Stock-Based Awards (each as defined in the 2005 Directors Stock Plan with reference to Shares) to non-management Directors of MetLife, Inc. The number of Shares authorized for issuance under the 2005 Directors Stock Plan is 2,000,000. There were no Shares carried forward from the 2000 Directors Stock Plan to the 2005 Directors Stock Plan. At December 31, 2012, the aggregate number of Shares remaining available for issuance pursuant to the 2005 Directors Stock Plan was 1,733,758. Stock Option exercises and other awards settled in Shares are satisfied through the issuance of Shares held in treasury by the Company or by the issuance of new Shares.

Compensation expense related to awards under the 2005 Directors Plan is recognized based on the number of Shares awarded. The only awards made to date under the 2005 Directors Stock Plan have been Stock-Based Awards that have vested immediately. The majority of the awards granted each year under the 2005 Directors Stock Plan are made in the second quarter of each year.

Compensation Expense Related to Stock-Based Compensation

The components of compensation expense related to stock-based compensation which includes compensation expense related to Phantom Stock-Based Awards, and excludes the insignificant compensation expense related to the 2005 Directors Stock Plan, were as follows:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2012		2011		2010
	(In millions)
Stock Options	$	61	$	58	$	45
Performance Shares (1)		80		68		29
Restricted Stock Units		27		18		10
Total compensation expense	$	168	$	144	$	84
Income tax benefit	$	59	$	50	$	29

(1) Performance Shares expected to vest and the related compensation expenses may be further adjusted by the performance factor most likely to be achieved, as estimated by management, at the end of the performance period.

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, 2012
	Expense		Weighted Average Period
	(In millions)		(Years)
Stock Options	$	56	1.74
Performance Shares	$	52	1.65
Restricted Stock Units	$	28	1.73

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 NYSE on the date of grant, and have a maximum term of 10 years. The vast majority of Stock Options 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 are retirement eligible and in certain other limited circumstances.

A summary of the activity related to Stock Options for the year ended December 31, 2012 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, 2012		34,713,526		$        40.22	5.35	$	—
Granted		6,247,050		$        37.91
Exercised		(3,817,301	)	$        28.44
Expired		(1,017,994	)	$        47.35
Forfeited		(972,210	)	$        40.23
Outstanding at December 31, 2012		35,153,071		$        40.89	5.50	$	51
Expected to vest at a future date as of December 31, 2012		34,684,396		$        40.94	5.41	$	51
Exercisable at December 31, 2012		24,530,711		$        41.36	4.16	$	50

(1) The aggregate intrinsic value was computed using the closing Share price on December 31, 2012 of $32.94 and December 30, 2011 of $31.18, as applicable.

The fair value of Stock Options is estimated on the date of grant using a binomial lattice model. Significant assumptions used in the Company’s binomial lattice model, which are further described below, include: expected volatility of the price of Shares; risk-free rate of return; expected dividend yield on Shares; exercise multiple; and the post-vesting termination rate.

Expected volatility is based upon 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 it believes this better depicts the nature of employee option exercise decisions being based on longer-term trends in the price of the underlying Shares rather than on daily price movements.

The binomial lattice model used by the Company 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.

Dividend yield is determined 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 binomial lattice model used by the Company incorporates the contractual term of the Stock Options and then factors in 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, to derive an expected life. Exercise behavior in the binomial lattice model used by the Company is expressed using an exercise multiple, which reflects the ratio of exercise price to the strike price of Stock Options granted at which holders of the Stock Options are expected to exercise. The exercise multiple is derived from actual historical exercise activity. The post-vesting termination rate is determined from actual historical 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, used to determine the fair value of Stock Options issued:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2012	2011	2010
Dividend yield	1.95%	1.65%	2.11%
Risk-free rate of return	0.21%-4.17%	0.29%-5.51%	0.35%-5.88%
Expected volatility	35.59%	32.64%	34.41%
Exercise multiple	1.58	1.69	1.75
Post-vesting termination rate	3.14%	3.36%	3.64%
Contractual term (years)	10	10	10
Expected life (years)	7	7	7
Weighted average exercise price of stock options granted	$      37.91	$      45.16	$      35.06
Weighted average fair value of stock options granted	$      11.33	$      14.27	$      11.29

The following table presents a summary of Stock Option exercise activity:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2012		2011		2010
	(In millions)
Total intrinsic value of stock options exercised	$	29	$	41	$	22
Cash received from exercise of stock options	$	109	$	88	$	52
Income tax benefit realized from stock options exercised	$	10	$	14	$	8

Performance Shares

Performance Shares are units that, if they vest, are multiplied by a performance factor to produce a number of final Performance Shares which are payable in Shares. Performance Shares are accounted for as equity awards, but are not credited with dividend-equivalents for actual dividends paid on Shares during the performance period. Accordingly, the estimated fair value of Performance Shares 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.

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 are retirement eligible and in certain other limited circumstances. Vested Performance Shares are multiplied by a performance factor of 0.0 to 2.0 based on MetLife, Inc.’s adjusted income, total shareholder return, and performance in change in annual net operating earnings and total shareholder return compared to the performance of its competitors, each measured with respect to the applicable three-year performance period or portions thereof. The performance factor was 1.13 for the January 1, 2009 – December 31, 2011 performance period.

Restricted Stock Units

Restricted Stock Units are units that, if they vest, are payable in an equal number of Shares. Restricted Stock Units are accounted for as equity awards, but are not credited with dividend-equivalents for actual dividends paid on Shares during the performance period. 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 during the performance period.

The vast majority of Restricted Stock Units normally vest in their entirety on the third anniversary of their grant date. Other Restricted Stock Units normally vest in their entirety on the fifth anniversary of their grant date. Vesting is subject to continued service, except for employees who are retirement eligible and in certain other limited circumstances.

The following table presents a summary of Performance Share and Restricted Stock Unit activity for the year ended December 31, 2012:

	Performance Shares				Restricted Stock Units
	Shares			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value	Units			Weighted Average Grant Date Fair Value
Outstanding at January 1, 2012		5,024,094		$        31.50		1,562,849		$        34.74
Granted		2,042,133		$        35.38		971,304		$        35.39
Forfeited		(452,590	)	$        37.36		(171,475	)	$        37.62
Payable (1)		(1,791,609	)	$        20.71		(282,530	)	$        21.88
Outstanding at December 31, 2012		4,822,028		$        36.93		2,080,148		$        36.55
Expected to vest at a future date as of December 31, 2012		4,817,941		$        36.98		2,080,148		$        36.55

(1) Includes both Shares paid and Shares deferred for later payment.

Performance Share amounts above represent aggregate initial target awards and do not reflect potential increases or decreases resulting from the performance factor determined after the end of the respective performance periods. At December 31, 2012, the three year performance period for the 2010 Performance Share grants was completed, but the performance factor had not yet been calculated. Included in the immediately preceding table are 1,347,025 outstanding Performance Shares to which the 2010-2012 performance factor will be applied. The factor will be determined in the second quarter of 2013.

Liability Awards (Phantom Stock-Based Awards)

Certain MetLife international subsidiaries have a liability for Phantom Stock-Based Awards in the form of Unit Options, Restricted Units, and Performance Units. These Share-based cash settled awards are recorded as liabilities until payout is made. Unlike Share-settled awards, which have a fixed grant-date fair value, the fair value of unsettled or unvested liability awards is remeasured 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

Each Unit Option is the contingent right of the holders to receive a cash payment equal to the closing price of a Share on the surrender date, less the closing price on the grant date, if the difference is greater than zero. The vast majority of Unit Options have become or will become eligible for surrender 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 surrender on the third anniversary of the grant date. Vesting is subject to continued service, except for employees who are retirement eligible and in certain other limited circumstances.

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 vast majority of Restricted Units normally vest in their entirety on the third anniversary of their grant date. Vesting is subject to continued service, except for employees who are retirement eligible 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, but are not credited with dividend-equivalents for actual dividends paid on Shares during the performance period. 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.

See “— Performance Shares” for a discussion of the Performance Shares vesting period and award calculation, which is also used for Performance Units.

The following table presents a summary of Liability Award activity for the year ended December 31, 2012:

	Unit Options			Restricted Units			Performance Units
Outstanding at January 1, 2012		1,083,370			510,681			233,257
Granted		440,185			395,765			158,724
Exercised		(26,855	)		—			—
Forfeited		(126,383	)		(75,930	)		(39,823	)
Paid		—			(90,080	)		(46,994	)
Outstanding at December 31, 2012		1,370,317			740,436			305,164
Expected to vest at a future date as of December 31, 2012		1,281,440			666,392			274,648

Statutory Equity and Income

Each of MetLife, Inc.’s U.S. insurance company’s state of domicile imposes risk-based capital (“RBC”) requirements that were developed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (“NAIC”). American Life does not write business in Delaware or any other domestic 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 (“ACL RBC”). Companies below specific trigger points or ratios are classified within certain levels, each of which requires specified corrective action. The minimum level of TAC before corrective action commences is twice ACL RBC (“Company Action RBC”). While not required by or filed with insurance regulators, the Company also calculates an internally defined combined RBC ratio (“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 RBC for such subsidiaries. The Company’s Combined RBC Ratio was in excess of 400% for all periods presented. In addition, all non-exempted U.S. insurance subsidiaries individually exceeded Company Action RBC for all periods presented.

MetLife, Inc.’s foreign operations are regulated by applicable authorities of the countries in which each entity operates and are subject to minimum capital and solvency requirements in those countries before corrective action commences. At December 31, 2012 and 2011, the adjusted capital of American Life’s insurance subsidiary in Japan, the Company’s largest foreign operation, was in excess of four times the 200% solvency margin ratio that would require corrective action. Excluding Japan, the aggregate required capital and surplus of the Company’s other foreign insurance operations was $2.3 billion and the aggregate actual regulatory capital and surplus of such operations was $7.8 billion as of the date of the most recent required capital adequacy calculation for each jurisdiction. Each of those other foreign insurance operations exceeded minimum capital and solvency requirements of their respective countries for all periods presented.

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 future policy benefit liabilities 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 for American Life. American Life calculates its policyholder reserves on insurance written in each foreign jurisdiction in accordance with the reserve standards required by such jurisdiction. American Life is not required to quantify the impact to its statutory capital and surplus as a result of applying this prescribed practice to its branch operations. 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, which resulted in higher statutory capital and surplus of $413 million and $597 million for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

The tables below present amounts from MetLife, Inc.’s primary insurance subsidiaries, which are derived from the statutory–basis financial statements as filed with the insurance regulators.

Statutory net income (loss) was as follows:

		Years Ended December 31,
Company	State of Domicile	2012		2011		2010
		(In millions)
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company	New York	$	1,320	$	1,970	$	2,066
American Life Insurance Company	Delaware	$	317	$	334	$	803
MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut	Connecticut	$	848	$	46	$	668
Metropolitan Property and Casualty Insurance Company	Rhode Island	$	235	$	41	$	273
Metropolitan Tower Life Insurance Company	Delaware	$	61	$	63	$	151

Statutory capital and surplus was as follows at:

	December 31,
Company	2012		2011
	(In millions)
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company	$	14,295	$	13,507
American Life Insurance Company	$	3,044	$	3,310
MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut	$	5,331	$	5,133
Metropolitan Property and Casualty Insurance Company	$	1,987	$	1,857
Metropolitan Tower Life Insurance Company	$	781	$	828

As derived from the most recent annual statutory basis financial statements filed with insurance regulators, the aggregate statutory net income and aggregate statutory capital and surplus of the Company’s foreign insurance subsidiaries not owned directly or indirectly by the Company’s primary insurance subsidiaries set forth in the table above was $679 million and $4.7 billion, respectively.

The Company’s domestic captive life reinsurance subsidiaries, which reinsure risks including the closed block, level premium term life and universal life with secondary guarantees assumed from other MetLife subsidiaries, have no material state prescribed accounting practices, except for MetLife Reinsurance Company of Vermont (“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 $5.1 billion and $4.5 billion for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively. MRV’s RBC would have triggered a regulatory event without the use of the state prescribed practice. The statutory net income (loss) of MetLife, Inc.’s domestic captive life reinsurance subsidiaries was ($154) million, ($130) million and ($621) million for the years ended December 2012, 2011 and 2010, respectively, and the statutory capital and surplus, including the aforementioned prescribed practice, was $4.2 billion and $3.4 billion at December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Dividend Restrictions

Insurance Operations

The table below sets forth the dividends permitted to be paid by the respective insurance subsidiary without insurance regulatory approval and the respective dividends paid:

	2013		2012			2011
Company	Permitted w/o     Approval (1)		Paid (2)	Permitted w/o     Approval (3)		Paid (2)	Permitted w/o     Approval (3)
	(In millions)
Metropolitan Life Insurance Company	$	1,428	$    1,023	$	1,350	$    1,321 (4)	$	1,321
American Life Insurance Company	$	523	$    1,300 (5)	$	168	$       661	$	661
MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut	$	1,330	$       706 (6)	$	504	$       517	$	517
Metropolitan Property and Casualty Insurance Company	$	74	$       100	$	—	$         30	$	—
Metropolitan Tower Life Insurance Company	$	77	$         82	$	82	$         80	$	80
MetLife Investors Insurance Company	$	129	$         18	$	18	$         —	$	—
Delaware American Life Insurance Company	$	7	$         —	$	12	$         —	$	—

(1) Reflects dividend amounts that may be paid during 2013 without prior regulatory approval. However, because dividend tests may be based on dividends previously paid over rolling 12-month periods, if paid before a specified date during 2013, some or all of such dividends may require regulatory approval.

(2) Reflects all amounts paid, including those requiring regulatory approval.

(3) Reflects dividend amounts that could have been paid during the relevant year without prior regulatory approval.

(4) Includes securities transferred to MetLife, Inc. of $170 million during the year ended December 31, 2011.

(5) During May 2012, American Life received regulatory approval to pay an extraordinary dividend for an amount up to the funds remitted in connection with the restructuring of American Life’s business in Japan. Subsequently, $1.5 billion was remitted to American Life. See Note 19. Of this approved amount, $1.3 billion was paid to MetLife, Inc. as an extraordinary dividend.

(6) During June 2012, MICC distributed shares of an affiliate to its stockholders as an in-kind extraordinary dividend of $202 million as calculated on a statutory basis. Regulatory approval for this extraordinary dividend was obtained due to the timing of payment. During December 2012, MICC paid a dividend to its stockholders in the amount of $504 million, which represented its ordinary dividend capacity at year-end 2012. Due to the June 2012 in-kind dividend, a portion of this was extraordinary and regulatory approval was obtained.

Under New York State Insurance Law, MLIC is permitted, without prior insurance regulatory clearance, to pay stockholder dividends to MetLife, Inc. as long as the aggregate amount of all such dividends in any calendar year does not exceed 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). MLIC will be permitted to pay a dividend to MetLife, Inc. in excess of the lesser of such two amounts only if it files notice of its intention to declare such a dividend and the amount thereof with the New York Superintendent of Insurance (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 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 stockholders.

Under Delaware State Insurance Law, each of American Life, DelAm and Metropolitan Tower Life Insurance Company (“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 net statutory gain from operations for the immediately preceding calendar year (excluding realized capital gains). Each of American Life, DelAm and 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 Delaware Commissioner of Insurance (the “Delaware Commissioner”) and the Delaware Commissioner either approves the distribution of the dividend or does not disapprove the distribution 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 Delaware State Insurance Law, 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 Connecticut State Insurance Law, MICC is permitted, without prior insurance regulatory clearance, to pay stockholder dividends to its stockholders as long as the amount of such dividends, 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. MICC will be permitted to pay a dividend in excess of the greater of such two amounts only if it files notice of its declaration of such a dividend and the amount thereof with the Connecticut Commissioner of Insurance (the “Connecticut Commissioner”) and the Connecticut Commissioner either approves the distribution of the dividend or does not disapprove the payment within 30 days after notice. In addition, any dividend that exceeds earned surplus (defined as “unassigned funds (surplus)”, reduced by 25% of unrealized appreciation in value or revaluation of assets or unrealized profits on investments) as of the last filed annual statutory statement requires insurance regulatory approval. Under Connecticut State Insurance Law, the Connecticut 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 Rhode Island Insurance Code, Metropolitan Property and Casualty Insurance Company (“MPC”) is permitted, without prior insurance regulatory clearance, to pay a stockholder dividend to MetLife, Inc. as long as the aggregate amount of all such dividends in any 12 month period does not exceed the lesser of: (i) 10% of its surplus to policyholders as of the end of the immediately preceding calendar year; or (ii) net income, not including realized capital gains, for the immediately preceding calendar year, not including pro rata distributions of MPC’s own securities. In determining whether a dividend is extraordinary, MPC may include carry forward net income from the previous two calendar years, excluding realized capital gains less dividends paid in the second and immediately preceding calendar years. MPC will be permitted to pay a dividend to MetLife, Inc. in excess of the lesser of such two amounts only if it files notice of its intention to declare such a dividend and the amount thereof with the Rhode Island Commissioner of Insurance (the “Rhode Island Commissioner”) and the Rhode Island Commissioner either approves the distribution of the dividend or does not disapprove the distribution within 30 days of its filing. Under the Rhode Island Insurance Code, the Rhode Island Commissioner has broad discretion in determining whether the financial condition of a stock property and casualty insurance company would support the payment of such dividends to its stockholders.

Under Missouri State Insurance Law, MetLife Investors Insurance Company (“MLIIC”) 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 net realized capital gains). MLIIC will be permitted to pay a cash dividend to its parent 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 Missouri Director of Insurance (the “Missouri Director”) and the Missouri Director either approves the distribution of the dividend or does not disapprove the distribution within 30 days of its filing. In addition, any dividend that exceeds earned surplus (defined by the Company as “unassigned funds (surplus)”) as of the last filed annual statutory statement requires insurance regulatory approval. Under Missouri State Insurance Law, the Missouri 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.

In addition to regulatory restrictions on the payment of dividends by its subsidiaries to MetLife, Inc., the payment of dividends by MetLife, Inc. to its stockholders is also subject to restrictions. The declaration and payment of dividends is 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 and other factors deemed relevant by the board. 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 arising out of regulation by the Federal Reserve if, in the future, MetLife, Inc. is designated by the Financial Stability Oversight Council (“FSOC”) as a non-bank systemically important financial institution (“non-bank SIFI”), as described below. They are also subject to restrictions under the terms of MetLife, Inc.’s preferred stock, junior subordinated debentures and trust securities 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, which are exchangeable at the option of MetLife, Inc., or in the future upon the occurrence of certain events, for junior subordinated debentures, and which contain terms with the same substantive effects described in this discussion as the terms in MetLife’s junior subordinated debentures.

Regulatory Restrictions. As discussed in Note 3, MetLife, Inc. has de-registered as a bank holding company. As a result, MetLife, Inc. is no longer regulated as a bank holding company or subject to enhanced supervision and prudential standards as a bank holding company with assets of $50 billion or more. However, if, in the future, MetLife, Inc. is designated by the FSOC as a non-bank SIFI, it could once again be subject to regulation by the Federal Reserve and enhanced supervision and prudential standards. While the Federal Reserve has proposed a set of prudential standards that would apply to non-bank SIFIs, as well as bank holding companies with assets of $50 billion or more, it has not yet adopted final rules for most of these standards. The Federal Reserve has stated its intention to take a tailored approach to applying the prudential standards to non-bank SIFIs, but has not provided any details on how it intends to do so. If MetLife, Inc. were designated as a non-bank SIFI by the FSOC, the associated enhanced prudential standards imposed could adversely affect MetLife, Inc.’s ability to pay dividends to its stockholders, as well as repurchase its common stock. In addition, if MetLife, Inc. is designated as a global systemically important insurer (“G-SII”) by the Financial Stability Board, it would be subject to policy measures which could include higher capital requirements and more intensive regulation. These policy measures would need to be implemented by regulation or legislation in relevant jurisdictions but could limit MetLife, Inc.’s ability to pay dividends to its stockholders and repurchase its common stock.

“Dividend Stopper” Provisions in the Preferred Stock and Junior Subordinated Debentures. Certain terms of MetLife, Inc.’s preferred stock and junior subordinated debentures (sometimes referred to as “dividend stoppers”) may prevent it from repurchasing its common or preferred stock or paying dividends on its common or preferred stock in certain circumstances. Under the preferred stock, if, for any reason, including due to a determination by the MetLife, Inc. Board of Directors, MetLife, Inc. has not paid the full dividends on its preferred stock for a dividend period (i.e., the period from and including a preferred stock dividend payment date to, but excluding the next preferred stock dividend payment date), it may not repurchase or pay dividends on its common stock for that period. Under the junior subordinated debentures, if MetLife, Inc. has not paid in full the accrued interest on its junior subordinated debentures through the most recent interest payment date, it may not repurchase or pay dividends on its common stock or other capital stock (including the preferred stock), subject to certain exceptions. The junior subordinated debentures provide that MetLife 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 (although after five years MetLife, Inc. would be obligated to use commercially reasonable efforts to sell equity securities to raise proceeds to pay the interest), with no limitation on the number of deferral periods that MetLife, Inc. may begin, so long as all accrued and unpaid interest is paid with respect to prior deferral periods. If MetLife, Inc. were to elect 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.

In addition, the preferred stock and the junior subordinated debentures contain provisions that would automatically suspend the payment of preferred stock dividends and junior subordinated debenture interest payments if MetLife, Inc. fails to meet certain risk based capital ratio, net income and stockholders’ equity tests at specified times. In such cases, however, MetLife would be permitted to make the payments if it were able to utilize a prescribed alternative payment mechanism. As a result of the suspension of these payments, the “dividend stopper” provisions would come into effect.

MetLife, Inc. is a party to certain replacement capital covenants which limit its ability to eliminate these restrictions through the repayment, redemption or purchase of preferred stock or junior subordinated debentures by requiring MetLife, subject to certain limitations, to receive cash proceeds during a specified period from the sale of specified replacement securities prior to any such repayment, redemption or purchase. See “— Preferred Stock” for a description of such covenants in effect with respect to the preferred stock, and Note 14 for a description of such covenants in effect with respect to junior subordinated debentures.

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The following table sets forth the balance and changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) including reclassification adjustments required for the years ended December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 in other comprehensive income (loss) that are included as part of net income for the current year that have been reported as a part of other comprehensive income (loss) in the current or prior year:

	Years Ended December 31,
	2012			2011			2010
	(In millions)
Holding gains (losses) on investments arising during the year	$	12,777		$	13,945		$	10,092
Income tax effect of holding gains (losses)		(4,738	)		(4,783	)		(3,516	)
Reclassification adjustments for recognized holding (gains) losses included in current year income		53			755			(733	)
Income tax effect of reclassification adjustments		(20	)		(260	)		255
Unrealized investment loss of subsidiary at the date of disposal		—			(105	)		—
Income tax on unrealized investment loss of subsidiary at the date of disposal		—			37			—
Allocation of holding (gains) losses on investments relating to other policyholder amounts		(3,675	)		(6,248	)		(2,598	)
Income tax effect of allocation of holding (gains) losses to other policyholder amounts		1,362			2,146			905
Allocation of holding (gains) losses on investments relating to other policyholder amounts of subsidiary at the date of disposal		—			93			—
Income tax effect of allocation of holding (gains) losses on investments relating to other policyholder amounts of subsidiary at the date of disposal		—			(33	)		—
Net unrealized investment gains (losses), net of income tax		5,759			5,547			4,405
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of income tax expense (benefit) of ($249) million, $162 million and ($226) million		110			(146	)		(354	)
Foreign currency translation adjustments of subsidiary at the date of disposal		—			(7	)		—
Defined benefit plans adjustment, net of income tax expense (benefit) of ($296) million, ($266) million and $69 million		(546	)		(494	)		96
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of income tax		5,323			4,900			4,147
Other comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests		(9	)		38			(5	)
Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to MetLife, Inc., excluding cumulative effect of change in accounting principle		5,314			4,938			4,142
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of income tax expense (benefit) of $0, $0 and $27 million (see Note 1)		—			—			52
Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to MetLife, Inc.	$	5,314		$	4,938		$	4,194